Reel Deep Dive

Little Shop of Horrors (1986)


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There must have been a time when the very existence of Little Shop of Horrors seemed like an oddity. It is, after all, a campy musical about a killer plant whose songbook cribs liberally from mid-20th century R&B music. However, after several decades worth of amateur productions and a steady presence on both cable TV and streaming services, Little Shop of Horrors has established itself as a persistent mainstay in the popular consciousness.


Both Ryan and Rachel participated in school productions of Little Shop and they talk about their experiences as they deconstruct the 1986 film adaptation. Other points of discussion include the movie's ridiculously loaded cast, its Roger Corman-directed source material, the infamous original ending, the film's odd stature as a cultural ambassador, and its subtextual nods to white flight and moral compromise.

Rachel takes a crack at impersonating Ellen Greene's affect for Audrey, but she didn't have the temerity to attempt Levi Stubbs' vocalizations for Audrey II.

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Reel Deep DiveBy Ryan Valentine

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