This afternoon, as I typed yet another paper and prayed to my iPod to provide me with some inspiration, I was rewarded with this:
Originally drawn to the film because of my slight obsession with Steve Martin, I absolutely fell in love with Little Shop of Horrors (1986) after viewing it for the first time a couple of years ago. Fundamentally, the story centers on a young man named Seymour who is in love with a young woman named Audrey that works with at Mushnik’s Skid Row Florist. Trapped in an abusive relationship, Audrey does not dare show her true feelings for Seymour because she fears her boyfriend Orin’s wrath. Meanwhile, Seymour discovers a giant plant resembling a Venus Flytrap following a suspicious eclipse and names it Audrey II after the woman with whom he is in love. Quite by accident, Seymour discovers that Audrey II does not need water to grow but blood. Hence, comedic chaos and musical number ensue! Eventually, Seymour will bring the abusive Orin to Audrey II as a substitute for plant food followed by his boss, Mr. Mushnik. Seymour believes that he is achieving everything he wanted and more. Little does Seymour know, Audrey II is an alien who has more nefarious plans in which he and other aliens like him take over the world. The film ends with Audrey II eating Seymour and beginning his quest for world domination.
Pretty epic, no?
Ruminating on the film today, I was surprised to find that the film contains many of Carroll’s characteristics of horror – a fitting fact considering the title! The most obvious aspect of the film that coincides with Carroll’s idea of “art horror” is the character of Audrey II. One of my favorite monsters, Audrey II is not only scientifically impossible but also threatening and disgusting. Biologically, he is an inanimate plant that craves blood. Psychologically, he is an animate alien that plans the destruction of the human race. He is powerful, manipulating, and has a large mouth full of sharp, white teeth. He inspires disgust and revolt in the viewer, which is then tempered and emphasized by comedy. In essence, Audrey II is the embodiment of what Carroll would call an “art horror” monster while his story is a humorous, satirical (albeit pensive) examination of the human condition. For me, the beauty of horror films lie in their ability to communicate universal truths and social injustices by displaying the reality of human failure and misunderstanding. After all, if Lovecraft and Carroll are correct in assuming that most of our horror/terror comes from a fear of the unknown, isn’t humanity’s failure to understand the epitome of the unknown?
1 comment:
I agree with Rachel about the art horror of the monster in little shop of horrors. Gruesome and disgusting and impossible. Audrey II is definitely a beast to be reckoned with by Seymour. It is one thing just to be a blood thirsty plant, but an alien race trying to dominate the world as well, it's game over. This plant is not only blood thirsty but also incredibly intelligent, and as Rachel said, very manipulating. It talks to Seymour and tells him if he keeps feeding him all his dreams will come true and to a point they did. Serymour got rid of Audrey's abusive man and in turn got the girl. Even in the end after defeating Audrey II was a power line and electrocuting him he got the house of his dreams with the woman he loved. As you see their house together though, you see a little Audrey II plant in their front yard, are they really through of this man-eating diabolical plant? It is still a great movie with a terrifying monster art horror monster.
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