There are few filmmakers more notorious than John Waters, the sensationally shocking auteur of bad taste and singular vision. While his early films cast an unforgiving light on the people on the fringes of society in America, his work garnered the interest of Hollywood, giving him access to bigger stars and bigger budgets. From this partnership sprung the classics Cry-Baby, Serial Mom, and Pecker, but beneath the polish of these lacquered visions remained Waters’ fascination with the obscene. As studio meddling began to take its toll, he struck out with one of his most absurd visions of comedy, filmmaking, and social commentary. The result is the hilarious, shocking, and ultimately ironic 2000 comedy/thriller Cecil B. Demented.
