40 Acres
Music video veteran R.T. Thorne directs SAG nominee Danielle Deadwyler (The Piano Lesson) in this TIFF sensation, a speculative fiction thriller about a Black family in a starved, post-civil war near future who must defend their farm from invading cannibals.
Tickets
Select showtime for pricing, tickets, and reserved seating selection (see floor plan).
Friday, May 16, 2025
- Limited Availability
- On Standby
- Matinee
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
- Limited Availability
- On Standby
- Matinee
This post-apocalyptic blend of action, horror, and drama marks R.T. Thorne’s transition from directing Snoop Dogg music videos to his feature directorial debut. Titled after a broken promise, 40 ACRES follows a Black family led by its unyielding matriarch, Hailey (Danielle Deadwyler, The Piano Lesson). Hailey is an ex-soldier and runs her family as such, sharpening their combat skills for the next potential threat. These anxiety-ridden drills prove relevant once an army of cannibalistic raiders approach their 40-acre farm.
Thorne weaves his themes in a thoughtful dynamic between Hailey and her son Manny (Kataem O'Connor, “Heartland”). Manny sparks tension when challenging his mother’s cautious isolationism. This tension never ceases—from confrontations with the enemy to silent family dinners. Deadwyler showcases her range in another masterclass performance, transitioning seamlessly from action star to a woman with a complex tenderness. Decorated with shots of gunfire cutting through fog from hidden enemies, 40 Acres is an unrelenting exploration of the ongoing combat between generational trauma and building a legacy, the resilience it requires, and the history bogging it all down.
—Selena Calacat
- Director: R.T. Thorne
- Principal Cast: Danielle Deadwyler, Kataem O'Connor, Michael Greyeyes, Milcania Diaz-Rojas, Leenah Robinson
- Country: Canada, USA
- Year: 2024
- Running Time: 113 min.
- Producer: Jennifer Holness
- Screenplay: R.T. Thorne, Glenn Taylor
- Cinematographers: Jeremy Benning
- Editors: Dev Singh, Sandy Pereira
- Music: Todor Kobakov
- Website: Official Film Website
- Filmography: Debut Feature Film
- Language: English, Cree
- Has Subtitles: Yes
- Format: DCP
- US Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
- International Sales: Magnolia Pictures