Little Shop of Horrors (1986) Review

 

Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

Little Shop of Horrors follows Seymour, a lowly florist shop worker who discovers a mysterious plant which he names Audrey II. He runs into trouble however when he finds out what it eats—blood.

This dark musical comedy, which I just found out is a remake of a 1960 Roger Corman film, but adapted from the 1982 Off Broadway musical, is further proof that the 80s were a hell of a time for science fiction movies. I’ve been fascinated with this film since I was a kid, every since I saw a stage production of it and somehow, it just keeps getting better with time. The story is adapted near perfectly, keeping all of the best elements and adding it’s own unique flair to it that is sweet, curious, and darkly hilarious. The comedic timing is spot on and every joke lands so well because it’s always so unexpected, being unusually crude in nature.

What is so artistically unique about this though is its 1960s setting, playing off the time period so wonderfully in it’s style, do-wop/early rock n roll soundtrack, and the attitudes presented. The production quality was really thought out too, keeping the broadway tone, but with a bigger budget, full sets, and insanely well-detailed animatronics for Audrey II, which always feels, looks, and acts like a real plant (apart from his (?) ability to speak, crude language, and people eating diet, obviously).

We also get terrific cast of comedy superstars, starring Bill Murray, Ellen Greene, Steve Martin, Vincent Gardenia, Rick Moranis, and the outrageously funny Levi Stubbs. Stubbs is iconic as Audrey II, with his boisterous voice and obscene humor oh so quotable. Moranis brings so much goofy purity that bounces off well with Greenes overdramatic, damsel-y blonde stereotype (which I used to hate but have really come to love).

Little Shop of Horrors, directed by the master of puppetry, Frank Oz, is a ridiculous but unbelievably fun, off-beat and raunchy comedy that provides fantastic musical pieces and hysterical laughs, all tied to together with heartfelt, 60s B-horror comedy in this near-perfect Broadway to screen adaption.

9/10