Not since the classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers have we been treated to a science fiction film property that dives deep into the potential sinister effects of plant life (we’re going to excuse M. Night Shyamalan’s The Happening because, well, it wasn’t fully baked).
The latest attempt to approach this category of sci-fi comes in the form of Little Joe, a film about a plant genetically engineered to affect human behavior. And that’s when things get a little crazy.
Synopsis: “Little Joe follows Alice (Emily Beecham), a single mother and dedicated senior plant breeder at a corporation engaged in developing new species. She has engineered a special crimson flower, remarkable not only for its beauty but also for its therapeutic value: if kept at the ideal temperature, fed properly and spoken to regularly, this plant makes its owner happy.
“Against company policy, Alice takes one home as a gift for her teenage son, Joe. They christen it ‘Little Joe.’ But as their plant grows, so too does Alice’s suspicion that her new creation may not be as harmless as its nickname suggests.”
The film debuts on December 6.
Cover image via Magnolia Pictures & Magnet Releasing/YouTube
