Dystopian future movies seem to be everywhere lately (is that a message for us?), but not every attempt at this genre is successful, and debut writer-director R.T. Thorne’s film falls into that category. The movie begins with an interesting idea that shows promise, yet it unfortunately loses its way as the story progresses, wandering aimlessly, repeating itself, and awkwardly attempting to blend shifts in tone and di…

R.T. Thorne’s first film, "40 Acres," is noteworthy, showing considerable skill in managing its technical aspects as well as its underlying ideas. The movie operates within the post-apocalyptic framework, yet rises above that classification through a thoughtful exploration of character and a commentary on societal issues. It benefits from Danielle Deadwyler’s captivating portrayal and the contributions of a talent…