SEEDPEOPLE (1992)

3 Stars

88 Films. Blu ray. 12th May

88 Films continue to explore the back catalogue of Full Moon – SEEDPEOPLE is a fun, silly B-movie monsterific variation on INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS taken from an idea by head honcho Charles Band, knocked into a script by Jackson Barr (Jack Canson) and helmed by Peter Manoogian (RAGEWAR, DEMONIC TOYS and he also worked as an assistant director on the TV shows Holby City and Eastenders)

It starts with Tom Baines (Sam Hennings) sedated in an operating room. He is desperate to talk to the authorities when, wouldn’t you know it, FBI Special Agent Weems (Michael Gregory) pops up. It’s a matter of national security it seems.

He starts to recount what happened in Comet Valley. Cue the flashback to the main plot, though it does occasionally cut back to the two men talking, which dissipates the narrative flow a bit. Baines has rented a room at a small B&B, and arrives just before the community is cut off, as the bridge, the only way in and out, is due for repairs.

The domicile is run by his ex-girlfriend Heidi Tucker (Andrea Roth), alongside her brother Frank (John Mooney). Heidi is also helping to look after her teenager niece Kim (Holly Fields) after her sister in law passed away.

Kim is a “problem” child and thinks the housekeeper Mrs Santiago (Anne Betancourt) is a reading her mind. Of course she will later be proved correct!

That night Frank goes out to irrigate the orchards when he finds something strange growing on the trees – when he prods it, always a good idea, it squirts out a white liquid which covers him and turns him into a bizarre, rubbery alien creature which then morphs into a simulacrum of Frank, or possesses him, or something… anyway the alien invasion has begun and before long others in the small town have been taken over.

This is daft innocuous fun featuring pretty schlocky looking monsters with a touch of CRITTERS thrown into the mix. Low budget nonsense – surprisingly for Full Moon this is a one and done deal, instead of being turned into a series, though there was a sequel mooted at one point apparently. Cheap and cheerful and with a nice short run time.

EXTRAS

Audio Commentary with Film Journalists Dave Wain and Matty Budrewicz

Archival Behind the scenes from the original VideoZone (9 mins)

Trailer