In 1994, Martin Short made the worst movie of his career. It was inspired by the “most perverse” film he’d ever seen
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.
In short
- *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.
Explained simply
Martin Short is a Canadian-American actor and comedian known for sketch comedy and film roles. In Clifford, he plays a mischievous ten-year-old whose behaviour causes trouble for the adults around him, though Short was in his forties when the film was made.
The film drew on The Bad Seed, a 1956 horror mystery about a mother who fears her apparently sweet daughter may be dangerously calculating. Both stories use the contrast between a child’s innocent appearance and unsettling behaviour, but Clifford turns that idea into broad comedy.
Clifford’s unusual casting and exaggerated humour divided viewers, and its reputation later shifted as some audiences began to enjoy it as a cult comedy. The film’s story also shows how a premise that can seem striking or absurd may shape a production’s identity.
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