Born in late 1982, I am a TV Baby. And I fell in love and became obsessed with movies the second I saw the first one that I can really remember, Labyrinth, (1986, Dir. Jim Henson currently streaming on Hulu, Peacock, Plex & Tubi) starring David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly.

When I got a bit older and interested in plants, it was inevitable that I would start to notice them and pay more attention to them on TV & in movies. One thing stood out to me more than anything else: so many productions love to include plants in their set décor, and oftentimes they are put in spots which look amazing on-screen, but an actual live plant would NEVER thrive (i.e. elaborate wall-hanging pots in dark, interior hallways; bathrooms with no windows; basements deep in the bowels of a building/house, etc.) I cannot recall a single movie or episode of television where I have seen a plant light utilized for these odd spots. Of course, these plants are probably all fake anyhow but for the purposes of this series, let’s just suspend our disbelief, shall we?

In honor of Halloween, I thought I’d kick off this inaugural edition of “Plants in Unusual Places” with some scary movie examples, as horror flicks are my jam!!

It’s been said countless times before, but there was something so magical about going to Blockbuster (or later, Hollywood video where I worked as a teen) and picking out a movie based on the cover. ESPECIALLY the horror section!

Please enjoy the below silly little list I’ve put together while binging some of my favorite horror movies this month!😊

1. An American Werewolf in London (1981, Dir. John Landis, currently streaming on Amazon Prime & Tubi)

As mentioned above, just look at this little menagerie that Nurse Alex Price (actress Jenny Agutter) manages to keep looking happy & healthy in her bathroom, whilst caring for David Kessler (the titular character, played by David Naughton) in her home after he finds himself bitten by and turning into a werewolf as he’s backpacking with his friend, Jack (played by Griffin Dunne-brother of Dominique Dunne, star of Poltergeist-1982, who was tragically murdered IRL by an abusive ex-boyfriend), on the Moors.

Great movie! And fun fact: Famed Creature Creator, Rick Baker, was the first ever to win an Academy Award in the “Best Makeup” category for the transformation scene in this film. Also, eagle-eyed viewers will spot Rik Mayall, aka Drop Dead Fred!!! as one of the Slaughtered Lamb bar patrons!

Alas, while the humidity in a bathroom would be great for some houseplants, I do not see adequate lighting here whatsoever. I’ve tried plants in a bathroom with no light (in my amateur plant days) and it just does not work.

*Nice Snake Plant to admire, whilst draining the snake!*

2. Evil Dead II (1987, Dir. Sam Raimi, currently streaming on Pluto)

I’m a huge fan of this entire franchise, including the 2013 remake and newer iterations.

In this sequel (don’t call it a remake) to 1981’s Evil Dead, I couldn’t help but notice the vase of fresh flowers in the middle of the famous, dilapidated cabin that looks like death warmed over everywhere inside.

Apologies for the blurry picture, Ash wouldn’t stop whipping around, looking for weapons to use against the demons conjured up from The Book of the Dead. Notice the fresh pink flowers behind him, to the left.

I do realize it is in the middle of the woods with easy access to plenty of fresh wildflowers, but 2 weeks had passed between the death of Annie’s professor father (who stupidly recited the incantations from the Book of the Dead and got himself and his poor wife undead) and the arrival of Ash (Groovy Bruce Campbell & Linda (Denise Bixler) to the cabin (at the very least, the water would’ve gone down in the vase). I also realize it was a great visual & served the plot to have the flowers die instantly when Annie (Sarah Berry) speaks the final incantation words.

*Cool vase. Throw those flowers out. After you defeat the giant demon apple head.*

Another awesome movie with genius visual effects and stunt work (for its time, and they still hold up in my book!)

3. Fright Night (1985, Dir. Tom Holland, currently streaming on Max)

I just love this classic 80’s vampire flick so much! This may be the first horror movie I remember seeing as a small child, so it is dear to my heart.

“Teenager” Charley Brewster (played by William Ragsdale who was 26 or 27 at the time) discovers that his new neighbor, Jerry Dandridge is a vampire. Jerry is played by Chris Sarandon (ex hubby of Rocky Horror Queen Susan Sarandon) of Princess Bride/Dog Day Afternoon/Child’s Play (also directed by Holland) fame. I have to say, I never got the sex appeal of the male Sarandon in this movie when I was younger, but I do see it as an adult!

Charley’s girlfriend, Amy Peterson, is played by a young Amanda Bearse who starred as Marcy Rhoades/D’Arcy on Married…with Children-1987.

The Brewsters’ house is your typical “movie middle-class” home and is tastefully decorated throughout with some lovely houseplants. However, this one in particular, stands out as one of the plants mentioned above in an interior space in the home with no windows or light that can reach it. In this scene, Charley is terrified to discover that his best defense against Jerry has been destroyed when his mother actually invites the vampire into their home for a drink (Bloody Mary, of course!)

*C’mon, Mrs. Brewster! Are you trying to get everyone killT?!?!* Toni Collette understood the assignment better in the remake.

*Aforementioned Bloody Mary, along with a very well-manicured Vampire hand.*

*That’s a nice looking Pothos getting absolutely no light. I’m sure Charley would notice, if he wasn’t busy shitting his pants. You’re so NOT cool, Brewster.*

And yes, I am also a fan of the 2011 remake with Anton Yelchin (RIP) as Charley and Colin Farrell as Jerry. When I went to see it in theaters, I was thrilled to see Chris Sarandon show up in his cameo!

4. Stir of Echoes (1999, Dir. David Koepp, currently streaming on Paramount+ & Freevee)

This horror/thriller takes place in Chicago (my hometown!), filmed in the Avondale neighborhood and stars Kevin Bacon as Tom Witzky, phone lineman-husband of Maggie (Kathryn Erbe from What About Bob?-1991) and father to creepy toddler Jake. One night at a drunken party, Tom agrees to be hypnotized by his sister-in-law (played by Illeana Douglas!!), which opens his mind to experiencing the supernatural.

I didn’t notice any PIUP’s in the traditional sense (per the prior 3 items), I just wanted to shout out this flowery bathroom wallpaper in the Witzky household, which I quite enjoy!

*Sometimes you just wanna hop out the shower & look at some nice wallpaper greenery when your husband is haunted, tortured and possibly going insane.*

This movie also deserves an honorable mention on this list due to the grass being where it SHOULDN’T in the below scene when Tom digs up the backyard of his house on account of his haunted visions.

*I don’t care if you ARE shirtless Kevin Bacon. It’s a rented house, man!! COOL IT!!*

5. Little Shop of Horrors (1986, Dir. Frank Oz, currently available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime, though ***buyer beware***: There are two separate versions available; the theatrical version, and the Director’s Cut with an alternate ending so just beware of which version you’re renting/buying. Side Note: I miss physical media where you can get all this stuff in one DVD or Blu-Ray)

The Unusual Place where we can find the plant in this movie? EARTH.

This beloved comedy/horror/musical classic remake stars Rick Moranis as shy nerd Seymour Krelborn who is hopelessly in love with his co-worker, Audrey (played by Ellen Greene) at Mushnik’s Flower Shop, where Seymour also lives in the basement. Audrey, however, is involved with sadistic biker, Orin Scrivello (D.D.S.), played by Steve Martin. Other notable characters are the trio of singers who serve as narrators throughout the film, played by Tichina Arnold, Tisha Campbell (both from Martin-1992) and Michelle Weeks, as well as amazing cameos by John Candy as a radio DJ, Bill Murray as a masochistic mental dental patient and Jim Belushi as a botanical salesman. Mushnik is played by Vincent Gardenia (who was apparently in rare form behind the scenes as it’s alleged that he & Rick Moranis could barely get through a scene together without cracking each other up), and Christopher Guest also has a cameo as a flower shop patron.

Levi Stubbs-RIP (lead singer of Motown group The Four Tops) voices Audrey II, the aforementioned plant (a Mean Green Mother from Outer Space, man-eating fly trap) who arrives on Earth during a total eclipse of the heart sun and offers Seymour fame, fortune & success while demanding to be fed.

Some fun facts: the song, “Mean Green Mother from Outer Space” (written for this movie) is the first Oscar-nominated song to contain profanity.

According to IMDB, Eddie Murphy was considered for the voice of Audrey II, and both Tim Curry & Gene Wilder were in mind for Orin Scrivello at some point.

To date, this is the only movie with both Steve Martin and Bill Murray.

Jack Nicholson (in his breakout role) plays Wilbur Force in the original 1960 Roger Corman (RIP) version of Little Shop of Horrors. The character of Wilbur Force does not appear in the 1986 Frank Oz version.

This is one of my all-time favorite movies in general, not just of the horror genre. Any fan of plants, movies and a good time will get a major kick out of this one!

*If you can hear this picture, we should be friends.*

Thanks so much for reading, I’m looking forward to many future editions of Plants in Unusual Places!!!

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