Pink Flamingos
Title: Pink Flamingos
Rating: 4/5
Genre: Comedy, Exploitation
Starring: Divine, Danny Mills, David Lochary
Director: John Waters
John Waters is a man that before I had seen this, I already knew enough about to earn my respect. One of the kings of 'midnight movies' in the states, this film had been banned by almost every self-respecting film censor board (naturally Japan let it pass, except reputedly using a red dot to censor all the nudity) and whilst initially only shown to limited audiences, it nonetheless went on to achieve cult fame. And it's not exactly difficult to see why; a man brought up on films devoted to breaking down boundaries, exploring the taboo and wishing to only further push the limits of bad taste, and now this film is seen as a pivotal film in doing just that. Designed from the outset to outright offend in every way, the context of the film only makes it more impressive that this film ever got noticed. Constructed on a shoe string budget of just $10,000 and shot largely using friends in his home town of Baltimore, it's lack of funds becomes apparent right from the start, and the hand-held camera and painfully amateur performances from many of the actors involved could easily have wrecked this film if it wasn't such a fascinating insight into the mind of probably one of the most diabolical and deviant directors to have existed. The self-confessed “Queen of Filth,” Divine (aka Babs Johnson) is a wanted criminal hiding out in a trailer in the woods, living her life with her egg-loving baby of a mother, Edie, too overweight to stand, her chicken loving son Crackers, and voyeuristic travelling companion Cotton. With the news following her story, she is brought to the attention of the loving Marble family. Comprised of a Raymond, a man with an addiction to flashing his penis at pretty women, whilst his wife, Connie, deals with the business empire built from their racket of raping women and selling the children to gay couples, expanding into the illustrious market of porn shops
and selling heroin to kids, they take offence at the title not being given to themselves. Hiring Cookie to spy on their activities and extract information, she learns of an upcoming birthday party for Divine and using this information the Marbles confront her to discover who truly is the filthiest of them all.Despite what it sounds like, this isn't simply about exploiting and tearing down all sense of taste, but there is a hidden moral tucked away between the butt cheeks of depravity; the tale of fame and the lengths people go to in order to achieve it - a theme that has only become more prevalent in this era of reality TV. Divine doesn't simply relish in her own filthy behaviour but displays a pride in it that she wants the whole word to know, and anyone that dares try to stand in her way had better be prepared for her 'Divine' retribution, and none of it would have worked if not for a few key characters, not in the least Divine herself. Whilst the initial fascination is on her rather unique drag outfit, this is soon forgotten as the rest of the cast treat her entirely as a woman (it comes as no surprise that she has since become known as an icon in the gay community) and from the strength of her performance the audience soon forgets as well. I can only imagine that it is her willing to do what nobody in their right mind would agree to do that led to the rest of the cast agreeing to such depravity, not in the least the mother, Edie (you'll never look at a boiled egg the same way again) and the Marble family who try to compete.
I've seen more violent gore and deplorable sex films that most have never heard of. I've even made a habit of seeking them out, just to see how bad things can get. I've laughed at cannibals and chuckled to men desperately trying to gather their guts, and yet somehow, even 40 years
since it was originally made, without resorting to any of these standards in being offensive, this still succeeds in making my sadistic side tingle. Remember the birdy song? Ever wanted to see a man lip sync the words to it using his asshole? Or wondered what sex with chickens would be like? For me to say this isn't a film for everyone would be like walking into a vegan restaurant and pointing out that a spit roast pig might not be for everyone. For some “Hairspray” will be the work he will be remembered for. For others, it would surely be this, and god help you if a hairspray fan ever got their hands on it as perhaps the origins of their beloved comedy would best remain a secret. Racist, incestuous, repulsive, despicably disgusting, deplorably offensive and yet oh so good.
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