Attention all drive-in maniacs! The show of the year is happening this weekend at the Mahoning Drive-In in Lehighton, PA. This looks truly amazing. In addition to six of The Pope Of Trash’s fantastic features, John Waters himself will appear all three nights, and he has selected a special secret feature for the first night of the extravaganza. We cannot recommend this highly enough, and yeah, it might take some of you some driving if you live on the West Coast, or Canada, or Mexico, but hit the road now and you can get there in plenty of time!
Here’s the fine print from the lovely and talented folks at Exhumed Films, who put this incredible event together:
Attention, filth fanatics and cult movie enthusiasts! Get ready for a mind-blowing and gut-churning cinematic extravaganza like no other! The legendary John Waters, the Prince of Puke and the Duke of Dirt, is teaming up with Exhumed Films and The Mahoning Drive-In to bring you an unforgettable weekend of sleazy cinema!
On September 29, 30, and October 1, Exhumed and The Mahoning proudly present THE JOHN WATERS FILTHY FILM FESTIVAL! Join us as we celebrate the bizarre and subversive creations of John Waters, the mastermind behind cult classics such as PINK FLAMINGOS, FEMALE TROUBLE, and HAIRSPRAY. Brace yourself as we dive into John Waters’ diverse filmography, showcasing six of his most outrageous and influential works–as well as a secret bonus feature curated by John himself – all shown on 35mm. Witness the unforgettable characters, the jaw-dropping moments, and the taboo-shattering narratives that have solidified Waters’ status as a countercultural icon.
John Waters will grace the drive-in lot with his irreverent presence, providing live, on-site commentary and engaging in a sure-to-shock Q&A session each night. Listen in as John reveals behind-the-scenes anecdotes, spills cinematic secrets, and shares his unique insights into the world of underground filmmaking. Fans lusting after the ultimate John Waters experience will even have the opportunity to purchase a VIP ticket package which will include a special photo op with John and rare signed memorabilia!
The Filthy Film Festival will also feature photo ops (by John Demmer), costume contests, games such as the Dirty Shame Bottle Race (Friday) & Pecker’s Pics Photo Contest (Saturday), prizes, and our extensive merch tables filled with t-shirts, Blu-Rays, and other assorted oddities. And like all Exhumed/Mahoning events, there will be classic 35mm trailers, huge raffles each night, live DJs and lots of other surprises.
So gather your friends, pack your barf bag, and get ready to embark on a wild journey into the twisted mind of John Waters. Experience the unhinged beauty of his films, soak in the infectious energy of his presence, and revel in the spirit of anarchy that oozes out of every frame! For fans of transgressive cinema, the “John Waters Filthy Film Festival” is not to be missed!
Here’s what’s playing this weekend:
FRIDAY
FEMALE TROUBLE (1974)
It’s crazy and amazing but true: John Waters is a filth elder now. If you hang in there long enough, you become respectable. The Criterion Collection added FEMALE TROUBLE along with some of the venerable highlights of world cinema in 2018.
A DIRTY SHAME (2004)
To date, this is the last Waters-directed feature to hit theaters. For you youngsters, in case you were wondering what the hell John Waters was doing in JACKASS NUMBER TWO (2006), this is probably why. Also it’s clear he and those guys are kindred gross-out spirits.
Special Secret Third Feature curated by John Waters!
SATURDAY
PECKER (1998)
John Waters fought hard to dirty up American culture, and by the 1990s, we reached maybe the one decade in our history where you could name a studio movie PECKER and get away with it. You sure couldn’t do it today. We still need John Waters.
PINK FLAMINGOS (1972)
This wasn’t John Waters’ first feature, but it was his breakthrough picture. I got to see it recently with an audience, and it was so fun to see who was offended by what. I loved it, but I admit I scrunched my eyes closed at one bit. Can you guess which one?
DESPERATE LIVING (1977)
With PINK FLAMINGOS and FEMALE TROUBLE, this is the third part of John Waters’ “Trash Trilogy.” Like STAR WARS, only with floppy dicks and exposed anuses (as opposed to aliens who only look like floppy dicks and exposed anuses).
SUNDAY
HAIRSPRAY (1988)
By far John Waters’ most mainstream movie, this is still as seditious and chaotic as ever. I had the opportunity to see this too on a big screen lately, and it bubbles over with joy as much as always. And I keep forgetting, in addition to everything and everyone else who is so wonderful in it, that the late Jerry Stiller is in this movie! What a fucking treat.
Due to it being a Sunday (but not, I don’t think, for religious reasons), this is the only movie playing for the last day of the event, but appropriately, it’ll be preceded by a dance contest!
This event just looks like a megaton of fun and to paraphrase another hero we all share, the drive-in may never die, but it falls to all of us mutants and weirdos to keep it alive, so be sure to grab tickets and support Exhumed Films and the Mahoning!
- [THE BIG QUESTION] WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE FEMALE ENSEMBLE IN MOVIES? - July 22, 2016
- [IN THEATERS NOW] THE BOY (2016) - January 24, 2016
- Cult Movie Mania Releases Lucio Fulci Limited Edition VHS Sets - January 5, 2016
Tags: 35mm, David Lochary, divine, Dreamland, Drive-Ins, Edith Massey, Exhumed Films, john waters, Johnny Knoxville, Mary Vivian Pearce, Mink Stole, Mitch O’Connell, new line cinema, Selma Blair, The Mahoning Drive-In
No Comments