For fans of unsettling folk horror, Starve Acre is a must-watch, yet it has remained surprisingly under the radar. Directed by Daniel Kokotajlo, the film draws inevitable comparisons to classics like The Wicker Man and Don’t Look Now, yet it carves out its own chilling identity.
A Folk Horror That Feeds on Unease
Set in the 1970s English countryside, Starve Acre follows Richard played by Matt Smith (House of the Dragon) and Juliette (Morfydd Clark from The Rings of Power), a couple who move to a rural estate in Yorkshire with their son Owen. Their hope is to give Owen a healthier life in the fresh country air, but their idyllic vision quickly crumbles. Owen’s behavior turns increasingly disturbing, culminating in an act of shocking violence against an animal. As Juliette consults a child psychologist, Richard becomes entangled in eerie childhood memories — specifically those tied to the legend of Jack Grey, an imaginary figure from his past who seems to be haunting their son.
Symbolism and Psychological Terror
Unlike many modern folk horror films that invite audiences to decipher hidden meanings, Starve Acre forces viewers to sit in their dread, watching tragedy unfold in slow motion. Themes of grief, inherited trauma, and the inescapable pull of superstition drive the narrative forward, creating an atmosphere of suffocating inevitability.
Director Daniel Kokotajlo enhances the film’s unease with stark cinematography, juxtaposing Yorkshire’s hauntingly beautiful landscapes with unsettling stillness.
Terrifying Performances That Bring the Horror to Life
Matt Smith delivers a quietly unnerving performance, portraying Richard’s unraveling psyche with a mix of stubbornness and growing desperation. His breakdown, as memories of his father’s sinister beliefs consume him, is as disturbing as it is heartbreaking. Morfydd Clark, meanwhile, brings an emotionally raw intensity to Juliette, drawing comparisons to horror icons like Mia Farrow in Rosemary’s Baby and Sissy Spacek in Carrie. The contrast between Richard’s cold rationalism and Juliette’s emotional openness creates an unsettling dynamic that fuels the film’s sense of impending doom.
While Starve Acre may not be as widely recognized as Midsommar or The Witch, it stands as one of the most effective folk horror films in recent years. It offers a deeply psychological take on supernatural terror, blurring the line between trauma and the occult.
