LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (1986) d. Frank Oz (USA)
Tonight we’re talking about Little Shop of Horrors—a title that refers to two very different movies yet equally beloved cult classics that share a carnivorous plant, a down-on-his-luck florist, and a surprisingly dark sense of humor.
His chatty botanical creation—Audrey Junior—is born with a taste for blood, a thirst that grows as rapidly as it does. While the film barely made a ripple on its release in 1960, over time it gained a cult status through late-night TV and repertory screenings, helped along by its oddball tone and an early cameo from future superstar and Corman regular Jack Nicholson.
Said scrappy little no-budget movie eventually caught the attention of composer Alan Menken and lyricist Howard Ashman, and their eventual off-Broadway musical in 1982 fused doo-wop, Motown, and musical theater with horror comedy and social satire. Reframed as a Faustian bargain with memorable tunes and cartoonish characters, the show was a surprise hit, and producer David Geffen immediately began conceiving of a way to offer filmgoers something even grander via Hollywood’s ever-evolving technology.
The final product, released in 1986 and directed by Muppet Master Frank Oz, delivered a glossy, effects-heavy, star-studded crowd-pleasing spectacle that managed to honor its humble origins even as it created an entirely new generation of fans.
Join AC and his incredible band of botanical buddies (Dave M Gray, Jay Kay, Anna Maurya, Mary Manchester) as we celebrate both versions of Little Shop, the theadbare no-budget joke and the blockbuster musical hit. From the tiniest seeds of inspiration, mighty and monstrous things are growing down at Mushnik’s!
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