Random Movie Review - Little Shop of Horrors

Our first film review for October is a film that while a horror is actually a musical and funny both of which are rare sub genres in a genre that is largely dominated with serious and scary stuff. Based on the stage musical which in term is based on the 1960 film both of the same name (will review that film one of these days I'm sure), we have a little film featuring some familiar faces and a Venus flytrap that gives the Piranha Plants of Super Mario fame a run for its money. All while being directed by a Jim Henson Company legend, Frank Oz who many of you know as being the voice and puppeteer of many of your favourite Muppets characters. So yes this looks like a lot of fun so let's have a look:

Set in the early 1960s, we get a three girl chorus who introduce and narrate the film through song. We meet Seymour Krelborn (played by the now off the radar actor Rick Moranis) who works at a flower shop within a run down neighbourhood in New York. With the shop not doing so well, the owner Mr. Mushnik (played by the late Vincent Gardenia) contemplates on closing it down until his colleague Audrey (played by Ellen Greene) suggests putting an unusual plant that Seymour owns on the store shelf. The unusual plant in question is a Venus flytrap which is named Audrey II (operated by many and voiced by one person, Levi Stubbs) and upon putting it in the store, it immediately attracts costumers. But Seymour later learns that the plant may not be as it seems and is forced to do its bidding while remaining unaware of its true intentions.

This is a fun film. While the majority of it looks like it was shot on a film set (as it should be for many films), its got some great musical numbers, some good if not goofy acting from all the cast and some great work on the plant. The film is a cult hit and has become widely known for having two different endings. One that the studio (which in this case is Warner Brothers) wanted and one that Frank Oz wanted. If it were a game, one ending is the clear happy one and the other is the clear sad or bad one. But yeah a fun film with some laughs, great music and some horror elements too. 9/10