COLLECTOR'S CRYPT - SEEDPEOPLE (FULL MOON BLU RAY)
Why are some “bad” movies more entertaining than others? Sure, any answer is subjective, but what patterns are most common amongst the films that are “So bad, they’re good” versus the ones that are just plain “bad”? From the crypt’s perspective, it all has to do with how much the film is willing to acknowledge and own its faults in order to bring the audience in on the joke. Sometimes, a film taking itself too seriously backfires when the content is tonally not aligned with the intent. These movies often try so hard to validate the uncanny nature of events, plot lines, and absurd characters without any recognition that, and what we are seeing on-screen is more silly than shocking. Sometimes films that take themselves too seriously often become cult classics because of how ignorant they are to their fallacies, like Tommy Wieseau’s “The Room”. The key it seems, is to have a balance. Recognizing that elements of the film are by nature ridiculous, and then owning them in such a way where the audience is endeared to them rather than put off by them. They traffic in the mundane while also winking at the audience ever so slightly giving them permission to laugh at unintentional humor and get swept up in the zaniness. One of these zany films is Full Moon’s Seedpeople. Recently released with a new 2K transfer on Blu-Ray, is this sci-fi/horror film in the former “so bad, it’s good”, or the latter of just plain“bad”?
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
Welcome to the sleepy little town of Comet Valley, where nothing much exciting ever happens. Until sentient plants from outer space invade the town! Intent on taking over the Earth, this fearsome foliage has found a diabolical way to pollinate humans, turning them into walking, talking, and killing 'Seedpeople'! Can Comet Valley's resourceful residents fight off the alien invaders, or is the planet doomed to become a savage garden of alien evil?
HOW IS IT?
One of the most influential stories of all time is Robert Heinlein’s “The Puppet Masters”, but others may be more familiar with the Jack Finney serial story turned novel, “The Body Snatchers”. Released within 3 years of each other, the comparisons between the two stories are quite easy to spot, even though tonally they are quite different. The influence these stories have had on pop culture can be seen in the numerous re-tellings and remakes that we have seen over the decades, with some faring better than others (and interestingly, Donald Sutherland stars in adaptions of both stories). In the case of “Seedpeople”, there is more Finney than Heinlen being represented with some of the same issues that critics of the Finney story had about the science backing this otherworldly tale. However, that shouldn’t damn the film as much as one would think, and if you’re a fan of Full Moon’s brand of schlock there is a charming innocence to this low-budget flick.
The story is one you’ve seen so many times you’d be forgiven if you had deja vu hearing it. A geologist arrives in Comet Valley to investigate a series of meteorites that have descended upon the two, only to discover that the meteorites carry seeds that give birth to the most diabolical-looking brussel sprout from space you’ve ever seen. It just so happens that these sprouts can imitate people and transform back into sprout form and roll to travel a la Critters. “Seedpeople” is a mosaic of other films cobbled together to form something familiar enough to be recognizable, but different enough to have its own vibe. Starting with the good, “Seedpeople” has some hilariously interesting monsters that look like the aforementioned vegetable that so many of us feared as children (and for no reason because brussell sprouts are delicious when cooked right). These “Seedpeople” can fly, roll, and shimmy their way towards you and you wouldn’t be wrong if you find them less threatening than they are supposed to be. “Seedpeople” leans into the 50s-era sci-fi story it is based on and doesn’t do much to differentiate aside from the creatures themselves. If you’ve seen Full Moon films from this year, you’ll either love or loathe the cheesiness that they embody, even if the film as a whole isn’t one of the best from this era. If you are one of those fans who enjoy the “so bad, it’s good” kind of films, you’ll likely get more mileage out of this one for some of the WTF moments it has. Lines of dialogue like, “Plants are the most cunning and savage lifeform” are delivered in earnest while you’re watching a plant douse someone in pearly white gunk that is almost impossible not to relate to a more intimate bodily fluid.
The biggest problem with “Seedpeople” is that it isn’t as fun as it needs to be. The unoriginal plot is easy to forgive if the film has enough style of its own to lean back on, but that just isn’t the case here, at least for the most part. The moments when “Seedpeople” shines are when it doesn’t try to be a serious film and relinquishes itself to the mundane and silliness within. In a way, “Seedpeople” would’ve benefitted from being more like Tobe Hooper’s “Invaders From Mars” than the 1978 Phillip Kaufman film “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”. The film's comedy and cheese are inherent, but it never embraces that enough to acknowledge what the audience already knows, that this is a film not to be taken seriously. That doesn’t mean that “Seedpeople” is devoid of anything worthwhile, just that those who aren’t fully committed to the Full Moon aesthetic will find themselves bored more than entertained. The second act in particular feels less action-oriented. It focuses on explaining the science behind the Seedpeople, which is a choice that unfortunately distracts from the far more interesting parts of killer space sprouts rolling, flying, and dousing townfolk in slime and terror. It is fair to say that “Seedpeople” is not going to be for everyone, and rightfully so, but to its credit, it would make a great starter sci-fi/horror film for young ones as it is quite tame and doesn’t show much of anything that would scare or traumatize the kids. Maybe that is where this film fits best, in the Horror Starter Pack right alongside similar, but superior films like The Monster Squad and The Gate. In fact, if the main characters were kids instead of adults, this could’ve been a cult class appealing to that Gen X/Milliennail who grew up with these kinds of films in the '80s and '90s.
HOW DOES IT LOOK?
Full Moon has been on a mission to remaster some of their most famous catalog titles with new restorations. This is not one of their 4Ks, but rather a 2K, and frankly, that is fine considering that most of these films may look worse the clearer the transfer is. Overall, “Seedpeople” looks good and likely better than the previously available DVD. The transfer here is clear, with some graininess during the credits and in some of the darker scenes, but again, this film isn’t one where the details really need to be seen or really matter. Images from this release are used throughout this review and below.
HOW DOES IT SOUND?
Sound-wise, there are two audio options available on this new release. The default 2.0 DTS-HD as well as a 5.1 Surround Sound option. To be honest, they are both about the same considering the film wasn’t really made to take advantage of surround sound rear speakers, and so it’s a coin-toss on preference. The sound is clear without any sort of crackling or popping, and the dialogue is evenly balanced with everything else to ensure an even listening experience.
ANYTHING SPECIAL?
There are no special features included in this release that are unique to “Seedpeople”. Included are a classic VIDEOZONE episode as well as some Full Moon trailers.
LAST RITES
“Seedpeople” is not a good film by any stretch, despite having some of the most memorable cover art from the bygone video store era. For fans of Full Moon and their brand of cheap, but fun films this will certainly at least meet expectations, but it is hard to recommend for anyone else given it is light on features and curated for completionists and fans of the brand.
THE GORY DETAILS
Thank you to the fine fiends over at MVD ENTERTAINMENT for providing a review copy for the crypt! Seedpoeople is available NOW and can be purchased via MVD DIRECT!
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