The term “Little Shop of Horrors” refers to two films as well as a musical. The first film was a comedy released in 1960. Little Shop of Horrors, an off-Broadway musical based on the film, premiered in 1982 and was revived on Broadway in 2003. The musical was also adapted into a film in 1986, titled Little Shop of Horrors.
The Plot
The story begins in a florist’s shop in Los Angeles, where Audrey and Seymour work for Gravis Mushnick, in the 1960 film version of Little Shop of Horrors. Seymour is fired after making a mistake while preparing an arrangement for a dentist. Seymour brings in Audrey Jr., a plant he cross-bred himself from a Venus flytrap and a butterwort, in the hopes of overturning the decision. Mushnick is unimpressed with the plant because it appears sickly. When a customer suggests the plant might be of international interest, Mushnick gives Seymour a week to bring it back to life.
Seymour uses his own blood for a while after accidentally discovering that the plant craves it, and while he grows weaker, Audrey Jr. grows stronger, bringing in customers. Audrey Jr. gains the ability to speak and begins to demand more food. Seymour is at a loss for what to do when, in a fit of rage, he throws a rock, accidentally knocking down a man, who is then run over by a train. Audrey Jr. is fed by Seymour’s body. Mushnick returns to the store unexpectedly and sees what Seymour is feeding the plant, but abandons his plan to call the cops as more people come to see the plant.
When Seymour arrives at work with a toothache, Mushnick sends him to the dentist; however, Seymour refuses to have his teeth pulled and accidentally kills the dentist in the process. Seymour is upset, but he feeds Audrey Jr. with his body once more. Audrey Jr. grows bigger and stronger and buds as the police question Mushnick, who remains silent. Seymour and Audrey start dating around this time.
The opening of Audrey Jr’s buds is timed to coincide with a botanical organization’s ceremony honoring Seymour, which is also attended by the police. When the buds open, the faces of the dead men emerge from the flowers, and Seymour flees, pursued by the cops. Seymour takes a knife and crawls into Audrey Jr’s mouth to try to kill the plant while eluding the cops. When the cops arrive with Mushnick and Audrey, they discover Audrey Jr. on the verge of dying and a final bud that reveals Seymour’s face.
Changes to the plot
The plot of the musical Little Shop of Horrors, with lyrics by Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken, has been changed: Seymour is conned by Mushnik, and Audrey is dating an abusive dentist. Audrey II, the plant, incites Seymour to murder the dentist, both to aid Audrey and to provide food for the plant. Seymour sets up the murder and then runs away, but the dentist overdoses on nitrous oxide and Seymour lets him die. Audrey admits to being in love with Seymour, despite being disturbed by the dentist’s death and disappearance, and they make plans to go away together. Audrey II warns Seymour that unless he gets rid of Mushnik, he’ll lose everything. Mushnik accuses Seymour of murdering the dentist. Manipulated once more, Seymour convinces Mushnik to reach into Audrey’s mouth, where he is devoured, and Seymour inherits the flower ship.
Seymour considers killing Audrey II, but he believes Audrey’s attraction to him is tied to the plant, so he holds off for a while, though he soon changes his mind. Audrey, however, goes to the flower shop looking for Seymour when he isn’t there and is enticed by the plant close enough to grab her. After requesting that she be fed to Audrey II when she dies, Seymour tries to save her, but she dies in his arms. Seymour complies with her request.
The following day, a representative from a botanical organization arrives with plans to take cuttings and propagate Audrey II all over the world, and Seymour realizes that the plant had intended to take over the world all along. He tries several methods to kill it, including using a machete to kill it from the inside, but he fails, and the cuttings are taken. Audrey II edging menacingly towards the audience, intent on devouring them, brings the musical to a close.
During a solar eclipse in the 1986 film Little Shop of Horrors, Seymour mysteriously discovers a plant from outer space. The plot follows the musical’s structure until Audrey II eats the dentist. In this version, Mushnik makes a deal with Seymour that if Mushnik is allowed to care for Audrey II, he will protect him from prosecution for the dentist. Mushnik is eaten in the first test run. Audrey is also tried to be eaten by the plant, but Seymour saves her. He declines the botanical organization’s offer and electrocutes the plant, which has already produced offspring. Seymour marries Audrey, but there is a little Audrey III bud in front of their house. An alternate ending was cut from the film.