The Long Dark Marathon of the Soul 2014: Little Shop of Horrors (1986), directed by Frank Oz

The Trailer

and

The Appropriate Tune: "Feed Me (Git It)", by Rick Moranis and Levi Stubbs

     The Little Shop of Horrors first appeared in way back in 1960. Directed by B-movie king Roger Corman and featuring a young Jack Nicholson, the film dealt with a young nerd named Seymour who achieved great success in life with the help of a little murder. In 1982, the film was adapted into a musical for the stage, because literally everything in the world can and will be adapted into a musical. In 1986, the musical version of Little Shop of Horrors was adapted into a film by Frank Oz, better known as Yoda in the original Star Wars films and puppeteer to Ms. Piggy and various other Muppet character. The original film is, at least in my opinion, an exercise in complete boredom and not really worth the time to watch aside from the Nicholson appearance. The film we’re here to highlight is the musical.

     Starring Rick Moranis as Seymour, Ellen Greene as Audrey, and featuring John Candy, Steve Martin and Bill Murray, Little Shop of Horrors centers around the life of Seymour, who in the basement of a florist’s in a rundown part of the city known as Skid Row. Seymour is a complete milquetoast, who pines for fellow employee Audrey, who is locked in an abusive relationship with biker/dentist Orin Scrivello (Martin). Seymour’s only dreams in life are to be with Audrey and to escape the prison that is Skid Row, which seems increasingly less possible as time goes on. That is, of course, until he comes across a particularly strange planet from outer space with the voice of one of the Four Tops, an insatiable lust for human blood, and the answers to all his problems (and great puppetry as well, Audrey II looks fucking fantastic in this movie). All he has to do is feed it…

     The closest thing I think of that is similar in tone to LSoH is the cult 70’s musical The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and I doubt very much that it’s a coincidence. Both films are liberal in their use of colour, making each scene seem to burst with energy. Both films take the aesthetic of a previous decade and warp with devilish glee. Both films have a twisted sense of humour, whether it’s Frankenfurter singing about being an alien transvestite or Bill Murray as the masochistic dental patient, it’s all fantastically irreverent. Most importantly of all though, both films have a great soundtrack, with great people performing the songs. So if you’re looking to sate your hunger for musical this Halloween, why not give this a try?