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Stars: Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, Vincent Gardenia
Director: Frank Oz
Distributor: Warner Bros.

“I definitely need a long, slow root canal.”

The first of three evening feature films at Day Two of 2026’s GASP! Horror Film Festival was none other than a special 40th anniversary screening of Little Shop of Horrors! Quite extraordinary in its existence: a film adaptation of the stage musical, that is an adaptation of the 60s Roger Corman B-movie. Starring Rick Moranis, Little Shop of Horrors is a camp delight, fully stacked and equipped with (literally) out of the world animatronics.

Rick Moranis is absolutely delightful as Seymour, a typically nerdly florist within the dusty and dated Mushnik’s Flower Shop. Mr Mushnik himself, played by Vincent Gardenia, is frustrated and dismal to the ends of the Earth with little to no customers frequenting his store. In addition, Audrey (Ellen Greene), Seymour’s co-worker love interest for whom he and Mr Mushnik are enraged with frustration as she is continually beaten and battered by her famed dentist boyfriend – played by an aggressively ridiculous Steve Martin with the blackest hair imaginable. Surely, only something out of this world could save them all from the misery of life downtown on Skid Row…

Luckily, Seymour has come into possession of an extraterrestrial plant.. A fly-trap style plant dubbed Audrey II after Audrey, gains the attention of the masses. From glum to glamour, Mushnik’s is revitalised and offers hope for Mr Mushnik, Seymour, and Audrey. However, Audrey II is a plant like no other, and is hungry. A growing alien plant voiced by Levi Stubbs can only withstand such puny meals for so long.

Additionally arguable, is that Little Shop of Horrors is responsible for one of the greatest presentations of monster-animatronics/puppetry. The evolution of Audrey II is truly incredible. Terrifying as it is magnificent, nothing comes close to the floral majesty that is present.

On the flipside, however, Little Shop of Horrors isn’t completely terrific as a musical. Whilst the musical numbers and routines are catchy, and wholesome when appropriate, the film itself just feels more engaging outside of the songs. To a very unpopular extent, many, maybe most, of the musical numbers feel out of place.

Of course, Little Shop of Horrors is absolutely robust in its presentation of Saturday Night Live alumni. Certainly arguable that the array of cameos are more memorable that the rest of the film. Bill Murray, as a very keen dental patient, is the obvious show-stealer – as is the antagonistic dentist himself on a frequent basis.

Ultimately, Little Shop of Horrors from Frank Oz is a stupidly fun gem of its time. The Muppets legend delivers a completely bonkers, camp, and ridiculous story. Levi Stubbs provides the most engaging and fantastic voice performance as Audrey II which, timely, goes perfectly hand-in-hand with the visual majesty of Audrey II itself.

Prime Rick Moranis excels as the Rick Moranis we know and love from the 80s, whilst Steve Martin takes a hilarious and memorable turn to villainy. A film that purposely champions its stage surrounds, Little Shop of Horrors is an essential piece of genre bending cinema.