The Empty Acre (2007)

 

Picture: C     Sound: C     Extras: C-     Feature: C-

 

 

How glutted is the straight-to-Horror-DVD market getting?  How about two films with almost the same story and one almost working, while the other is a dud?  Couple goes to farm area with child where supernatural terror and weird neighbors await with possible fatal consequences.  One was The Cradle with Lukas Haas that had it going until the very end.  The other is the unfortunate and dull-on-arrival Patrick Rea flick The Empty Acre (2007, from Cinema Epoch) making its quick DVD debut.

 

Far from the masterwork some sources seem to be willing to yap about all the time, this one has a barren dead space that kills, but it takes more than repeat zoom-ins to the same spot to build any suspense.  The unknown cast talks more at than too each other, the camerawork and directing have little distinction and all in all, this was as instantly forgettable as it was everything we have seen before, but much better.  At least it did not put this critic to sleep.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is weak, as shot on digital video which may or may not be HD and has problems with detail, color and definitely depth.  There are even aliasing troubles.  With this transfer being so weak, it is hard to tell for certain.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 mix is barely stereo, weakly recorded and has limits from taping on the set and locations.  Extras include the original theatrical trailer, stills, alternate ending as ineffective as the one used, deleted scenes that add nothing and an audio commentary track by the makers which is the oddest thing here.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo