“Deviant cops, death by dog food, DIY surgery—Waters unleashes all this and more in an at once relentlessly warped and oddly moral vision of queer rebellion.” - Criterion Collection
“DESPERATE LIVING isn't merely disgusting. It's also in genuinely bad taste. Uniquely bad taste. Which is why, even after decades of witless, raunchy comedies and solemnly bloody torture porn, Waters' masterpiece still makes us feel dirty. God bless the Pope of Trash. - Rob Christopher, CINE-FILE
The third film in the Pope of Trash’s Trash Trilogy, DESPERATE LIVING follows murderous housewife Peggy Gravel and her housekeeper Grizelda Brown. On the run from the law, they flee to Mortville, a haven for Baltimore’s most unsavory citizens ruled by the vicious Queen Carlotta. When a winning lottery ticket offers the town’s beleaguered residents a chance at freedom, they take delightfully disturbing revenge on their oppressive ruler. There is something to offend everyone in this squirming, anarchic fable of comeuppance.
20th Century Queers | July 4–30, 2026
Contemporary queer cinema enjoys more visibility and mainstream success than ever before, but many of its roots lie in avant-garde and underground filmmaking. The films in this series trace that history, showcasing queer artists, in front of and behind the camera, who disrupted traditional cinematic form to suit their purposes, whether creating coded stories, exploring stylistic pleasures, or grossing out the normies.
The Film Center is ADA accessible. This presentation will be projected without open captions. The theater is hearing-loop equipped. For accessibility requests, please email filmcenter@saic.edu