Reviews
Follow, Like, and Invade: ‘The Seed’ Review
Have you ever wondered what would happen if the cast of The Neon Demon were invaded by a strangely cute alien that turned an idyllic getaway into a Slither-inspired madhouse? If the answer is yes, The Seed, written & directed by Sam Walker, is the answer to your fantasy. This darkly comedic take on aliens meets influencers follows lifelong friends Deidre (Lucy Martin), Heather (Sophie Vavasseur), and Charlotte (Chelsea Edge) as they arrive at an impeccably modern house in the middle of the Mojave Desert for a weekend of relaxation and content creation that coincides with a once-in-a-lifetime meteor shower event. This celestial phenomenon tragically disrupts the trio’s Wi-Fi and cell reception, cutting them off from the outside world – and their followers – at the same time, an otherworldly creature crash lands in their pool. Unable to remove the pungent abomination from the property, their drug and alcohol-fueled intoxication turns toward the uninvited guest, insidiously capturing them under its spell with much deadlier consequences than a casual Instagram addiction.
The film’s technical achievements are evident from the jump, with flashy camerawork, editing, and sound that transport us into the women’s world without being over-indulgent in its eye candy. As is typically the case with social media, appearances are deceiving, and the (fittingly black) house and alien arrival shed their exteriors to reveal a much more unpleasant gooey mixture of body horror and practical effects. In what can only be described as a flesh bath of the senses, the corruption kicks into high gear with a macabre and trippy sequence that expertly fuses sci-fi, horror, and beauty into one bloody mess. The tiny alien at the center of the chaos is also a true standout, featuring an oddly adorable design that bears a striking similarity to the iconic baby from the early 90s sitcom Dinosaurs. Adding to all of this is an outstanding use of makeup and costume design, further juxtaposing beauty and horror similar to that of a high-end fashion editorial.
Technical flair aside, The Seed wouldn’t amount to anything more than a stylized music video without its three leads, and these women deliver. Their dynamic of old friends who have somewhat grown apart yet still retain a bond of friendship, is believable and familiar. The trio genuinely seems to be having a good time while it lasts, and they riff off of one another with bitchy assuredness only true friends can get away with. With her Stone Age cell phone and reliance on books over Google, Charlotte is the outlier of the group. As the “relatable” one, she is the lens through which the audience is meant to view this oncoming disaster, though some may resonate more with the internet-obsessed Deidre and Heather; perhaps the uncertainty of which side of the line you fall on is the point. Lucy Martin, as Deidre the ultimate wannabe influencer, goes especially all-in with her performance: She transitions from domineering and vapid mean girl to zoned-out and cracked-out body snatcher at the drop of a hat. Vavasseur and Edge join her in their commitment to the insanity, and the film would not work without these three being on board for its contortions and buckets of black ooze. After one particularly unhinged scene, you might even be influenced to skip over the next omelet that comes your way. Given the great lead performances, the balance between dark comedy and horror bodes well for The Seed. There are no true belly-laugh moments, yet plenty of line deliveries and the sheer lunacy of the plot produce a handful of chuckles and knowing grins.
Despite its strong technical aspects and cast, the film does take a few missteps when it comes to pacing and plot. After getting off to a strong start, there are lulls in momentum leading up to the climax, and one lengthy sequence involving the gardener seems wholly unnecessary. The climax itself is also somewhat rocky. Without giving anything away, the handling of one character seems almost unrealistic given the context, with the only explanation being that it fits the film’s themes. There could have been more in the way of thrills and tension toward the end as well, perhaps cutting out time spent on the gardener in favor of a body snatcher cat-and-mouse game.
The Seed’s positives ultimately outweigh any negatives. While it’s not groundbreaking, it is certainly a fun watch if you’re in the mood for its brand of visually arresting horror-comedy. Its twist on how social media has overtaken humanity like an alien invasion will always be relevant, even if it’s been said before. Initially, it stinks, but if you’re not careful, that cute little monster will win you over. The Old World is dead: Long live the baby alien influencer!
‘The Seed’ premieres exclusively on Shudder March 10th.
Rating: 3.5 / 5
Most people find that stretching their dollar still barely gets them by in today’s economy. I am very particular about what I spend my spare money on regarding extracurriculars. And no one likes to feel like their money is wasted. Madame Morbid Trolley Tours wasn’t an experience I had been familiar with. Maybe that’s because I’m chronically offline for most of my life. So this leads to the perfect question: in today’s turbulent economy, is Madame Morbid Trolley Tours worth the price? The short answer is unquestionably, yes. But it’s more than just a simple yes.
My wife and I arrived at the designated meeting point 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time. A handful of minutes later, a gorgeous, e-candle-lit trolley pulled up to the side of the road. We were greeted by impeccably on-brand Allison Chase, our tour guide, and trolley driver ‘Mad’ Matt Zaller. The wonderfully cheery duo invited us on the trolley, and the tour was set to begin.
400 Years of Death, Destruction, and Infrastructure
After a welcoming video intro from someone who knows a thing or two about busting ghosts, we set off on the inaugural Madame Morbid Trolley Tour in its ninth year of operation. From the Brooklyn Naval Yard all the way to Dumbo, and more, this tour magnificently chronicles 400 years of history, the good and the bad, expertly. No matter how much you think you may know about Brooklyn history, I can bet there will be something new learned within the first 15 minutes of the tour. From the first-ever plane crash to one of the worst theater fires in history, this tour covers tragedies that the greatest horror writers couldn’t conceive.
The Deadly [Charming] Docent
Allison Chase led the fascinating tour in character from the moment we stepped on the trolley until our departure. But Allison’s character was not forced or fake; you could feel Allison’s passion for not just morbid history, but the accuracy of it. Some of the stories we heard were steeped in historical context, and it was not boring for a single second. The Madame Morbid Trolley Tour is not your standard full-talking tour. It’s a mixed-media adventure of some of Brooklyn’s darkest moments.
During “downtime” (the times between locations), we were edutained by mini documentaries (that were quite funny). Some of the “downtime” was filled with traffic trivia (I won a needle pen!). And other times were show-and-tell-like, with objects passed around for us to examine. But there was never a moment of silence that wasn’t purposeful. All in all, Allison’s knowledge and passion shone like the luminosity of a full moon.
Is Madame Morbid Trolley Tours Worth It?
The Madame Morbid Trolley Tour was not just a fun night out for my wife and me, but it was a delightfully dark night of edutainment. It should also be noted that ‘Mad’ Matt’s driving skills were fantastic. There was a time when I had become enamored with how Matt handled the narrow streets of Brooklyn before realizing that I needed to refocus my attention on Allison. The Madame Morbid Trolley Tour is an exceptionally fun evening of horror and history that will make you think twice next time you walk down the streets of Brooklyn. It is worth the money, and then some. There’s no better activity for a cold, dark October night than the Madame Morbid Trolley Tour.
For more information on Madame Morbid Trolley Tours, and to get your tickets, click here!
I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I should have watched the Stephen King adaptation Cujo a million years ago. First of all, I was a voracious King reader in middle school. The other thing I was obsessed with during those years was Friends. You know, the show that hinges a major episode’s subplot on Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) watching Cujo for the first time. Whatever the reason was, I never got around to it, but I’m rectifying that oversight now.
What is Cujo About?
Cujo tells a relatively simple story. Donna Trenton’s (Dee Wallace) a housewife who’s cheating on her husband Vic (Daniel Hugh-Kelly) with local handyman Steve (Christopher Stone). There’s no accounting for taste, because Vic is 10 times hotter and Steve doesn’t own a bed frame. Look, Donna. I know Vic has that awful David Hasselhoff hair, but I promise the 1980s will end sooner or later. It’ll be OK.
Donna’s attempted termination of this affair ultimately leads to its discovery. Amid this drama, her car breaks down at a mechanic’s isolated farmhouse, trapping her and her son, Tad (Danny Pintauro). You see, the mechanic’s dog, Cujo, freshly christened with rabies, is patrolling the area and attacking everything in sight.
Dee Wallace Is Cujo’s Not-So-Secret Weapon
It would be impossible to start a worthwhile review of Cujo without praising Dee Wallace. The woman is a genre icon, naturally. Think about this: She had only appeared in seven theatrical movies before starring in Cujo. Four of those movies are The Stepford Wives, The Hills Have Eyes, E.T., and The Howling. But this woman didn’t become an icon simply by accidentally stumbling into some iconic titles. She is simply terrific as Donna, using her darting eyes and taut expression to deliver oodles of subtext. You instantly get the sense of how trapped she feels by marriage and motherhood without her uttering a single word.
A good performance is vital, here. Because there’s a hell of a lot of drama to get through before she’s trapped in that damn car. But Wallace instantly shoves you into Donna’s perspective, whether you like it or not. This makes it all the more potent when she is menaced by Cujo. Her desperate attempts for survival, also impeccably performed, have true weight because she seems like a real person. She is also given an incredible scene partner in Danny Pintauro. The future Who’s the Boss? star, who was only six when shooting Cujo, has a perfect everychild quality. His innocence heightens the peril. But so does that fact that he is just as irritating as every six-year-old you’ve ever met.
This movie truly captures how annoying it must be to be stuck in a life-and-death situation with a child. This is a compliment, I swear! Donna is worn down by every aspect of the situation, including her own son’s inability to cope with it. And this ratchets up the tension even further, to an almost unbearable degree.
Cujo Is a Mixed Bag, But Worthwhile Overall
The movie doesn’t work if Cujo himself doesn’t work, and at first I was real worried that he wouldn’t. In the first half, the St. Bernards that play Cujo onscreen are often shown to be wagging their tails in delight. Which kind of undercuts the reality of the situation, I’d say. But the editing and the special effects step in to fix what animal training couldn’t. The attack scenes in the second half are constructed with quick cuts that never let you get too much purchase. It’s a good approach for keeping viewers off-kilter.
Also, Cujo becomes less and less recognizable as a cuddly canine the further the movie gets. It’s a simple trick, really. He ends up getting coated with more and more slime. Saliva, pus, blood, and what have you. This is good for making him feel like a true movie monster. Plus, it’s a good mirror for the sliminess inside the car as it gets covered in sweat, blood, and grime.
The second half of the movie ultimately works like gangbusters. It’s a shame that Cujo is too cowardly to get Donna and Tad in the car before the halfway point. This decision is somewhat faithful to the book’s structure as I remember it. However, it diminishes the weight of the long days that they spend in the car. We really need to feel that crushing stretch of time, and we don’t. When Tad is suffering from dehydration, it’s not a gut punch. Honestly, I just found myself asking, “Already?” It’s good that they gave the movie a happier ending, because the classic grimdark Stephen King finale wouldn’t have landed.
Is Cujo Worth Watching in 2026?
At the end of the day, Cujo is a solid movie and I’m glad I finally watched it. However, it’s not such a stone-cold classic that I’m not at least a little intrigued by that upcoming Netflix remake…
