Little Shop of Horrors Movie to Screen at New York Film Festival with Original Violent Ending

The 1986 film adaptation of the cult musical Little Shop of Horrors will be screened with its original ending at the New York Film Festival on September 29. As a part of the Masterworks series, Frank Oz’s classic film, which features music by Alan Menken and a screenplay and lyrics by Howard Ashman, will feature 20 minutes of never-before-seen footage. Ellen Greene, who plays Audrey in the classic film, and director Frank Oz are scheduled to make appearances at the Director’s Cut screening.

Based on the 1960 film comedy and subsequent musical adaptation of the same name, the 1986 film adaptation of Little Shop of Horrors starred Rick Moranis as Seymour, Ellen Greene as Audrey, Steve Martin as Orin Scrivello, Levi Stubbs as Audrey II and Vincent Gardenia as Mushnik. Little Shop of Horrors is the story of Seymour (Moranis), a florist’s assistant who accidentally discovers a flourishing new plant that could save his boss’ floundering business. The only catch is the plant has a thirst for human blood. After test audiences responded poorly to the film's grim original ending, in which Audrey II escapes and attacks the entire world, the original ending was replaced with a more uplifting sequence for its theatrical release.

The musical version of Little Shop of Horrors originally opened at off-Broadway’s Orpheum Theatre on July 27, 1982, starring Greene as Audrey and Lee Wilkof as Seymour. The production ran for 2,209 performances before closing on November 1, 1987. In 2003, the musical was revived on Broadway starring Hunter Foster, Kerry Butler and Douglas Sills. Screen star Joseph Gordon-Levitt is reportedly developing a remake of the cult film alongside Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark playwright Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa.