John Waters’ next film after Pink Flamingos, Female Trouble (1974), still has the capacity to shock with its gleeful celebration of bad taste, or at least redefining what counts for taste at that time. Divine is a magnetic force of nature as Dawn Davenport, who goes through an episodic narrative journey, from sneaking in hoagie sandwiches into class as a school girl and wanting “cha cha” shoes for Christmas from her square parents, to bearing and raising an obnoxious antagonistic child (Mink Stole, great) of her own and then becoming an acid-scarred fame-hungry mass-murdering celebrity. Like Waters’ other films, it’s shot in Baltimore on a low budget, yet is a colourfully costumed and gaudily set designed experience. Returning from Pink Flamingos are the iconic acting stylings of Edith Massey (as Dawn Davenport’s latex bodysuit wearing rival, and delivers the classic line, “The world of the heterosexual is a sick and boring life”) and David Lochary as the owner of the hair saloon who wants to photograph Dawn only while she commits crimes. Definitely not for everyone, but an outrageous, hilarious cult classic. Recommended.
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