Small town Gothic Americana gets the good old chills. The Nance’s are trying to raise their baby and run a small farm in a tiny community somewhere in rural Kansas. Unfortunately, nothing seems to grow on their land. In the evening, a dark shadow covers all the light and kills everything in its path. When their child turns up missing, their weak marriage gets even more strained. He drinks more, she reverts to hysteria and the whole town thinks she killed the baby because she’s on psychiatric meds. Things get more creepy and violent as the tale moves along, but even by today’s standards, I don’t care how small a town is, if someone is taking pills for a mental breakdown, they don’t start treating you like a leper or a witch. Both leads play off each other well, but some of the minor characters feel as if they are right out of your local rural theater or acting class. It’s hard to recommend a movie where you don’t care about anyone in it, but director Patrick Rea uses the right touches of atmosphere to keep the viewer interested. Empty Acre is another rainy day movie worth at least a rental.