Based on a 1960 Roger Corman film that wore its low budget so proudly I avoided watching it for many years. (It’ll come up in 2027.) Today, the remake’s reputation comes from the recognition that songwriters Howard Ashman and Alan Menken went on to launch the Disney Animation revival, and it may be the crowning directorial achievement for director Frank Oz, best known for his work with Jim Henson. An unusual pedigree for a Horror film, and that’s without mentioning the supporting performance by Steve Martin and cameos by John Candy, Christopher Guest, Jim Belushi and (most memorably) Bill Murray.
The film comes with two endings. I never minded the original theatrical cut, though it seemed abrupt. What’s amazing about the original ending is how much bigger it is than the entire rest of the film. Easily the most expensive sequence and quite long, I’m glad it’s now so easy to find.
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