Simply Perfect

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

"Multiple Maniacs" follows Lady Divine's Cavalcade of Perversion, a wayward traveling group of sideshow freaks who have a penchant for the perverse, which includes murdering their audience members. I've always considered John Waters something of a less pretentious Andy Warhol, and this film-his second directorial feature-reiterates the sentiment in my mind. "Multiple Maniacs" is patent garbage, and I mean that in the most loving way possible. While watching it, it is obvious that Waters and his crew were fumbling their way through learning to make a movie. This is especially clear in the cinematography and performances; actors continually flub their lines, look into the camera, and chew the scenes apart-there is better acting in high school plays. At the center of it all is Divine, who has rightly attained a cult following of his own, playing his signature character, and his performance, though by no means stellar, is what will inevitably draw the audience in.For all the rough edges present, there are themes and ideas circulating throughout the film that are by turns bizarre and unique, and it has rightly earned a reputation for containing a particularly blasphemous montage. The last fifteen minutes ostensibly contain the film's most well-orchestrated moments, with Divine alone descending into madness and chasing civilians through the streets. I don't think anyone could classify "Multiple Maniacs" as a masterwork of filmmaking by any stretch of the imagination-but it does stand as a celluloid capsule of Waters quite literally learning how to make a film, and there is enough wackiness, debauchery, and utter madness to please the most jaded of trash cinema fans. Good or bad, there is really nothing else quite like it. 7/10.

I have been a John Waters fan since the 70's. I remember seeing this one in the early 80's and was not impressed with it then, but decided to watch it again recently. Well, the years haven't been kind to the film. I could barely get thru it. From the meandering screenplay, subpar acting and directionless direction--it's all an amateurish affair. Fortunately, John Waters (Divine & Mink Stole) got so much better with each film. I would say bypass this unless you are a die-hard Waters fan.

Multiple Maniacs is on par with John Waters' Pink Flamingos when it comes to sleaziness and filth, though not quite as polished. The black-and-white cinematography gives the film a certain raw and crude quality, but that outrageous, hilarious Waters' dialogue, though in its infancy stages here, is already wielding an undeniable power over those of us who love trash cinema. Some scenes drag on a little longer than necessary, such as David and Bonnie lounging around in bed, or Cookie and Steve talking about riots but there are others, such as the opening in the circus tent, and the "rosary job" that more than make up for it. Be sure to look and listen for Divine and Cookie flubbing their lines, Divine's wig almost falling off as he is being violated by Lobstora, and Mink Stole trying not to laugh as a male pedestrian walks by when she and Divine are discussing the murder of Mr. David and Bonnie. All in all, I recommend watching this only AFTER you have seen Hairspray, Polyester, Female Trouble, Pink Flamingos, and Desperate Living, in THAT order. By that time you will have decided if you are a true John Waters fan or not.

I've been an IMDB lurker for years, never contributing a comment or questioning the reviews of others. But I just have to step up to the plate on this one.On the one hand, I see that relatively modest but effective films like "Eight-Legged Freaks," "Bug Buster", and "Darkness Falls" are getting ripped on all sides for failing to properly develop the plot, poor CGI effects, lousy acting, short running time, and whatever else is a personal gripe of the reviewer.Then I see that this film is rated much, much higher and I just have to speak out. This film is garbage. Not only that, it is boring garbage. The lobster attack is not amusing, original, or impressive. There is absolutely no actual discernible acting in this film. The story is boring and the nudity is not even up to the standards of "Orgy of the Dead." I actually purchased a sealed VHS copy of this movie based on the reviews at this site. I expected that there would be SOME minimum interest in this film, but I was sadly mistaken.I won't tell you not to rent or view this movie. In fact, there is actually some benefit in watching this movie. You may get a more realistic idea of the reliability of the reviews that are posted to this site.