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