SEEDS (1968)
Gay director/co-writer Andy Milligan’s 1968 exploitation film SEEDS. Today’s post is by Andrew Proctor (@andrwprctr on Instagram), a film editor and creator of The Queer Frame Archive - a catalog and resource dedicated to sharing and chronicling queer representation in early cinema.
SEEDS
1968. USA.
Director: Andy Milligan
Screenplay: John Borske & Andy Milligan
Starring: Maggie Rogers, Candy Hammond, Anthony Moscini, Lucy Silvay, Neil Flanagan, Gene Connolly, David Hazard, Jonathan East, Patricia Dillon, Paul Eden, Jesse Bigelow, Susan Cassidy, Eileen Hayes and Jerry Cotez
SEEDS shows us the most dysfunctional, and incestuous, family around led by matriarch Claris. Over the course of two days, members of this family that have gathered for the holidays are killed off one by one by an unknown assailant. In between the killings, each family member has their secrets and history laid bare. Carol likes to hook up with her brother Michael. The eldest daughter had to take care of her mother after a mysterious accident left her in a wheelchair. And seventeen year old Buster has been kicked out of “every school on the East Coast.” Not to mention Claris’ own healthcare providers and hired help conspiring to steal her money.
The first mention of two of these siblings, Buster and Matthew (a priest), tells us right away that not only has Matthew sexually assaulted Buster when he was a kid, but that he faced no consequences and might do it again. The first time we see Buster, he’s bright-eyed and happy to be home since he’s been away for years at different schools (we find out why later). The same goes for Matthew, and the first time we see them interact with each other, they are both excited to see each other again, even with Matthew placing his hand on Buster’s arm.
However later on, in their first one on one conversation, things finally explode. Buster claims he doesn’t get along with other students and reveals his sympathies towards Nazism. As Matthew tries to calm him down by placing his hand on Buster’s arm again, he shouts “Don’t ever touch me again!” and then destroys Matthews rosary.
Despite the dreadful endings of Matthew and Buster and their severe character flaws, I actually do admire their portrayals as written and directed by openly gay director Andy Milligan. These characters are emotionally complex and their depravity is placed on the same tier as their family members, letting them be depraved equals with their straight counterparts.
SEEDS is streaming for free through The Queer Frame Archive on YouTube (link below), it’s also available on DVD/Blu-ray.
WATCH SEEDS HERE:
