Watch Unearth

Unearth is a 2020 independent horror film that explores the devastating effects of industrial agriculture on small-town farming communities in rural America. Directed by John C. Lyons and Dorota Swies, the movie stars Adrienne Barbeau, Marc Blucas, and Brooke Sorenson. The film opens with a hauntingly beautiful shot of a wheat field swaying in the breeze under a blue sky, accompanied by an eerie soundtrack that hints at the impending doom. The scene then shifts to the nearby farm of George Lomack (played by Blucas), a hard-working but struggling farmer, and his young daughter, Sadie (played by Sorenson). The Lomacks are facing mounting debts and a failing crop that they attribute to strange noises and vibrations coming from the ground.

Enter Kathryn Dolan (played by Barbeau), a wise and weathered neighbor who warns the Lomacks of the dangers of the nearby fracking operation run by a faceless corporation. Kathryn's farm also suffers from the effects of the fracking, and she warns the Lomacks that the land has been poisoned with chemicals that have seeped into the water and air.

When the Lomacks discover a mysterious underground tunnel on their property, they are forced to confront the existential threat to their livelihood and way of life. As they dig deeper into the tunnel, they uncover a horrifying truth about the consequences of modern agriculture and the exploitation of the natural world.

The film is a slow burn, building tension through a combination of stunning cinematography, an atmospheric soundtrack, and layered performances by the cast. Blucas gives a nuanced and heartfelt portrayal of a father fighting to protect his family, while Sorenson delivers an impressive performance as Sadie, capturing both the innocence and the resilience of youth. Barbeau, a horror icon known for her roles in classics such as The Fog and Escape from New York, brings gravitas and wisdom to her supporting role as Kathryn Dolan.

The real star of the film, however, is the landscape itself. The filmmakers expertly capture the beauty and harshness of rural America, juxtaposing sweeping shots of idyllic farmland with scenes of pollution and decay. The choice to focus on a small farming community allows the film to delve into issues of environmentalism and corporate greed without feeling didactic or preachy.

At its core, Unearth is a cautionary tale about the dangers of ignoring the interconnectedness of all living things. The fracking operation, which promises to bring prosperity to the community, ends up destroying the very land it claims to serve. The tunnel the Lomacks uncover serves as a metaphor for the dark and filthy underbelly of industrial agriculture, where profits come at the expense of the health of the soil and the people who depend on it.

While the ending may leave some viewers frustrated or unsatisfied, it is undeniably powerful and thought-provoking. The film refuses to provide easy answers or tidy resolutions, instead leaving the audience to grapple with the complex and urgent questions it poses.

In conclusion, Unearth is a haunting and visually stunning exploration of the ravages of industrial agriculture on rural communities. It is a film that deserves to be seen and discussed, as it asks important questions about the sustainability of our current ways of life and the moral responsibility we have to the earth and its inhabitants.

Unearth is a 2021 horror movie. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.2.