Culture

Directed by Russ Meyer. Starring: Tura Satana, Haji, Lori Williams & Susan Bernard.

Speed, sex and violence are the cornerstones of any blockbuster today as they’re sweet tools to sell shit. Russ Meyer was well practiced at this combo long before the likes of Tarantino made their careers out of the triple threat. Nowhere is his skill more evident than in one of his most celebrated films: Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!  
 
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to violence, the word and the act”
This introduction promises a lot and the film does not fail to deliver. Three go-go dancers - Bille, Rosie and Varla - hit the road in their race-cars and head into the desert where they come across a young “All-American” couple, Linda and Tommy. Varla (the group’s busty, hard-ass leader) thinks Tommy needs to race something other than his stopwatch and duly challenges him to race. After all, she doesn’t beat clocks, she beats people!
 
It soon becomes clear that these girls aren’t to be messed with. The race ends with Varla breaking Tommy’s back and killing him with her bare hands. There’s also Tommy’s whiny girlfriend Linda to deal with who, from this moment onwards, doesn’t stop crying hysterically and generally being a pain in the arse. She gets promptly gagged and bound. Stopping at a gas station, the girls hear about a crippled man in a wheelchair who has a stash of cash somewhere on his ranch. Seeing an opportunity to exploit the man and his dim-witted son Vegetable, the girls make their way to the ranch and introduce themselves. The muscular Vegetable and the old man’s other son, Kirk, predictably fall prey to the charms of Varla and Billie, but not Rosie who - SPOILER ALERT – is actually in love with Varla. Scandal! The race for the cash intensifies, leaving only two characters alive at the end of the film.
 
FP!K!K! will appeal to those who enjoy a mix of violence, sexual innuendo, big breasts, campy dialogue, and some good ole’ fashioned pre-Spice Girls girl power. There aren’t any flashy effects (this is 1965 remember) but there is enough action and suspense to keep you watching.  John Waters described FP!K!K! as the best film ever made: I’d certainly put it in my top five. A must-see for any film buff.