Little Shop of Horrors
Amazon.co.uk Review
Even by Roger Corman’s thrifty standards, The Little Shop of Horrors was a masterpiece of micro-budget movie-making. Scripted in a week and shot, according to Corman, in two days and one night, it made use of a pre-existing store-front set that serves as the florist’s shop where most of the action takes place. Our hero is shambling loser Seymour Krelboined, sad-sack assistant at Mushnick’s skid-row flower shop and who is hopelessly in love with Audrey, his fellow worker. Threatened with the sack by Mushnick, Seymour brings in a strange plant he’s been breeding at home, hoping it’ll attract the customers. It does, and the store starts to prosper, but Seymour is horrified to discover that the only thing the plant will thrive on is blood, fresh, human blood at that.
The sets are pasteboard, the acting is way over the top, and altogether Little Shop is an unabashed high-camp spoof, not to be taken seriously for a second. Even so, Corman notes that this was the movie “that established me as an underground legend”. Charles Griffith, the film’s screenwriter, plays the voice of the insatiable plant (“FEED ME!”), and billed way down the cast list is a very young Jack Nicholson in a bizarre, giggling cameo as Wilbur Force, a masochistic dental patient demanding ever more pain. The film’s cult status got it turned into an off-Broadway hit musical in the 1980s, with a great pastiche doo-wop score by Alan Menken, which was subsequently filmed in 1986. The musical remake is a lot of fun, but it misses the ramshackle charm of the original.
On the DVD: Little Shop of Horrors on disc does not even boast a trailer, just some minimal onscreen background info about the production. The clean transfer, 4:3 ratio, and digitally remastered mono sound faithfully recapture Corman’s bargain-basement production values. –Philip Kemp
but not gory at all. could be more frightning but even as a comedy it’s fun. dialogs esp. those of the italian boss (“I didnt do it!”) are great
Rating: 4 / 5
Well i think it is safe to say that most people know the story of Little Shop of Horrors – clumsy nerd grows strange and exotic plant that has a taste for people!! Its a venus fly trap with a slightly Alfred Hitchcock edge! I believe that the musical was based on this black comedy, but it seems to have only taken the bare bones of the story. This film is very dark and very typical of black comedy of the time! The quality of the sound and picture leave room for improvement but then again it is quite an old film. I loved the remake with Rick Moranis and also adored the stage version, but this, although interesting to watch, wasn’t even a patch on them. Jack Nicholson has a very small cameo role but seems to be starring in the film according to the cover!!! Very confusing.
Rating: 3 / 5
This is pure genius. The sheer ludicrous nature of the story.. the fast pace.. the randomness.. it’s fantastic. I love this movie.. it’s still funny even today.. in a deranged black kinda way. the musical’s pretty damn good too.
Rating: 4 / 5
This is a brilliant film made in a very shoty time and on a low buget. Its fun and quirky and delivers some great lines. Acting is bad but its supposed to be and adds to the satire of the film. Jack Nicolson is chillingly familiar in casting type, a mad funeral director who likes pain!!! Look out for the sterotypical bimbo who works in the flower shop who is forever getting words wrong, really OTT! a fun family film and a classic
Rating: 4 / 5
If you liked The Rocky Horror Picture Show, then you will love this little gem, except not a lettuce, this time its a giant venus fly trap with an attitude to die for!
The film is captivating from the very beginning, the musical side of the story accentuates the rather irrelevant plot with wit and ease. The DVD itself is fine, there are a couple of good features but to be honest if you buy this DVD then the film itself is enough of a “special feature”.
It is a must have for any half decent DVD collection, it’s just “one of those films”, please… buy… enjoy, and tear down that greenhouse in your back garden!!!
Rating: 4 / 5