Seeds review: One that will divide audiences, prepare for the darkest film of this year’s Arrow Video Frightfest.
Seeds review by Kat Hughes.
Seeds Review
You would be forgiven for thinking that a festival entitled Frighfest would be all about gore and scares. However, the festival embraces much more than that. Now in its nineteenth year, Frightfest seeks to embrace the dark heart of cinema, opening their line-up to more than just stalk and slash and things that go bump in the night. One such dark-hearted film screening this year is Seeds.
Written and directed by first-time filmmaker Owen Long, Seeds is a dark and dangerous story that delves into the bonds of family and the ultimate taboo. Seeds stars Long’s brother Trevor Long (star of Ozark) as Marcus, a man with a very troubled mind. After experiencing a traumatic incident, he returns to the family home after several years away. Once there, he seeks to reconnect with his brother’s family, but Marcus hides a terrible secret As he begins to connect more and more with his niece Lily (Andrea Chen), he finds himself at war with the sick monster inside, one who has become sick of lying dormant.
Seeds Review
Held together by Trevor Long, Marcus is in nearly every scene; Long gives a solid performance. Marcus is simultaneously a dangerous, damaged and desperate man, with Long encapsulating all of these qualities expertly. You might not think it when you start watching, but there are a handful of moments where the audience is encouraged to feel sympathy for Marcus, and it works.
Seeds is not a comfortable or relaxing watch. It’s a confronting story that deals with some very controversial themes. This is not a film that everyone will take to, but it will certainly encourage discussions and debates afterwards. It is not a film that one can easily forget or shake, it’s powerful stance on certain situations creeping under the skin.
Seeds Review
A film of several layers, Seeds has an almost excruciatingly slow pace, building up the tension, intrigue and bewilderment to what is unfolding. Seeds takes the viewer on a bleak journey through a gauntlet of emotions and, as the layers are peeled back, it becomes clear that what was apparent at the beginning is not quite as it seemed.
Seeds could best be described as being what Lolita might turn out to be if it were to have been written by the likes of Stephen King or Clive Barker – a slow drawn-out tale that explores the dangerous nature of forbidden desires. Not an easy watch, and one that will alienate many, it will nonetheless stay with you long after the credits.
Seeds review by Kat Hughes, August 2018.
Seeds screened as part of the Arrow Video Frightfest programme.
