Desperate Living (1977)

Desperate Living

• We have arrived at the conclusion of the Trash Trilogy, which may I say, has instantly become one of my favorite trilogies of all time, and one of the most masterfully made. This is everything I needed it to be, plus a whole lot more than you’ll have bargained for. It’s really hard to describe exactly what this film is. I can say what it’s about (erotic fascism, sexy murder, and queer expression), but as a whole, this is just a brilliant piece of work, and that’s where I’ll leave it. If you’ve seen any of the first two of the Trash Trilogy, then that’s exactly what you should expect for this one: a low budget acid trip with filth galore. I think this is my least favorite of the three, but it’s still absolutely fantastic. And even when you think you know what to expect, it still comes out of left field and leaves you speechless (or laughing….or disgusted….or all of the above!). The story is quite quick and involves a few small plot points, and ultimately reaches a satisfying conclusion (as does the whole trilogy, even though they aren’t actually connected). I’ll say this, though: Divine’s presence leaves a big void that’s hard to fill. Now, the entire cast does amazing, and each character is extremely memorable. But I miss Divine in this so much, and I really wish he could’ve done it. But either way, everyone’s contribution is noted. The production design is among the best of the trilogy by a large margin. If you think you’ve seen it all, welcome to Mortville. The castle is great and the very run down town is quite expressive in its poverty and personality. I won’t lie, I kind of want to slum it up in Mortville. The costumes are extravagant and very erotic, which completely serves the purpose of the characters and environment. When it comes to the trilogy as a whole, this film ends it on a high note because of how visually defining this film is. Overall, in my opinion, this is the weakest of the three Trash films, and my least favorite of the three, but it’s still horrifically magnificent and should be watched by everyone. Oh yeah, and the fridge baby is one of the funniest moments in cinema history, and I’ll never forget it. This film is officially Berry Approved, so go watch it now!