The British Film Institute has provided final details for its upcoming Blu-ray release of Daniel Kokotajlo's Starve Acre (2023), starring Matt Smith, Morfydd Clark, Erin Richards, Sean Gilder, and Robert Emms. The release is scheduled to arrive on the market on October 21.
Description: Starve Acre, written and directed by BAFTA nominee Daniel Kokotajlo (Apostasy), starring Matt Smith (House of the Dragon, Doctor Who) and Morfydd Clark (Saint Maud, Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power) comes to Blu-ray/DVD (Dual Format Edition) on 21 October after its UK-wide theatrical release on 6 September. This unsettling British folk horror, based on the award-winning 2019 novel Starve Acre by Andrew Michael Hurley, had its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival 2023. Special features include an audio commentary, exclusive filmed interviews and behind-the-scenes footage and interviews.
The 1970s, rural England. Richard and Juliette's seemingly idyllic family life is thrown into turmoil when their son starts acting out of character. At Starve Acre, their remote family home, archaeologist Richard buries himself in exploring a folkloric myth that the ancient oak tree on their land is imbued with phenomenal powers. When Juliette turns to the local community to find some kind of peace, Richard obsessively digs deeper. An unexpected discovery soon occupies the couple's attention and dark and sinister forces, unwittingly allowed into the home, offer a disturbing possibility of reconnection between them.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
Presented in High Definition and Standard Definition
Newly recorded audio commentary by director Daniel Kokotajlo, production designer Francesca Massariol and sound designer Ben Baird
The Land Holds the Melody (2024, 23 mins): Starve Acre composer Matthew Herbert reveals his multilayered approach to writing film music
There's Something Out There (2024, 21 mins): author Andrew Michael Hurley discusses his novel Starve Acre and the landscapes of folk horror
Interviews with stars Matt Smith and Morfydd Clark (2023, 10 mins)
Interview with The Hare Team (2023, 16 mins): an insight into the work of creature effects supervisor Sharna Rothwell and lead puppeteer Aidan Cook
Behind-the-scenes footage (2023, 5 mins)
The sandwich scene (2024, 1 min): deleted scene with optional commentary from the director
The Hare, a Folk Song (2024, 1 min): actor Sean Gilder, who plays Gordon in the film, reads an extract from the Starve Acre novel
Behind-the-scenes gallery: a collection of photos and storyboard elements that shine a light on the production process
Stills gallery
Theatrical trailer
First pressing only: Illustrated booklet with a text by director Daniel Kokotajlo; essays by Dr Adam Scovell and Catherine Spooner; notes on the special features and full credits
Optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature