Kansas Horror Film Brings Chills
Empty Acre Exceeds Expectations

When film buffs think of Kansas, they most likely recall the classic black and white scenes from The Wizard of Oz. Yet, those scenes were shot on a California sound stage, not in Kansas. Now, local director Patrick Rea has created a horror film that casts a shadow over a small town while shining a spotlight on the Kansas film community. In The Empty Acre, Rea brings first class filmmaking to the Heartland, showing a brighter side to Kansas.

The Empty Acre
Beth (Jennifer Plas) has lost her son and possibly her mind, in the new horror film The Empty Acre. (SenoReality Pictures, 2006)
Directed by: Patrick Rea
Written by: Patrick Rea
Starring: Jennifer Plas, John Wilson, Robert Paisley,
Sally Bremenkamp, Ari Bavel, Tom Davis, and Robert Campbell

Rated Not Rated
Running time: 106 min.

FilmGuru's Rating : 8 out of 10.

Set in a rural Kansas town, The Empty Acre tells the story of a patch of dead earth on a local farm. Nothing grows there, and nearby cattle become horribly disfigured. Jacob (John Wilson) and Beth Nance (Jennifer Plas) are struggling with their own problems, as their marriage seems to be dissolving as surely as the land in their field.

A blackness that comes from the land at night seems to feed off the plants and animals that stray too close. One night, however, it goes farther and snatches baby Michael from the Nance's farmhouse. The community is abuzz with the news, but as Beth descends into depression Jacob spends more and more time drinking away his troubles at the local bar.

The film plays with the idea that the blackness is not just killing, but also taking life. It seems to be draining those around it of their will. Even as Beth fights for people to help her find her son, Jacob seems to have given up trying. Soon it becomes apparent that the empty acre is not just a threat to those it takes. It is a blight, eroding away the town. The biggest threat to Beth, however, may be the newcomer, Phillip (Robert Paisley), who knows something about her missing child.

Anyone who would dismiss The Empty Acre as a low-budget, local production is in for a pleasant surprise. As a horror film, it is both compelling and creepy. It uses the characters to create an atmosphere of rural decay and madness. Best of all, it avoids the cliche of giving away too much too soon, although clues are evident early on in the film.

The imagery is reminiscent of the psychological horror of the '60s and '70s, like The Wicker Man or Rosemary's Baby. It plays with the audience's perceptions, slowly revealing the truth about the land and its effects on those around it. The cinematography is nightmarish at times, with images of the land consuming Beth's baby. The scenes are as effective as they are disturbing.

Production values of the film are above average for a small budget film, although some sound problems are noted in the bar scenes. Dialogue is overlapped by ambient background noise, making it hard to understand exactly what is being said.

The film has a few small problems with storytelling and continuity, but overall it is a joy to watch. Because it is a Kansas production, the setting is more accurately depicted than in most big studio productions (no mountains visible in the background here!). The film gets the small details right, like the 785 area code on a phone number or the names of places -- like Clinton, Kansas (a few miles from where I live). More importantly, the characters are realistic, not the two-dimensional stereotype of Kansans that Hollywood often portrays.

Acting in the film is often surprising in its strength, especially with Plas and Paisley, who create some very terrifying moments with nothing but a conversation. The other principle cast, including Ari Bavel as Police Chief Jefferson, showcase the untapped talent that Kansas has to offer.

The Empty Acre is a wonderful example of Kansas filmmaking, and it will hopefully draw more attention to the local film community. If local filmmakers can produce this quality of movie, it may be the start of something big.