Little Shop of Horrors 🪴
Little Shop of Horrors 🪴
Happy Monday and happy last week of January! We did it. I’m talking about an old favorite of mine today, one to dance around your home to.
🍿 Today’s movie: Little Shop of Horrors is one of the great stage-to-film adaptations
Today’s movie is cult classic Little Shop of Horrors (1986), a movie musical adapted from the off-Broadway show of the same name. Though it wasn’t considered a success, it was nominated for two Oscars — Best Visual Effects and Best Original Song for “Mean Green Mother from Outer Space,” the first song with profanity to be nominated. Here’s what it’s about:
Seymour (Rick Moranis), a nerdy flower shop worker, spends his days crushing on co-worker Audrey (Ellen Greene) and berated by his boss (Vincent Gardenia) and Audrey’s boyfriend (Steve Martin). Seymour finds a mysterious plant that launches him into fame, but also requires blood to live… and when it doesn’t get it, he sings. [Trailer // 94 mins]
Why you should watch it: Though Little Shop of Horrors centers on a giant puppet of an alien venus flytrap, it’s a movie musical that holds nothing back on its humor, story, or political undertones. From Martin’s sadistic dentist to Bill Murray’s hilarious cameo, and a giant singing alien plant to a doo-wop trio acting as a Greek chorus, it’s impossible not to be sucked into the world of Skid Row.
The Director's Cut finds an appropriate melancholic completion in the fun and campy romp that is Little Shop of Horrors. What I love about it is that it leans completely into its roots and presents itself as the scrappy musical comedy as it is rather than trying to polish or elevate the material. It leans into a stage musical sensibility that makes it effortless to watch. It helps that the source material is perfect to begin with.
📺 Also available to buy or rent
Have a great week!
See you Thursday —
Karl