Seeds (1968). Tagline: “Sowed in Incest! Harvested in Hate!” I’m using this period of enforced social isolation to explore the weirder corners of YouTube for long forgotten and obscure movies. (My boyfriend Pal is accompanying me only semi-willingly).
I’ve recently been delving into the filmography of notorious gutter auteur and cult figure Andy Milligan (1929 - 1991). Milligan is frequently derided as one of the worst directors of all time but judging by Seeds at least, that assessment is unwarranted. A mind-boggling true cinematic atrocity, Seeds offers a frenzied study in depravity and should be catnip for aficionados of John Waters and the Kuchar brothers.
Tyrannical alcoholic invalid Claris Manning is enraged to discover that her youngest daughter Carol has invited her long-estranged siblings over for Christmas. The ill-fated family reunion that ensues rapidly descends into a journey into hell, with bed-hopping, ugly vitriolic emotional confrontations and suicide. Even worse: a serial killer begins picking off the family members one by one as the weekend proceeds.
Words like “toxic” and “dysfunctional” barely scratch the surface of this ultra-perverse bad taste psychodrama. Everything coalesces to administer a rude shock: insanely melodramatic music surges on the soundtrack, the actors screech their dialogue as if their lives depend on it, and Milligan hurls his camera right into the fray, using low angles to maintain maximum claustrophobia. There’s also copious nudity (bare breasts and glimpses of pubic hair of the female variety. Considering Milligan was gay, ideally, we would have seen more male flesh!).
As Claris the venomous wheelchair-bound matriarch twisted by hate, Maggie Rogers should be embraced as a hagsploitation icon. Seated at the head of the dinner table, she exclaims to her offspring, “There isn’t anyone sitting at this table I’d give two cents for!” followed by “Well, you’ve ruined my life and I’ve just ruined yours!” When one of her daughters timidly suggests, “I wish you’d have some food, mother …” Claris roars, “You know I hate FOOD!” Watch Seeds and ask yourself: what kind of tormented mind dreamed this up?
Watch Seeds here:
Note: the digitally remastered director's cut of Seeds is also available on Blu-ray and DVD via the reliably excellent Vinegar Syndrome.
Read more about Andy Milligan here.
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