- Director: Barnaby Clay
- Writer: Barnaby Clay
- Stars: Scott Haze, Kate Lyn Shell, Alex Montaldo
REVIEW
On a trip to the desert to take some photos Wyndham Stone (Haze) finds a child, who says he lost his parents somewhere. Wyndham tries to talk to the boy, but he runs off on him. Stuck in the increasing darkness of the desert, he starts hearing some strange noises and begins wandering through it, trying to find his way back to his car. He comes across a house and a strange woman, Alina (Shell) that lives there, Wyndham ends up staying the night but, in the morning, he soon finds out that he can’t leave the area surrounding the house, due to the terrain. Wyndham very quickly finds out that the imposing rock walls won’t be the biggest hurdle to leaving either… it’s the group of sadistic boys at the top of the canyon.
The Seeding deals more with the psychological horror than just a straight-lined plot. Wyndham is put through the wringer, in all of the ways possible. The film plays with the notion that Alina is either part of the boys’ group or is she also a captive that has just acquiesced to the situation? As time wears on for the two individuals, they become closer despite Wyndham’s wildly swinging emotions.
Haze plays Wyndham rather erratically and it both fits the character, but this also makes him annoying, which is a different side of the coin of erratic behaviour. Shell is excellent as Alina whilst the group of boys are good as well, despite not having a lot to do except being strange and menacing.
The film delves into the feelings of parenthood, wanted or unwanted and being trapped by it. The group of boys being wild and sadistic seems to be a manifestation of the fear that the (or your) kids aren’t going to turn out alright. Is it their choice or your nurture? Unfortunately, the film is not as focused as it could be, instead it dips its toes into many pools and suffers a little because of this.
The audience will figure out things before Wyndham does, but it doesn’t make some of the scenes any less impactful. Writer and Director Barnaby Clay is in no hurry to get this story to its forgone conclusion, he seems happy wallow in Wyndham’s torture and there is nothing wrong with that, it just would have been more effective if what was coming wasn’t so telegraphed. Clay and Cinematographer Robert Leitzell create some very effective and beautiful shots, whether it be through the landscape or slowed down camera tricks.
The Seeding is an interesting film, there are plenty of film references littered throughout the film and there are also some excellent ideas within the film that unfortunately aren’t fully followed through with.
The Seeding is in Cinemas and on VOD from January 26, 2024.
Ryan Morrissey-Smith
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