Danielle Deadwyler has had to wait for the opportunity to lead in an action film like “ 40 Acres ,” but the “Till” star doesn't waste any time in showcasing her full potential. In a scene reminiscent of classic introductions for icons like Clint Eastwood or Bruce Willis, the camera focuses on her back as she plunges a knife into an intruder on her property, revealing her face afterward. It's a different kind of power when a Black woman is presented this way. And while R.T. Thorne ’s dynamic siege thriller borrows some familiar elements, it's packed with fresh ideas.

Set in a dystopian future where the animal population has been wiped out 14 years earlier because of a fungal pandemic, “40 Acres” shows a new world order: Farmers who can produce their own crops hold their own while others shuffle along for survival after a civil war that broke out in the wake of the food-chain breakdown exterminated much of the population. Deadwyler’s Hailey Freeman knows how to fight this particular battle on two fronts, having taken stewardship of the farm that’s been under her family’s control since the Reconstruction era, after spending some time away from it in active military service.

Hailey runs the household like a commanding officer would oversee her troops, except she mixes in book reports with boxing practice and firearms training. When not out trying to save the world, she’s building one where her own family can reside in peace. Instead of traversing a wasteland, the characters have their hands full keeping the farm flourishing—a strategy that sets “40 Acres” apart from so much of its post-apocalyptic counterparts.

In such times, if you have a homestead, it’s best to keep it a secret. Hailey remains in contact with only a network of fellow farmers over CB radio. The lack of socializing suits her just fine, but is less appreciated by her kids, particularly her teenage son Emmanuel (Kataem O’Connor) and stepdaughter Raine (Leenah Robinson), who would be restless at their age even if they weren’t in a constant state of isolation. Although ragtag militias have been reported to ambush farms, that outside threat produces less fear than dissent from within after the family, including Hailey’s partner Galen (Michael Greyeyes), dispatches such a group within the film’s opening minutes.

A familiar conflict emerges when Emmanuel takes in a stray named Dawn (Milcania Diaz-Rojas), who arrives injured outside the family farm and remains hidden from his mother as he tries to nurse her back to health. However, co-writers Thorne and Glenn Taylor find an additional layer to Emmanuel’s independence. Watching him grow into his own person apart from his overprotective mother touches on a broader generational gap, shaped by centuries of contentious race relations. While Hailey’s experience supports closing the doors to the outside world, Emmanuel can see how doing so would limit the future. He simply isn’t carrying the same burdens, and the erosion of trust that guides Hailey’s every move starts to find its way into her relationship with her son.

With memorable roles in “The Harder They Fall” and the HBO series “Watchmen,” Deadwyler has shown she can handle more than just intense looks. In full-fledged action mode, however, her presence and physical skills are truly impressive. Thorne also displays a strong directorial style. At the start of the third act, he cleverly cuts short a character’s emotional speech, generating laughter. Similarly, staging a major action sequence using only the light of gunfire is a thrilling way to keep things exciting. “40 Acres” may draw inspiration from past events, but it also demonstrates the value of not being entirely confined by them.