Set in the scorched remote desert of the USA, THE SEEDING follows a familiar horror journey into isolation and brutal landscapes. Director and writer Barnaby Clay and cinematographer Robert Leitzell do well with creating captivating and unforgiving scenery, however they might rely too much on the atmosphere to lead their narrative. The story follows an
astronomy photographer named Wyndham Stone (Scott Haze) as he treks alone into the desert to witness a solar eclipse, only to take an unexpected turn into a strange folk horror vibe. The premise of the film seems to combine aspects of the original THE HILLS HAVE EYES and THE CHILDREN OF THE CORN, but despite some classic inspiration SEEDING wanders too far off the path. While the Utah setting is stunning and serves as a great backdrop, the movie falls into the pit of predictability, and traps the audience in a narrative that lacks depth and coherence.
The film begins with Wyndham hiking out into the North American desert (thinking it’s all sunshine and cacti). But hold on to your water bottles because he’s not alone in the never-ending rocks and dust. He meets a young (supposedly lost) boy who keeps dragging Wyndham further and further into the desert. Growing frustrated with the obstinate kid and an increasing
feeling of dehydration, the lone child soon becomes a gang of wild kids who trap Wyndham in a pit-like setup (and there’s no easy exit strategy).
Within the pit lies a run-down dilapidated house with one single occupant: Alina (played by Kate Lyn Sheil). She is the caretaker and—based on her behavior and speech patterns—she has been lacking meaningful human interaction for a very long time. Wyndham finds her frustrating but appreciates her hospitality and hopes to repay her assistance by helping them both escape. However, little does he know there’s a disturbing motive behind his surprise staycation. In this pit of despair (where the walls are filled with mystery) Wyndham’s wrestling not only with feral kids but also with the psychological trauma of his newfound captivity. So, now we have Wyndham (stuck between a pit and a hard place) as the wild boys above make his escape impossible, which turns Alina’s house into this weird mix of a hideout and a no-exit motel.
Before falling into the negative pitfalls of the film, let’s give some positive attention to the acting. Haze digs deep into his character and really helps make the tension and feelings of hopelessness believable. However, the story relies too heavily on these guy-centric (even misogynistic) daydreams. First, a gang of boys running in the wild and second, a guy stuck in a situation dripping with sexual tension. Both of these situations turn females into fantasies and seem to push more towards a sexual encounter than a heroic escape. So, while the landscapes are beautiful, the narrative’s potential for genuine horror is undercut by its failure to delve into the darker aspects of the story.
The part of the film that I was most looking forward to was the gang of kids. The film attempts to introduce sadistic children, but their impact is actually diminished by a lack of development and exploration. Despite moments of real horror, the film’s slow burn lacks the intensity needed to make it truly scary. The ending (which was frankly abrupt and underwhelming) leaves the audience wanting more from a premise that could have been more effectively exploited. Furthermore, the storyline quickly becomes predictable within the first five minutes of the film (especially for those familiar with Woman in the Dunes).
Therefore, while THE SEEDING offers glimpses of potential with its captivating landscapes, commendable performances, and moments of real horror, it ultimately does not go anywhere, and therefore is unable to escape the constraints of its own narrative choices. A more coherent and daring exploration of its themes could have elevated this film, but instead it left the audience feeling somewhat trapped in unfulfilled expectations.
THE SEEDING is available now on VOD
Tags: Barnaby Clay, children of the corn, Kate Lyn Sheil, Robert Leitzell, Scott Haze, The Hills Have Eyes, The Seeding
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