$28.00
DESPERATE LIVING John Waters (1977); DVD
Trash/Cult/John Waters/Comedy DVD; Used (Unrated – Adults Only)
John Waters can do no wrong, particularly in the era of his “trash trilogy” which began in 1972 with PINK FLAMINGOS and ended with this “political film” from Waters in which bitch lesbians overthrow the tyrannical rule of Mortville’s sadistic Queen Carlotta. The more Waters’ early assaults on good taste have become absorbed into mainstream entertainment, the better and more shocking his films look for it. When DESPERATE LIVING stood alone, one hardly knew what to make of it. Now that every lesser talent in show-biz is trying to finance a swimming pool by imitating the Waters touch, it’s easy to see, and appreciate, who the innovator and true original is. When Waters made this movie, he was a pariah with nothing to lose…he knew better, but still didn’t care. Thus, there’s an intoxicating power and thrift-shop integrity to DESPERATE LIVING that none of the Johnny-come-latelies can approach, now that “bad taste” is boxoffice, and safe as milk. If you’re gonna wallow in slime, then accept no substitutes, folks: demand DESPERATE LIVING