- Author: Kathy Low
We love our plants, but what if our plants hate us? With Halloween just around the corner, you may want to get in the mood by watching a scary movie where plants run awry. So below is a list of my favorite movies featuring menacing plants, almost all of which can be borrowed from the Solano County Library system.
Day of the Triffids (1962). Based upon the 1951 science fiction novel by John Wyndham, in this movie most of the earth's population is blinded by watching a spectacular meteor shower. That same meteor shower brought seeds to earth that grow triffids, gigantic carnivorous plants that spew poison and that can uproot themselves and move about in search of food, which is primarily humans. A small group of individuals who can still see because they did not watch the meteor shower fights to stay alive. I don't want to give away the ending, but I will say you are left with hope for the survival of humanity. The film stars Howard Keel. A remake of the film was done in 2009. I haven't seen the remake, but it reportedly fails to live up to the original.
The Happening (2008). When the human race threatens the planet, earth's trees and plants fight back. Mark Wahlberg stars as a high school science teacher trying to figure out why large populations of humans are killing themselves, while he and his fiancé struggle to stay alive. Costarring and Zoey Deschanel, the film was written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. (The DVD is available for loan from the Solano County Library.)
The Ruins (2008). In this film, a group of tourists who are helping a stranger search for his missing brother in the ruins of a Mayan temple are terrorized by seemingly intelligent plant vines. Be warned that this is a horror film so there's blood, gore and many scenes that will make you shudder. (The DVD is available for loan from the Solano County Library.)
Little Shop of Horrors (1986). This 1986 movie is a musical remake of a 1960 horror comedy film directed by Roger Corman. The film centers around a floral clerk and Audrey II, a plant from outer space that the clerk discovers and nurtures from a seedling. The only problem is Audrey II is clever, can talk and sing, and only feeds on fresh human blood. (The DVD is available for loan from the Solano County Library.)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956 and 1978). This is one of those rare cases where both the original film and the remake are worth watching. If you're unfamiliar with the movie, the villians so to speak, are seed pods from outer space. The seed pods grow into and replace the human being. They are complete replicas of each human down to their memories, except they are devoid of emotion. (The DVD is available for loan from the Solano County Library.)