Starve Acre

If you want science fiction that respects its own premise, Starve Acre is available in the US on Philo and AMC Plus Apple TV Channel right now. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Matt Smith's performance is the anchor the more ambitious scenes need. Put it on tonight on Philo and see for yourself.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Starve Acre is worth clearing space for. What makes Starve Acre work is that the ideas never crowd out the people having them. When their son starts acting strangely, a couple unwittingly allow dark and sinister forces into their home, awakening a long-dormant ancient evil rooted deep in the countryside. Matt Smith and Morfydd Clark lead a cast that keeps the bigger ideas grounded in something human. It hit screens in 2024. What separates Starve Acre from lesser genre entertainment is a willingness to let the concept cost the characters something. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Sci-fi fans who want ideas alongside the spectacle will find Starve Acre genuinely rewarding. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Watch for Matt Smith in particular — the performance elevates the material. Satisfying on multiple levels.

Starve Acre was released in 2024, directed by Daniel Kokotajlo. The full 98-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.