Danielle Deadwyler is the breakout star of the highly anticipated thriller 40 Acres (sometimes stylized as “Forty Acres”). Though relatively new to mainstream cinema, Deadwyler’s authentic, grounded performance as part of a tight-knit, survivalist family has earned early buzz from critics and festival audiences.
A more private actor, Deadwyller reportedly honed his craft in regional theater and indie projects before being cast by first-time feature director R.T. Thorne. His understated yet deeply emotional presence provides a powerful counterbalance to the intensity of the film’s bleak world.
40 Acres is a post-apocalyptic thriller set in a dystopian near future, following a deadly pandemic and ecological collapse that have wiped out both wildlife and agriculture.
The film centers on Hailey Freeman (played by Danielle Deadwyler), a military veteran who leads her family on their generational farm in rural Canada. As societal order disintegrates, they fortify their property—installing electric fences and stocking up on weapons—to repel roaming cannibals and desperate outsiders.
The title refers to the inheritance of land passed down since an enslaved ancestor escaped to Canada—a heritage that shapes their identity and fences them off morally from a savage world. Emotionally charged, the film explores generational trauma, isolation vs. solidarity, and what it means to be human when civilization crumbles.
Premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2024, 40 Acres secured a theatrical release on July 4, 2025. Critics have praised it for its visceral action and emotional depth, with the Los Angeles Times noting how the story “roots its spine” in Deadwyler’s fierce maternal performance—and Deadwyler’s nuanced supporting turn adds authenticity to the family dynamic.
