Little Shop of Horrors (PG-13)

Comic book creepiness, jazzy tunes, and fab cast.

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Common Sense rates it
4
Seen the movie? Review it
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Movie details
  • Studio: Warner Bros.
  • Directed By: Frank Oz
  • Cast: Steve Martin, Rick Moranis
  • Running Time: 94 minutes
  • Release Date: 12/19/1986
  • Video/DVD Release Date: 12/19/2000
  • Genre: Musical
  • MPAA Rating: PG-13
  • MPAA Explanation: language, mature themes and violence

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this musical has dark themes and is not for children or very sensitive viewers. It's campy noir not meant to be taken seriously, but the dark comedic plot involves a sinister dentist who tortures his patients, and a flesh-eating plant that devours human parts in a graphic feeding scene. Some of the serious issues, like abusive relationships and ultimately murder, twitch under the plot's campy mechanics.

Families can talk about abuse and bullying in relationships. Why is Audrey dating such a creep? Is Seymour right to want to off the dentist? What would happen if Audrey had not been "saved" by Seymour?

Message

Social Behavior:

Seymour wants to save Audrey from her abusive boyfriend-- an honorable idea, though the means to the end are not.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

The dentist abuses laughing gas in a very creepy way.

Violence

The man-eating plant demands to be fed. It gets gory from there on. Also, the sadistic dentist is pretty scary.

Sex

Audrey wears very provocative clothes and refers to kinky antics.

Language

Man-eating plant has dirty vocabulary.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Joly Herman

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS is a little twisted, through and through, which makes for a creepy, and very entertaining, musical. It is set on "Skid Row," a dreary and depressed section of "Downtown," where on a grubby corner sits a little flower shop owned by Mr. Mushnik. He is assisted by a buxom blonde named Audrey and his tenant, Seymour, who seems to do everything wrong. One day, an unexpected solar eclipse catches the residents of the city unaware. Shortly thereafter, Seymour finds a fascinating plant on his shopping route that he adopts. Business is bad for Mr. Mushnik's flower stand -- he is about to close shop when Seymour suggests that his strange plant be placed in the window to attract customers. Sure enough, customers begin to pour in, and Seymour is left with a conundrum: just how will he feed his new plant when it begins to demand more than meager drops of his blood? Enter the demented dentist (played to the hilt by Steve Martin) and throw in the fact that the dentist treats Audrey like trash, and the stage is set for "foul play."

Is it any good?

4
No it's not for the faint of heart, but LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS is a classic. With Frank Oz of SESAME STREET and THE MUPPET MOVIES at the helm, the premise of a man-eating plant charming its way to stardom isn't too hard to imagine. The plot is campy sci-fi at its best, which works well with the do-wop soundtrack. The music is very good -- with Levi Stubbs of The Four Tops doing the plant's voice -- and the solos by Rick Moranis and Ellen Greene hit unexpected emotional notes. Cameos from Bill Murray, John Candy, Jim Belushi and Christopher Guest increase the star power of this talented ensemble.

Though it's thoroughly entertaining, there are some scary scenes in THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS that may not be appropriate for some viewers. All those misgivings about going to the dentist are played upon like a raw nerve. Some viewers might want to fast forward through the dentist scenes altogether -- which is why discerning parents should preview this DVD for themselves. Other viewers may not be fazed at all, but be warned nonetheless.

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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 3 reviews.

5


Posted on 07/27/08 by brak show345 Kid contributor, age 10

more of a musical than a horror movie.

4


Posted on 04/23/07 by amber_32 Kid contributor, age 13
3


Posted on 11/17/06 by tphillips Adult contributor

Adult Reviews

There are 1 reviews.

3


Posted on 11/17/06 by tphillips Adult contributor

Kids Reviews

There are 2 reviews.

5


Posted on 07/27/08 by brak show345 Kid contributor, age 10

more of a musical than a horror movie.

4


Posted on 04/23/07 by amber_32 Kid contributor, age 13
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