Get ready for a dose of trashy genius as two iconic films by the one and only John Waters get the re-release treatment. The 80-year-old 'Pope of Trash' himself is still going strong, with his irreverent spirit and artistic provocations continuing to captivate audiences worldwide.
Waters' unease was palpable when his bubblegum comedy 'Hairspray', a 1960s teen dance show extravaganza, scooped a PG certificate back in the day. Having carved out a reputation on pushing boundaries with gems like 'Pink Flamingos' and 'Multiple Maniacs', he feared alienating his loyal fanbase with this more mainstream endeavour. Yet, despite its broad appeal, 'Hairspray' still packs Waters' signature zaniness – just think Debbie Harry smuggling a bomb and Divine in dual roles for good measure! The film's success paved the way for a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical and a 2007 movie adaptation starring John Travolta, cementing Waters' unlikely foray into Hollywood.
'Desperate Living', on the other hand, is often an overlooked part of his oeuvre. Waters admits it didn't quite get the reception he'd hoped for when first released. He describes this misfire as his 'angriest' and 'ugliest' movie – a far cry from some of his more high-spirited works. The fact that frequent collaborator Divine was absent, due to theatre commitments, may have been a contributing factor in its lukewarm reception.
While Waters has stayed active through writing books and touring his spoken-word live show (which is set to hit the UK in February 2027), he's not directed a feature film since 'A Dirty Shame' back in 2004. A planned adaptation of his novel 'Liarmouth' – even with actress Aubrey Plaza attached – ultimately fell through due to funding issues, and currently, there are no new film projects on the horizon.
The re-release of these two films offers a timely opportunity to revisit the breadth of Waters' remarkable career, from the boundary-pushing independent cinema that earned him his 'Pope of Trash' moniker to the more accessible, yet still uniquely subversive, works that conquered mainstream hearts. His influence on independent filmmaking and queer cinema remains significant, with his early works challenging societal norms and paving the way for future generations of provocative artists.