3. Multiple Maniacs (1970)
When most people think of John Waters and his exercises in bad taste, the immediate reaction is to turn to Pink Flamingos as his shock masterpiece. Look a little harder, though, and youll find Multiple Maniacs. While Pink Flamingos is a little dated in its shock value (aside from its infamous ending), Multiple Maniacs never fails to get a reaction. Divine and early Waters standby David Lochary run a traveling show, The Cavalcade of Perversion, which ends with the freakish troupe robbing the audience. The real horror is behind the scenes as Divine and Mr. Davids relationship has turned sour leading them to roads of excess that include a rosary job, murder, and a bloodthirsty Divines encounter with a giant lobster that has to be seen to be believed. A giant lobster named Lobstora. Watching Multiple Maniacs is like listening to the Ramones first album. Yes, its a simple movie with gaping flaws on the technical side and the actors are so bad that they often forget their lines. But theres an undeniable charm in its DIY aesthetic that cant be denied. If youve ever wanted to make a film but felt bogged down by budget and resources, watching Multiple Maniacs will make you feel like you can just pick up a camera and make it happen. Its like watching a hilarious home movie made by a friend, except this friend ended up making Hairspray.