Review of Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!

Introduction

Imagine a movie that starts out with three buxom and mascara laden go-go dancers strutting their stuff to the animal yelps of depraved men shouting `Go baby! Yeah! Go baby!`. A moralistic narrator shouts lines about `predatory females` before we cut to the same three buxom ladies drag racing their way across a dusty dried out salt lake in the mid-day sun, screaming and laughing as they ride. Then imagine the three getting out their cars, and starting a catfight that spills into a nearby lake. Welcome to the alternative reality that is Russ Meyer`s most revered movie, `Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!`

So let`s meet this terrifying trio. There`s the blonde (Lori Williams), the Mexican (Meyer regular Haji) and their undisputed leader, Varla (Tura Satana), a cartoon-like dominatrix in her stretched black leggings and top.

Once Meyer has established that these are bad-girls the story proper begins when the girls happen across a young and squeaky-clean couple also out for some racing thrills.

Varla challenges them to a race which ends with Varla cheating and nearly killing the driver. An argument breaks out which ends badly with Varla snapping the boys back with her bare hands. Then they fill the young girl, Bunny, (Susan Bernard) with pills and set out on the rest of their murderous journey across the dry and dusty wastelands of the Californian desert.

At a gas station they get wind that there`s an old man, a cripple, and his son nearby that have plenty of cash and so the girls decide to pay them a visit. In true sleazy Meyers form, the cripple (Meyer regular Stuart Lancaster) turns out to a malevolent groper, who uses his mentally handicapped son to trap women for him.
The rest of the movie unfolds with all the power of gothic melodrama, with a great deal of violent, high kicking action and karate chops.

Virtually ignored on its release, this slow-burner has played and played in drive-ins and fleapits since its release and has become an indisputable cult classic.
Sure the dialogue is corny and the action camp - that was the idea. But even today its lurid and potent mix of barely suppressed animal sexuality and violence packs a punch, and its endless stream of corny double-entendres raises a smile.

Despite confusing censors (particularly in the Southern states), it played pretty much uncensored, as it`s a film that has no frontal nudity. Naturally the low cut tops and heaving bosoms leave little to the imagination but by this stage in his illustrious career, Meyer was learning a trick or two about how to avoid the censor`s scalpel.

Originally released in 1965, it may have gone some way towards confusing feminists too as there`s no doubt that this is a movie full of grrrl power. Despite the cruelty displayed by the girls, they appear to be so much stronger than the lily-livered and pathetic men that pepper the movie. There`s also a dark hint at lesbian camp here though we`re never certain that the two leads are an item. (Meyer suggests they are in his thoroughly entertaining audio commentary).

There`s also some groovy music to gyrate to go-go style, which makes it all the more enjoyable as a period piece.

Video

The transfer here is very good, with barely a mark to be seen. Contrast is good, and even Meyer himself (on the audio commentary) can`t help but admire his own cinematography. He has a real moviemakers eye, and despite this being a camp budget piece, his use of point-of-view shots is incredible. The whole movie is masterfully cut, and it`s another of those black and white movies where virtually any frame stopped at random would make a nice still.

Audio

Much of the dialogue is recorded live, so occasionally some gets lost in battle. Meyer avoided audio-post as he was always working to tight budgets, in this case with his own money. But overall, whilst a little thin, it`s perfectly acceptable and presented here in its original mono.

Features

Wow! A 20-minute feature with the four female leads (as they are now - still recognisable - just!). It`s a really fascinating insight into the way the movie came about and, although it`s essentially just talking heads, intercut with the movie, it`s nicely done.

The real treat though is the Russ Meyer commentary. It`s a warm, relaxed and friendly affair with Meyers speaking candidly about the film, and his life and works.

There`s a second audio commentary too with the three female leads (sans Bunny) talking us through which is great fun!

Conclusion

More than any other Meyer movie, `Faster Pussycat` has become the archetypal cult-camp classic. With its `Charlie`s Angels gone bad` style grrl power, and its high camp (big breasted mascara laden go- go girls out on a desert rampage), it`s a firm favourite with b-movie lovers the world over.

Despite the complete absence of nudity, there`s no doubt that it pervades a subversive, almost animal sexuality throughout which, when mixed with violence and high camp makes a heady formula indeed. It`s certainly not for the faint-hearted, the politically correct or the moral majority.

The Arrow release has done us proud too with a very decent transfer, as well as two audio commentaries and a `where are they now` style documentary to boot. Thoroughly recommended!