qathet film society presents
3 Ears Indigenous Film Festival
Seeds
Seeds
Sunday September 27 – 7 pm
Directed & Written by: Kaniehtiio Horn
Starring: Kaniehtiio Horn, Graham Greene, Dallas Goldtooth, Patrick Garrow
Genre: Horror/Comedy
Rated 14A – 1 h 22 m
Released 2024
Seeds, the directorial debut of writer-star Kaniehtiio Horn, balances horror, comedy, and social commentary with a deft hand. Filled with knowing jokes, oft cited fears of indigenous peoples and farmers everywhere, and set to an absolutely banging score that matches 80s styled synths with some First Nations swagger and percussion, Seeds is an inspired film.
On its surface, Seeds is a pulpy romp, mixing broad comedy, chilling moments of dread, and full-on revenge horror to make for an entertaining grindhouse mashup. And beyond the buckets of blood and eco-friendly messaging, there is much that’s more profound going on. From the casual mixing of Native and colonial languages shifting mid-phrase, to the bemused recognition of the charms and structural challenges of reservation life, there’s a casual sardonicism that’s infectious.
Add in the notion of generational connections that are often as traumatic as they are uplifting, as well as the simple yet courageous refusal to accept the invisible lines of isolation that the social and cultural compromise that reservation system fostered, one can easily find the true darkness explored in subtle ways that goes well beyond even the most horrific of events we see play out on screen.
The idea to frame a horror comedy around the ill gotten grains of a Monsanto level seed company is a clever one that Horn puts to good use. Seeds has a lot of important issues on its mind regarding indigenous sovereignty and the rights of farmers to plant whatever they wish on their land, but Horn’s tone is never morose or didactic. Horn conveys precisely what needs to be said with wit and bursts of shocking, brutal violence that brings things back down to earth in a hurry.
The result is a highly entertaining, highly provocative film that brings the best of a revenge thriller with a boost of a bit of deeper cultural expression. Seeds is a powerful narrative that delves into the intersection of modernity and heritage. It’s a thought-provoking film that resonates on multiple levels, combining a powerful narrative with a timely and crucial message about the preservation of Indigenous culture and the fight against environmental colonization.
This movie is definitely better than most of the two-bit schlock coming out on Netflix these days. The comedic elements are also genuinely funny. And while Canadian cinema has been shamefully lacking in terms of Indigenous representation, this movie is an enjoyable way to see Indigeneity depicted on screen.