THE GARDENER (aka SEEDS OF EVIL) - 1975

[The Burgomaster]

This is a REALLY dull movie that I just added to my DVD collection.

Joe Dallesandro (from ANDY WARHOL'S FRANKENSTEIN, et. al.) plays a gardener who has a strange bond with exotic plants.

He spends most of the movie walking around in the garden with his shirt off, while the bored wives of the wealthy businessmen he works for stare at him with lustful eyes.

The movie is mostly talk, talk, talk, interspersed with really annoying scene transitions (fade outs and dissolves that happen about every 30 - 60 seconds).  In the midst of all the talking, Dallesandro proves what an awful, boring actor he is.  He doesn't have much dialogue, but when he does talk, it is always in a horrible monotone.

A few people die as the movie crawls at a snail's pace toward a really stupid ending.

Stay far, far away from this one unless you want to fall asleep.

I paid about $15 for this damned thing.

[Mofo Rising]

I just recently watched FLESH FOR FRANKENSTEIN.  I started out hating it, but there were some admirable bits of sleaze and gore that had me bump it up to a 3 out of 5.  I'll agree with you about Dallesandro, the guy is terrible.  His website indicates that Joe does not live in the same world as the rest of us.  Probably for the best.  (Take a look at the contest where you can write a 500 word essay on Dallesandro to win a copy of THE GARDENER.)

I don't really look forward to watching BLOOD FOR DRACULA, also starring Dallesandro and Udo Kier.  However, it's next on my Criterion list and come rain or come shine I will watch every movie on that list.

[The Burgomaster]

I saw both FLESH FOR FRANKENSTEIN (aka ANDY WARHOL'S FRANKENSTEIN) and BLOOD FOR DRACULA (aka ANDY WARHOL'S DRACULA) during theatrical re-releases in the early 1980s.  FRANKENSTEIN was in 3-D and the effects were great (better than the actual movie).

I bought a 3-D version of FRANKENSTEIN on DVD a couple of years ago.  You need the LCD "flicker" glasses to watch it.  The print is jumpy in some places (I bought it on Ebay and I suspect the seller bought a VHS copy of the movie from a foreign distributor and transferred it to DVD), but the 3-D effects are still good.

DRACULA is actually a better movie than FRANKENSTEIN, but not quite as gory (although, it does have some gory scenes).  I think you'll like it.

[LH-C]

Mofo Rising Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> I don't really look forward to watching BLOOD FOR
> DRACULA, also starring Dallesandro and Udo Kier.
> However, it's next on my Criterion list and come
> rain or come shine I will watch every movie on
> that list.

The Criterion edition is OOP now (same goes for
'Frank'). Image (who distributes Criterion) now
holds rights and re-released it and 'Frank', and
also licensed the Criterion extras for both.

[Mofo Rising]

The Burgomaster Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I saw both FLESH FOR FRANKENSTEIN (aka ANDY
> WARHOL'S FRANKENSTEIN) and BLOOD FOR DRACULA (aka
> ANDY WARHOL'S DRACULA) during theatrical
> re-releases in the early 1980s.  FRANKENSTEIN was
> in 3-D and the effects were great (better than the
> actual movie).
>

I saw that FRANKENSTEIN was originally in 3-D, but the dvd I saw (not the Criterion) didn't have the option.  Of course, I've never seen AMITYVILLE 3-D in 3-D either.

LH-C Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The Criterion edition is OOP now (same goes for
> 'Frank'). Image (who distributes Criterion) now
> holds rights and re-released it and 'Frank', and
> also licensed the Criterion extras for both.
>

Apparently the commentaries are supposed to be pretty entertaining.  I didn't watch but a part of it.

I'm not too particular with seeing the Criterion edition of a film, just as long as I see the movie.  For instance, I'm not going to spend the time or money trying to track down a copy of SALO.  I just use it as a "required viewing" list.  Supposedly to class up my movie education, which is why I watched FLESH FOR FRANKENSTEIN.

Sadly, THE GARDENER is not on the list.

[ToyMan]

okay, i'm glad i read this. i keep seeing this at borders and i wondered why i'd never heard of it despite it's rather lavish packaging.

[plan9superfan]

So, does the gardener kill people, or does he hava anarmy of Triffid-like killer plants at his disposal?

[The Burgomaster]

I wouldn't say the plants are triffid like because they don't move.  In fact, the actors barely move.  Watching this movie is like watching paint  dry.

[plan9superfan]

So exactly HOW did people die in this movie?

[The Burgomaster]

I'm not really sure how they died . . . they just sort of died.  Fumes from the plants or something.  Watch it and see if you can figure it out.