Set 12 years post-pandemic in a world ravaged by famine and civil war, '40 Acres' tells the story of the Freeman family who possess vital farmland. Matriarch Hailey Freeman leads with military discipline, protecting her family and ensuring their survival in a hostile world. The narrative blends action with thematic depth and showcases committed performances, particularly from Danielle Deadwyler. The film depicts the Freemans as both peaceful farmers and skilled fighters, navigating the complexities of their environment while adhering to a strict survivalist code.
The setting is 12 years after a pandemic, a second civil war and the onset of a global famine; 'the most valuable resource is farmland,' an opening title tells us.
Both parents are strict about observing the rules that have kept the family alive, but Hailey is the drill sergeant, a veteran of a post-collapse Union Army who has seen untold horrors and vows to protect her children.
Deadwyler should have been Oscar-nominated for playing Emmett Till's mother in 'Till' (2022) and as the sister in 'The Piano Lesson' (2024); she's a stage-trained artist who brings riveting emotional authenticity.
All the Freemans except the youngest are extremely proficient with firearms, as is made clear with the swift dispatch of a crew of malevolent good-old-boy interlopers in the very first scene.
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