# In 1994, Martin Short made the worst movie of his career. It was inspired by the “most perverse” film he’d ever seen

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/in-1994-martin-short-made-the-worst-movie-of-his-career-it-was-inspired-by-the-most-perverse-film-hed-ever-seen/
- Published: 2026-11-01T21:45:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-01T22:19:36+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/martin-short-worst-movie-career-inspired-by-most-perverse-film/
- Topics: Art, Culture, Entertainment, Film

## Key points

- *Clifford* became a cult favourite despite harsh reviews.
- Martin Short modelled the character partly on *The Bad Seed*.
- Short said the 1956 film inspired Clifford’s obsessive drive.

## Summary

Martin Short’s 1995 comedy *Clifford*, in which he plays a ten-year-old boy despite being 44 when filming began, was widely criticised but later gained a cult following. Short has defended the film, whose awkward, over-the-top comedy has led some viewers to embrace it as “so bad it’s good”.

Short said he took inspiration from *The Bad Seed*, a 1956 horror and mystery film about a mother who suspects her seemingly angelic daughter is dangerously calculating. He was drawn to its “perverse” premise and the character’s relentless pursuit of what she wants, which informed his portrayal of Clifford. Orion Pictures president Marc Platt recalled that the film’s premise seemed either brilliant or terrible.

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