By Steve D. Stones
Multiple Maniacs (1971) – The title of this black and
white carny film is in reference to Herschell Gordon Lewis’ 1964 cult
masterpiece – Two Thousand Maniacs. Cross dresser Divine leads a group of freak
show artists who perform in a show known as “Lady Divine’s Cavalcade of
Perversions.” The performers kill the audience members after each performance
to pick their pockets. Watch carefully for the puke eater, a bike seat licker,
and a giant paper mache lobster named Lobstora. Divine’s masturbation scene with a rosary in a
church tests the limits of good taste.
Pink Flamingos (1972) – Considering what Johnny
Knoxville has achieved in the Jackass movies, Pink Flamingos may not have the
over-the-top shock value that it once had upon its release. It remains Waters’
most discussed film. The film concerns the life of Babs Johnson, a transvestite
living in a rundown trailer in Baltimore, played by frequent Waters actor –
Divine. Babs lives with her traveling companion and son, and claims to be “The
Filthiest Person Alive.” She proves it at the end of the film by eating a pile
of dog pooh, causing viewers to throw up whatever they had for lunch that day. A
print of Pink Flamingos is archived at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Female Trouble (1973) – Many Waters fans consider
this to be a sequel to Pink Flamingos. Divine is cast once again – but this
time as teenage drop out Dawn Davenport. Davenport leads the stereotypical,
dysfunctional, white trash lifestyle. She gets pregnant while still in high
school, runs away from home for not receiving a pair of cha-cha heels for
Christmas, works a few dead end jobs, and eventually commits murder. She is
executed in an electric chair, but feels no remorse for her life of crime. Female
Trouble may be Waters’ comment on the media’s obsession of crime and serial
killers.
Desperate Living (1977) – This film was made famous
by a bizarre nude scene of busty Liz Renay when she was in her late 40s. Waters
steps up the poor taste and graphic violence a few notches by showing a
castration scene, and nude gay men servicing pleasantly plump Edith Massey – in
the role of bitchy Queen Carlotta. Waters calls this film his “monstrous fairy
tale.” Cheap wooden sets were built to give the impression of a fairy tale
castle. It’s all good (but not clean) fun.
Serial Mom (1994) – Ever had a neighbor who appeared
to be so perfect and squeaky clean that you swore they lived an “Ozzie &
Harriet” lifestyle, but later discovered they had a few skeletons in the
closet? If you have, then you can relate to this film. Kathleen Turner plays
the picture perfect, June Cleaver mother who hates her neighbors and is driven
to murder. Once again, Waters is out to make a social comment about the news
media’s obsession with serial killers and high profile court cases of
celebrities – even before the O.J. Simpson trials of 1995. Waters also pays
tribute to one of his director heroes – Herschell Gordon Lewis – by showing a
scene of Lewis’ 1964 gore hit “Blood Feast” on a TV screen.
Happy viewing!
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