Now that Seeds is available for the world to see- I have more to say about this fantastic film! This review is rated S for spoilers.
I have said it before and I will say it again, Kaniehtiio Horn is a talent that deserves more recognition and in celebration in the Canadian film industry. Her body of work is versatile; from her performance as “Tess” in the critically acclaimed film Alice, Darling to her dynamic performance as “Deer Lady” in Reservation Dogs, she is an absolute force in everything she does and that intensity is on full display with her directorial debut in Seeds.
Written and directed by Horn, Seeds follows Ziggy, a wannabe influencer and bike courier trying to survive the perilous life of living in an overly-priced city. Ziggy is in her bag as an ambassador for Nature’s Oath – a seed company with some corrupt roots. This information is unknown to her until she returns to her aunt’s home on the reservation to house-sit in place of her enigmatic cousin, played by Dallas Goldtooth. Upon learning this information Ziggy is understandably pissed off but she isn’t given much time to figure out her next move because weird stuff begins to happen.
What starts as a film about a city girl trying to pay her bills quickly descends into a high-stakes home invasion thriller. Ziggy is being watched and hunted by an agent of Nature’s Oath; her stalker knows that within her aunt’s house are rare, one-of-a-kind seeds that the company wants to patent and sell. He will do anything to get them, even if that means killing, Ziggy. As she prepares to defend her territory, she is also faced with the trauma of her ex popping back up. So, to recap: She did her cousin a solid and house sat in place of him. In a matter of 48 hours, he sends her back to poverty by exposing Nature’s Oath, he leaves her in a house where she is a target for murder and her ex-boyfriend shows up, sending her into an emotional spiral.
Baby girl just wanted a damn mini break.
All jokes aside, her relationship with her cousin was for me, the best part. Goldtooth comedic delivery blended with his ability to play nonchalantly felt cozy and familiar. Watching them on screen together was an absolute treat. On a deeper level, this movie is so much more than a home invasion horror. It is a story about protecting Indigenous land and resources from companies that aim to exploit them. To me, this is what makes this movie so damn good; genre-based movies that offer nostalgia and excitement are almost always told from a white perspective that are often simplistic and void of any real messaging. Combining social critique with the rules of horror storytelling creates a unique and sometimes jarring experience as Seeds moves from lighthearted scenes to moments of genuine horror. Horn expertly balances pacing and tonal shifts like a seasoned director. For cinephiles looking for a horror film with a meaningful message and cultural resonance, Seeds is a compelling choice that brings Indigenous voices and issues to the forefront of contemporary cinema.
As I said in my last review, this is going to be a cult classic. Horn loves what she does as an actor and filmmaker and she is grounded in her identity as an Indigenous woman. It is a poetic potion when stories of racialized and marginalized groups of people are given the chance to tell their stories freely and without limitation. They give us art and substance in a way that white filmmakers simply cannot. And that is why representation matters. Check out this film and listen to my interview with Kaniehtiio Horn and Dallas Goldtooth as they discuss the making of Seeds, working together and why it is NEVER cool to sell out your people.
Seeds is in theatres now.
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