10 Comedy Actors Who Made Great Horror Movie Characters
6. Steve Martin As Orin Scrivello, DDS - Little Shop Of Horrors
Before its release, Little Shop of Horrors had a tall task ahead of it when it came to living up to the high standards set by the 1982 musical and the 1960 film upon which it was based on. Fortunately, it was able to carve a spot in the annals of the niche genre of horror musical comedies due to an entertaining cast and fun production values.
The Frank Oz directed feature has comedic greats such as Rick Moranis and extended cameos from Bill Murray, John Candy and Jim Belushi. All these actors perfectly complemented the source material's macabre humour and acquitted themselves well in the film's musical numbers.
However, it is Steve Martin as fiendish dentist Orin Scrivello that stands out, and that is saying a lot given the talent involved. Ever the multi-hyphenate, Martin excels with the film's comedic material, songs and according to Frank Oz, rejigged Scrivello's character to be distinct from the prior incarnation.
His 'dark' Elvis-inspired persona, wild dentist procedure scene with a game Bill Murray and his over-the-top reaction to Audrey II's terrifying plant-form among other bonkers sequences helped the sadistic dentist stand out in a cast full of colourful/bizarre characters.