Little Shop of Horrors - So Very Weird
A Revolutionary Puppet: Audrey II was an animatronic marvel created by Lyle Conway. The plant’s movements were so complex that scenes involving it were filmed in slow motion to synchronize perfectly with the actors.
Two Endings: The theatrical version ends on a lighter note due to poor test audience reactions to the original dark ending. The Director’s Cut restores the bleak conclusion where Audrey II takes over the world.
Ellen Greene’s Transition: Ellen Greene reprised her role as Audrey from the original stage production. She adapted her performance to better suit the tone of a film, delivering both comedy and genuine vulnerability.
Star-Studded Cameos: The film features memorable appearances by Bill Murray as the masochistic dental patient Arthur Denton and John Candy as radio host Wink Wilkinson.
Oscar-Nominated Music: The song “Mean Green Mother from Outer Space” was nominated for an Academy Award and became the first Oscar-nominated song to feature profanity.
Inspired by Roger Corman: The 1986 film reimagines the low-budget 1960 original into a lavish production, preserving its campy charm while adding high-quality music and effects.
Set in England: The film was shot entirely on soundstages at Pinewood Studios in England, giving it a theatrical, almost storybook-like appearance.
Rick Moranis’ Transformation: Rick Moranis trained extensively to perfect Seymour’s character, a blend of awkwardness and heart, making him one of the film's most beloved features.
Broadway Dreams: The success of the film helped cement the popularity of the stage musical, which continues to be performed worldwide.
Audrey II’s Voice: Levi Stubbs of the Motown group The Four Tops brought charisma and menace to Audrey II, making the plant as memorable as its human castmates.
