Seymour Kreilboind is a nervous, slow-witted assistant to Gravis Mushnik at his florist shop, Mushnick’s Florist. Mushnik is fed up with Seymour’s incompetence and is about to fire him when Burson Fouch, a customer who eats flowers), tells him to allow Seymour to stay employed there if he can show that his “special” plant (Seymour told them) can attract more customers. Seymour runs home, where his mother’s a senile, alcoholic, hypochondriac woman, and gets his almost dead plant. He named it Audrey Jr., after Mushnick’s sales girl Audrey Fulquard whom he has a crush on. Mushnick’s skeptical about it but agrees to give Seymour ten days to prove his plant will grow. After the store closes Seymour stays to water it and accidentally brushes against the plant and it bites him drawing blood. Seymour feeds it his own blood from his fingertips. The next day it’s grown to over a foot tall, creating a publicity stir which makes Mushnik ecstatic. But Seymour has to get him more blood and more, when the plant starts telling him to feed him. After each feeding, the next day, the plant gets several times larger and hungrier. Seymour must find more sources of food which causes Mushnick much distress but let’s it go as sales are booming. Two detectives start investigating two recent missing persons, leading them to Mushnick’s Florist.
It’s a simple, yet effective story which is funny and a little sad undertone at the same time.
Very campy as this was extremely low-budget. But it’s a light-hearted atmosphere.
The cast works well together.
Jonathan Haze plays Seymour Kreilboind. He does a great job of portraying this naive, simple-minded and sincere character. It’s n slapstick role. If you ask me, he was playing as a Jerry Lewis clone with some of the same mannerisms. Very good job.
Mel Welles plays Gravis Mushnik. He plays the foreign, money-conscious, fame seeking shop owner. Again, very well done.
Jackie Joseph plays Audrey Fulquard. Her character is just there as Seymour love interest and cheerleader. No much depth but serves her purpose.
Dick Miller plays Burson Fouch, the customer who eats flowers and gives Mushnik advice. Dick Miller has played in several horror and comedic movies over the years, usually small roles. He adds a quirky warmth to his characters which adds a color to the atmosphere of his films..
Myrtle Vail plays Winifred Kreilboind, Seymour’s elderly mother. she’s senile, alcoholic, and a hypochondriac who is always trying to find new illnesses and excuses to get medicines with high alcohol content. She’s great as she adds another level of comedy to the movie, in Seymour’s at-home life. Great job!
Jack Nicholson plays Wilbur Force. This is a bizarre role and only Nicholson’s second role. He plays a weird man who enjoys pain. His role is funny in a quirky way but adds nothing to the movie itself. It’s still interesting to see him before he became a mega star.
Black and white. No special shots.
The FX is the plant itself which is pretty simple but effective as everything else is low-budget as well. The sound is a little fuzzy and low.
This is a simple and fun movie for all ages. The younger generation won’t appreciate it as much as it’s very simple and nothing extremely funny. I liked it though as will most horror fans. This is directed by Roger Corman, the king of low-budget horror.
