Matt Smith, known for playing Daemon in "House of the Dragon," is set to star in an upcoming horror movie titled "Starve Acre," which has already garnered a 100% rating via seven reviews on Rotten Tomatoes before its theatrical release date announcement.

The film premiered in October 2023 at the London Film Festival. It quickly became the audience's and critics' focus of excitement due to the film's plot based on horror and successfully built up the atmosphere. Directed by Daniel Kokotajlo, it has an officially planned release date in the USA - July 26 and in the UK - September 6.

Film Adaptation Explores Grief and Dark Secrets

The movie, based on a chilling novel by Andrew Michael Hurley, tells the story of the Willoughby couple Richard and Juliet, played by Smith and Morfydd Clark, respectively. Their rural idyll in Yorkshire turns sinister when their young son dies. Juliette tries to come to terms with the tragic events through spiritualism, and Richard discovers the territory's gruesome background.

Richard, an archaeologist, decides to move his wife and children to his father's house in an isolated place in Yorkshire called Starve Acre. Juliette supports the move, hoping the rural environment will benefit their son. However, their new home soon reveals dark secrets.

Richard becomes obsessed with excavating the site of a vanished oak tree steeped in local folklore about a folk devil. His father's papers and memories of his abusive past haunt him. Meanwhile, eerie occurrences and unearthly discoveries, such as a decomposing hare and supernatural forces, unsettle their once-peaceful existence.

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Critic Reviews: Haunting Score and Visuals Elevate the Story

According to The Guardian, the film employs a haunting score and atmospheric visuals to heighten tension. Smith and Clark delivered nuanced performances that breathed life into familiar horror themes.

The Variety Magazine also reported that the film delivers immediate scares and persistent, atmospheric dread. Unlike typical horror films focused on nighttime fears, it finds terror in the gray light of a Northern afternoon and the decaying browns of neglected house corners.

Matthew Herbert's volatile, dissonant score enhances the tension with chamber-folky instrumentation that swells into glassy shrieks. Characters behave unusually, adding to the film's unsettling nature. Kokotajlo skillfully maintains a disciplined approach amidst the chaos.

Collider has released new stills that showcase the chilling atmosphere of "Starve Acre." The images emphasize the film's dreary tone, from the countryside's gray skies to the muted colors of the couple's modest rural home. The images capture Richard digging through dirt and roots and reading local stories for answers while Juliette conducts seances with community members, including Harrie, played by Erin Richards.

The stills hint at the supernatural but primarily highlight the pain and grief on Richard's and Juliette's faces, reflecting the horrible circumstances surrounding their son's death and their struggle to come to terms with their new reality.

"Starve Acre" is expected to continue the trend of recent successful horror releases. The film guarantees watchers a cinematic journey with psychological depth and hair-raising thrills.

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