Lady Divine runs The Cavalcade of Perversion (key attractions- The Puke Eater, The Bicycle Seat Sniffer and ‘two queers who actually kiss on the lips’). But this is actually a front as she robs any of the squares who come to see the show. Alas, Lady Divine has grown tired of just robbing the patrons and wants to bump them off instead. But, she has trouble in store as her partner, Mr David (David Lochary) has been seeing someone else on the side, as reported back to Lady Divine by a bartender at Pete’s Bar (as played by my favourite character actress, Edith Massey).

The first time I got to see Multiple Maniacs was when Castle Video issued a box set of Waters’ early masterpieces, alas, butchered by the BBFC in 80’s Soviet Britain. I think every single film in the set was cut.

And now here was are in 2026 and the film has been restored by Criterion. The first thing I noticed was just how beautiful it looks. It reminds me of when I first saw Night of the Living Dead in widescreen. It’s a revelation.

I love how Waters’ obsession with the Manson case features prominently in the film with Mr David being kept in his place by Lady Divine reminding him of the ‘wild night’ in Hollywood that he can’t remember. Mr David would then find a newspaper near the film’s conclusion that notifies him that, in fact, members of Manson’s family had just been arrested for the murders, all in time with the making of Waters’ film. There’s also the final bloodbath in Divine’s home that unsettlingly mirrors the infamous crime scene photos of the Cielo Drive massacre.

And after that there’s the giant lobster and Divine as Godzilla on the streets of Baltimore (‘I’m a maniac and a maniac who can’t be cured!’)

We get to experience the genius of Edith Massey and Cookie Mueller for the first time within Multiple Maniacs, who would both become vital staples of the Dreamlanders.

The soundtrack is cracking (just like Lady Divine’s nerves) but is reined in after Mondo Trasho (thankfully).

And then there’s the ‘rosary job’ scene. Who knew that a scene depicting lesbian s*x undertaken in a church whilst being intercut with Jesus turning fishes and bread into a feast (I’m loving that it’s tinned tuna and shrink wrapped loaves) and his crucifixion (the credits extol ‘George Figgs as Jesus Christ’ which is another stroke of genius) would be so controversial?

Add to the mix Waters’ amazing dialogue (which is, as ever, very quotable) and you have a film that shows that Waters has already hit his stride. Multiple Maniacs captures the zeitgeist, is still edgy and transgressive and is great entertainment. Oh, and it’s very very funny.

Multiple Maniacs, along with The Exorcist, is my favourite religious movie.

4.5 out of 5 stars