Starve Acre, a chilling folk horror film directed by Daniel Kokotajlo and starring Morfydd Clark and Matt Smith, has secured distribution deals in the U.S. and U.K. The film, which premiered at the BFI London Film Festival, has garnered attention and sales in multiple territories.
Based on the book by Andrew Michael Hurly, Starve Acre is set in rural England in the 1970s. The story revolves around a couple whose peaceful family life is disrupted when their son begins to exhibit strange behavior. As the husband delves into a local myth surrounding an ancient oak tree on their property, dark and sinister forces are unleashed, threatening their connection.
Produced by A House Productions and developed with BBC Film, Starve Acre features music by Matthew Herbert. The film has received funding from Access Entertainment, BBC Film, and the BFI, with support from the National Lottery.
Laura Dos Santos, BFI Distribution's acquisitions manager, describes Starve Acre as a tribute to the British folk horror tradition and praises its originality. The film is expected to captivate a wide range of audiences in the U.K. and Ireland.
Morfydd Clark, known for her role in Saint Maud, discusses her return to the horror genre and expresses her appreciation for being seen as spooky and freaky.
Cornerstone, the production company behind Starve Acre, will continue to negotiate sales for the film at the American Film Market. They are also representing other notable titles, including Kiah Roache-Turner's Beast of War and Sting, Mike Leigh's untitled 2023 project, Polly Steele's Four Letters of Love starring Pierce Brosnan, Helena Bonham Carter, and Gabriel Byrne, and Euros Lyn's The Radleys starring Damian Lewis and Kelly Macdonald.
