The Dollanganger Saga (TV Mini Series) Seeds of Yesterday (2015) User Reviews

The end!

[BandSAboutMovies · 6/10 · 27 June 2019]

After four V.C. Andrews movies - and the original Flowers in the Attic - nothing should surprise you. Any happy ending that the Dollanganger family finds will always be ruined in the very next film.

Thirteen years later, Cathy and Chris are invited to Foxworth Hall, the same place they spent their childhood imprisoned within. Bart is now the owner and has fixed it up while walking away from his family, even changing his last name. He might love his mother, but he has a near unhinged hatred for his uncle and stepfather.

Meanwhile, his brother Jory and his wife, Melodie are about to have twins. What would make this even worse? That's right - Bart wants to get with his brother's wife. And don't worry - he still hates his adopted sister Cindy.

At Bart's birthday party - no one over 21 should have a birthday party and even fewer should throw on for themselves - Jory and Cindy perform a ballet that ends up with Jory paralyzed because V.C. Andrews. Everyone thinks Bart is behind this, but he denies it. And Melodie starts to lament that her husband will never dance - vertically or horizontally - again.

So much happens in this movie - Jory tries to drown himself in a pool, Bart keeps winning back Melodie and then rejecting her, Bart catches his sister Cindy in bed with her new boyfriend and flies into a tantrum - this is movie is packed with more melodrama than the first three, which I felt wasn't possible.

Even after Melodie gives birth to twins, she's lost her will to live and abandons the family. And oh yeah - Bart gets with Cindy and still rejects her.

Maybe a new house will fix things, thinks Chris. They even hire a nanny named Toni that they hope Jory will get with. Nope - Bart seduces and dumps her as well. He then tops all of his behavior by trying to drown one of the twins during her baptism. It takes the accidental out of nowhere death of Chris to bring the family back together.

Jory recovers, marries Tony and they raise the twins and a child of their own together. Bart becomes a TV preacher and marries his adopted sister. Only Cathy remains behind, sitting in the attic window, eventually dying of a broken heart.

This is the end of the line for this crazy family. By the end, we'd seen everybody go through hell, such as dance accidents, incestual unions and getting hit by cars. If anything, this movie should teach you to never have sex within your bloodline and to always put out road flares when you're changing a tire.

Interesting movie but too much deviation from the original story

[jnrh · 6/10 · 14 April 2015]

I am a long time fan of this book series and of V.C. Andrews. I have read and re-read the books dozens of times so needless to say, I know the Dollenganger/Foxworth story quite well.

I watched this movie on Lifetime last night and while I enjoyed it for the most part, I did not enjoy the massive deviation from the original book story.

For starters, anyone who has read these books knows that Foxworth Hall is the king of homes, the biggest and most elaborate structure in all of Virginia. In the beginning of the film, when Chris and Cathy pull up to Foxworth Hall, Cathy remarks how Bart had built an exact replica as the original. The home they use for the film seriously lacks the majesty that is Foxworth Hall. In fact, it looks no different than your average home in an upscale neighborhood, hardly befitting someone like Malcolm Foxworth. The Foxworth Hall from the books was imposing and frightening, standing alone on a high hill like a king over his subjects.

One big problem I had with this movie was the complete omission of Joel Foxworth, Corrine's long-though dead brother. As those of you who have read the books know, Joel was a main character in Seeds of Yesterday and was also a significantly bad influence over Bart. I suppose if the filmmakers did not intend to make "Garden of Shadows" into a movie, I can understand the omission of Joel but it took a lot away from the story.

The characters of Chris and Cathy lacked any real passion or intensity. In the books, Cathy was stronger, more fiery and more of a fighter. The Cathy in this movie was a passive pushover. Cathy and Chris' relationship is always defined as intense and very sexual. That did not come across in this movie at all.

Bart and his adopted sister Cindy having sex and then later getting married? Definitely not from the book. Jory Marquet is descended from the Russian Ballet and was always described in the books as having jet black hair and blue eyes, very intense. The Jory from the movie did not fit the book character at all. Jory was much more fiery and passionate, in the movie, he was turned into a pathetic character who didn't stand up for himself at all.

All in all, this was a good movie but I believe the books are always better than the films. This was no exception to that rule. I would recommend seeing the movie but I would also recommend reading the books first so that you have a more accurate understanding of the characters. The "Flowers in the Attic" series is best understood if you read from beginning to end. Otherwise, it won't make any sense to you.

Seeds Continue To Grow

[Noirdame79 · 7/10 · 21 September 2018]

The last movie based on the V.C. Andrews Dollanganger series ranks, along with the previous installment, "If There Be Thorns" (2015) as the best of the bunch, and in the case of "Seeds Of Yesterday" that is in large part due to James Maslow's performance as Bart. In addition to being immensely good-looking, he has a commanding and magnetic presence and he shows the character's inner torment well, especially considering the running time. Rachel Carpani and Jason Lewis return as Cathy and Chris, and while I feel the chemistry and emotional pull of the characters is lacking, it does make this last sequel feel more consistent. Jory (Anthony Konechy) is portrayed quite well, although is character takes a backseat to Bart; the young females in the cast, particularly Sammi Hanratty as the adopted daughter and sister Cindy do well with what they were given, but once again, the lack of character development was an issue.

Fans of the novel will be disappointed and annoyed that the presumed dead uncle of Cathy and Chris, Joel Foxworth, who was a major character in the novel, was completely omitted and that the relationship between Bart and Cindy was turned romantic, which did not happen in the book (although there was a sexual undertone that was never acted on). It is likely that both time constraints and loosely adapting the material was at fault. Another problem as I stated previously is that Cathy and Chris had larger roles in the novel as well and what is missing is the emotional investment in the characters and the direction their lives ultimately take. The conclusion wraps things up rather hastily and as a result, the tragedy of the story, as well as hope for a new beginning for the descendants isn't nearly as moving as it could have been.

Watch this for James Maslow, and the slightly better budget and music, and put aside any expectations you might have if you have read the novels, and you might enjoy this film and the other movies in this series if you take them for what they are - glossy soap operas.

you take what you can get

[dutchchocolatecake · 7/10 · 22 April 2015]

I haven't reviewed the other three movies and almost didn't review this one, simply because there is no way to correctly deduce the expected outcome of a V.C. Andrews adaption. This is for two reasons: one being that the books are practically a genre unto themselves; and two because there have been no serious efforts made to properly adapt them into visual media that can fully encompass the batcrap crazy rabbit hole that is the writing of V.C. Andrews.

I say this with full respect to V.C. Andrews - she is by far, the most unlikely but gifted writer of her generation. Her books were meant to be notional, dramatic, and horrifying. V.C. Andrews books were marketed as horror books before they became franchised as family dramas. People say V.C. Andrews books are trash - I say they've sold millions copies so judge away, as Flowers in the Attic still enthralls every generation after it's initial publication.

Back to the review. Being that the Dollanganger Saga are all produced by Lifetime, it was a safe guess that they would get the evening news treatment. There is simply no way to accurately adapt one of V.C. Andrews' books without making it into a week-long miniseries. V.C. was a writer extremely and emotionally invested in her books to the point of self-imposed isolation and grieving after one of the characters died. For that, it's almost an insult that Lifetime would slap together a script so they could take advantage a series of books so notorious that Hollywood should have theoretically bought the filming rights decades ago.

But because they didn't, fans of the books will have to take what they can get. In this case, a separate movie for each book; the plot condensed and organized so that the viewer can follow along without having to think too much; with some titillating scenes sprinkled with 50 Shades of Grey mimicry.

That about sums up Seeds of Yesterday, as well as all the other movies. Yeah, I know, no book adaption will ever be the same as the book itself, but Seeds of Yesterday really deviated from the book (as if deviance even exists in the world of V.C. Andrews).

The movie is well made, and the acting is competent for the most part. It's no secret that Jason Maslow stole the show, and has great chemistry with Sammi Hanratty. However, in the book Cindy and Bart hate each other, and Cindy only provoked Bart because she hated him. Well, he did try to kill her as a child so is it really logical that Cindy would grow up and want to have sex with Bart? Not really. Not unless you fetishize dangerous and self-destructive behavior. In the book, I was never given a reason to believe that there was sexual tension between Cindy and Bart. Bart was too obsessed with getting the upper hand on Jory and Cindy displayed behavior that I can only describe as Borderline Personality Disorder. I also say that with respect, as your mother dying at an extremely young age and having a psychotic older brother that rejects you your whole life and even tries to kill you WILL, without a doubt, give you issues.

For those who have never read the books, you are probably wondering why incest didn't occur between Bart and Cindy in the books as the movie makes it look like a great idea considering Bart is both insane and his mother is married to her brother. I suspect that at the point of Seeds of Yesterday, V.C. Andrews got tired of writing about forbidden love vis-a-vis brother and sister; decided it played out enough with Cathy and Chris and so threw in the towel and called it a day. And that's okay! There's two entire books devoted to forbidden incest, did we really need another installment? Personally, I don't think so.

Then there's the absence of Joel Foxworth, who was supposed come back from the grave after being found and nursed back to health by monks in the Italian Alps where he would then live for the next fifty or so years (give or take a decade). Seeds of Yesterday, movie version, is bereft of the batty old man shuffling about Foxworth Hall making snide, undercutting remarks and sabotaging Bart's happiness which almost makes one want to feel sorry for him. Joel Foxworth humanizes Bart in such a way that the movie lacks, and so it's a loss to the movie series.

In conclusion, I am giving this movie a 7 out of 10; mostly because of the shameless butchering of the plot and what feels like a thinly transparent attempt to appeal to 50 Shades of Grey fans.

The Devil in Mr. Foxworth

[wes-connors · 4/10 · 16 April 2015]

The fourth (and, presumably, final) "Lifetime" TV-movie in the "Flowers in the Attic" (2014) series continues to focus on the children who took the spotlight in "If There Be Thorns" (2015). Blonde mom Rachael Carpani and doctor dad Jason Lewis and (as Cathy and Christopher "Chris" Dollanganger) return as the incestuous parents; they provide good-looking continuity and have more involvement in the storyline. However, they take a back seat to the story's newest entry in the crowded "shirtless hunk" character sweepstakes, handsome James Maslow (as Bartholomew "Bart" Foxworth). Here, he has restored the original Foxworth mansion, which burned to the ground in "Petals on the Wind" (2014). No slouch in the shirtless department, Anthony Konechny (as Jory Marquet) assumes the role as Mr. Maslow's brother...

The family gathers at the mansion to sort out inheritances and have uncontrolled sex with each other...

"Seeds of Yesterday" ups the arousing female quotient, which had dipped in the previous movie; however, there are no nipples. The new nymphomaniac in the mansion is sexually-charged Sammi Hanratty (as Cynthia "Cindy" Sheffield). The little blonde girl adopted in the previous story reveals her real worth, herein. Of course, she was meant to grow up and have sex with anyone willing, which she states is her insatiable "appetite." Also needing, as she says, "a man inside me," is ballet dancer Leah Gibson (as Melodie). Lead actor Maslow attracts every woman in the cast, even getting his mom on her knees for a suggestive scene. In between the sex, the story is lost and confused. Original author Virginia C. Andrews' characters seem only used to show various family members live simply to copulate with each other.

**** Seeds of Yesterday (4/12/15) Shawn Ku ~ James Maslow, Anthony Konechny, Sammi Hanratty, Rachael Carpani

Relatively true to the book version

[hyattjenny18 · 6/10 · 17 May 2022]

The storyline of the movie it pretty true to the book the acting is pretty good, however a major issue I had that was between the book adaptation and even the series of movies is that Foxworth Hall is supposed to be this really old gothic mansion not a modern house. The house that Bart built was supposed to be an exact replica of the original house. So I expected to see the same house used in the first movie for this movie not the case they used a more modern house.

Oh no, MORE cringe-worthy incestuous melodrama?

[SusieSalmonLikeTheFish · 3/10 · 11 June 2016]

I won't deny that this modern version of V.C. Andrews' 4th book in the Dollanganger series has a lot of cinematic style, highlighting the dark and ugly secrets of the rich and strange in a haunting and often surreal way. But Seeds of Yesterday just came across as lame and overdramatic. The acting was horrible for the most part, and the character of Cindy especially really got on my nerves. She's this wealthy, worldly dancer, almost an adult, so it makes sense for her to just blurt out "d!ckhead" at her brother like a five-year-old? The perverse sex scenes between siblings Cathy and Christopher were just shudder-inducing, disgusting and frankly silly. The film takes place in an earlier point in time, yet every character talks just like a 21st century hipster. All of them act like children. The constant lines such as Bart's "your wife can't stay off my junk" and the pretentious speech style of the immature and dysfunctional family seemed out of place and a little stupid.

I honestly think that this film series has been stretched out much longer than it needed to be, and that it's just a cash cow for a company already known for making identical films about shallow cookie-cutter families. I never would've thought that Lifetime would be the company to revive this twisted series, and instead of focusing on giving the story some depth, they just kept on piling up the shock value of the incest, sexual phrases and violent theatrics. I just kept laughing the whole way through, because it's impossible to take Seeds of Yesterday seriously.

Good end to the Dollanganger series

[dhainline1 · 8/10 · 21 April 2015]

I thought even without Corinne's religious brother, Joel making a sudden appearance like he did in the book, the ending of the Dollanganger series was satisfactory. James Maslow made an excellent Bart Foxworth (Dollanganger was a funny name Cathy, Chris, Carrie and Cory's father found in the genealogy). Foxworth was the real last name of this family. James was creepy, attractive, and rather scary as the ultra-religious Bart who thinks his family is mired in sin and will all suffer from hell's torment. The other characters were great and I thought the newborn twins who were Deirdre and Darren Marquet (older brother Jory's children) were adorable! Sammy Hanratty as slutty younger adopted Cindy was great and she and James Maslow had a love/hate sexual relationship. The last scene with Cathy going up to the attic of the mansion and yellow flowers appearing was a fitting closure to this series!

Fourth in the Dollanganger series

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 29 December 2015]

Corrine is dead and the Foxworth Manor has been rebuilt. It is expected that religious Bart is inheriting the family fortune on his 25th birthday after years of psychiatric treatment and poisoned by Malcolm's journal. His parents Cathy and Christopher Sheffield have been managing the money for him. He has changed his name from Sheffield to Foxworth. His brother Jory is a star ballet dancer and his wife Melodie announces her pregnancy. Adopted sister Cindy overhears Bart talking about insurance on Jory over the phone. Jory performs for Bart's 25th birthday and is paralyzed by a suspicious accident. Bart and Melodie start having an affair. An extra clause in the will leaves control of the fortune to Christopher for another 10 years.

Sorry for the Star Wars reference. I like that Bart is fully Darth Vader. There is no more Anakin. It makes it much more fun. He is deliciously crazy and evil. He makes this better than 'If There Be Thorns'. As Lifetime movies go, this series is better than most. It's an overwrought soap.

So Over the Top. I Mean, Really?

[shannonlong636 · 2/10 · 29 July 2020]

My advice: just read the books. The acting in this mess of a movie is so bad it's laughable. But then again, what do you expect when you cast a mediocre washed up boy band member in the lead role? It's really sad how they destroyed a very good story by casting the worst actors I've ever had the misfortune to come across. Yeah, the story is twisted and it's not everyone's cup of tea but had they done this series right it could have been powerful and moving just as the novels were.

More Warped Than A Crumpled Car Wreck

[alephnullfidusachates · 8/10 · 28 November 2021]

I haven't read the book so I'm not here to compare the unadulterated designs of the author with the intentions of the producer and director, but I've got to say if you could pile up the twisted, callus, depravity within this movie into one heap, you would either need a good pair of hiking boots or a chairlift to reach the top of this depraved mountain of sociopaths.

So there is a generous amount of good looking cast members who play their perverted parts brilliantly, to the point where you find yourself feeling disgusted but still intrigued enough to not look away (without the producers having to resort to graphic imagery).

This is one lunatic ride you've got no control over and will be happy when the journey is over.

Awful Waste

[rylea-66752 · 1/10 · 4 January 2020]

This movie is a steaming pile of trash, and I would highly recommend not watching if you enjoyed the book it shares a title with. The entire plot is different than the book and unfortunately not in a good way. The shifts from the original story are strange, make no sense for the characters, and are clearly put there for shock value alone. It does horrible injustice to the character of Bart, taking away all of the character development to instead make him a sociopathic villain. The hatred for his mother is completely unfounded when they added a romantic relationship with his adoptive sister. He blames her for all their family's troubles completely due to incest and then they make it different cause she is adopted? And somehow them doing the dirty makes the attempted murder of two of his immediate relatives all fine and dandy. I'm so disappointed by the choices made as it turned all the characters into superficial sex objects. If you're only in it for the lifetime telling of it then I suppose there is plenty of shock and awe to please you.

Continuance of lemon and cheese on Lifetime

[cjgrant-33603 · 3/10 · 10 November 2022]

After seeing the film twice what truly resonates is the unequivocy of the casting, the mixture and blend of age made for a hard watch due to the reality of an incestual relationship (which if cast appropriately could have been pulled off and allos social commentary on the actual plot line) as opposed to yelling at the TV and lack of continuity agent.

Taken out of the Lifetime network and enhanced with more diverse and gripping dialogue and attention to detail the movie's plot and antagonists could thrive. I look forward to the director and the casting team revealing their next piece of 'entertainment' as this film hits the mark for irony and pseudo black comedy which is cleverly obfuscating the brilliance of the lemon.

Terrible

[shackleton-klm-915-924630 · 1/10 · 24 January 2021]

I can't believe what a terrible movie this is !!!! Had to keep watching it to the end purely to see if there was any substance to it but I can assure you there's not !!! Total rubbish .

I Like It But

[IMKidHunni · 10/10 · 17 July 2022]

I like this but the character of Bart is so hateful towards his mom & his uncle/dad & this love hate relationship for his adoptive sister I don't know why Bart has be so judgemental & Jory's wife is a cheater who doesn't love Jory

But it's a ok movie.