Watch Multiple Maniacs

Multiple Maniacs is a black comedy film from 1970, directed by John Waters and starring the legendary Divine, David Lochary, and Mary Vivian Pearce. The movie tells the story of a traveling freak show known as Lady Divine's Cavalcade of Perversions, and their twisted exploits that ultimately lead to a violent, bloody climax. The movie is essentially a series of increasingly disturbing sketches, each one featuring hysterical acts of chaos and violence. For example, there's a scene where Divine has sex with a giant lobster, and another where she's being raped by a rosary. It's a dark, twisted world, but one that Waters navigates with an unrelenting sense of humor.

As the movie progresses, Lady Divine's Cavalcade of Perversions starts to unravel. The members of the freak show are revealed to be anything but freaks, and they're not all that loyal to Divine either. Things really start to spiral out of control when Divine murders her own boyfriend (played by David Lochary), and is forced to go on the run.

Throughout the movie, there's a palpable sense of danger and unpredictability. The characters are all unhinged and borderline insane, and Waters does a great job of blurring the line between comedy and horror.

In terms of style and tone, Multiple Maniacs is quintessential John Waters. It's irreverent, offensive, and completely over-the-top. The movie was made on a shoestring budget, but Waters makes the most of his limited resources. The shots are often gritty and unpolished, but this only adds to the movie's grungy, punk rock aesthetic.

Perhaps the most memorable aspect of Multiple Maniacs is the performance by Divine. As always, she is absolutely fearless in the role, throwing herself into every scene with manic energy and a complete lack of inhibition. The scene where she goes berserk with a giant, meaty steak is particularly iconic, and it's difficult to believe that anyone else could have pulled it off.

Despite its obvious flaws (the movie is frequently crude and offensive, and some of the jokes haven't aged particularly well), Multiple Maniacs remains a cult classic to this day. Its influence can be seen in everything from the works of Harmony Korine to Quentin Tarantino, and it stands as a testament to the power of outsider art.

In conclusion, if you're a fan of John Waters, Divine, or just bizarre, offbeat cinema in general, then Multiple Maniacs is definitely worth checking out. It's a wild ride from start to finish, and it's bound to leave a lasting impression on anyone who sees it.

Multiple Maniacs is a 1970 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 36 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5.