Review of Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1965) by Preston H — 11 Jul 2007

I remember hearing about film-maker Russ Meyer and his love for voluptuous women on an episode of Seinfeld years ago. I was intrigued at the time (how could I not be as an adolescent boy?), but unfortunately I never sought out any of his films. Thankfully, I came across his 1965 cult classic, Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! on TCM tonite. From the opening narration ("Ladies and gentleman - welcome to violence!") and shots of 1960s go-go dancers, I was hooked. Quite simply, this film is about those basic things that are guaranteed to entertain nearly any man: fast cars, violence, and, of course, women bursting out of their shirts. In this case, the women are three shapely go-go dancers with biting attitudes who lust for thrills wherever they can find them. This film finds the women getting their kicks from hardcore crime such as racing their cars, killing a fellow racer and kidnapping his girlfriend, and then trying to con a crippled old man and seduce his two sons in the attempt to steal the riches they are supposedly hiding. Ridiculous. Juvenile. Exciting.

The production value of this film is comparable to most Roger Corman films of the time period (the shots of the girls driving were obviously filmed in stationary automobiles, for example), but for my money that only adds to the campy appeal of the film. Despite the apparent budgetary constraints, Meyer does exceedingly well at crafting a real visual delight of a film. He is sure to fill every frame with something eye-catching and exciting, whether it be a car chase across a vast desert landscape, a tense fist fight, or the torso of one of the beautiful female stars.

The story is just deliciously trashy enough (it's about buxom beauties racing cars and killing people for crying out loud!) and the dialogue is just fresh and hip enough ("I never try anything. I just do it. And I don't beat clocks, just people! Wanna try me?") to keep your eyes glued to the screen. Tarantino fan boys take note, without movies like this he would have never had a career!

The performances were hit and miss, but in this type of film I'm not looking for any method acting. I should definitely note that the female leads, in addition to filling out their shirts also did a great job of filling their acting roles, playing them at just the perfect over the top pitch. You might argue that these women and their, ah-hem, assets were being exploited by Meyer, and that may be true to a point, but you also have to consider that this film was made in the 1960s when women often played second to a leading man. Here, Meyer makes them the stars. In context, it's an awesome change of pace, and quite frankly pretty hot, to see chicks just kicking ass and taking charge for once.

To some this film may seem like nothing more than just an excuse for exploiting and glorifying violence and sex, but who cares when it is this damn entertaining?! The fact that this film met and exceeded the hype has definitely made me want to see it again as soon as possible (pity it is hard to come by for cheap) as well as check out other Meyer films, starting with the Roger Ebert penned Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. "Would you like a breast or a thigh?" "Why not take both?" Exactly.