Radically expanded from Charles Busch's one-act play, "Die Mommie Die" is a satire of the suspenseful women's pictures (also labeled by some critics as "Grand Dame Guignol" flix) which prospered from the Forties into the Sixties (and ending, according to director Mark Rucker in his video intro to this release, with the ludicrous 'missing link' idiocy, "Trog").
Many of these films starred scene-stomping icons like Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, and Rosalind Russell, and writer/star Busch makes a point in citing throughout his commentary track the films and specific actresses from which he borrows key expressions and extreme physical movements. Well aware of the play's filmic possibilities, director Mark Rucker and ace cinematographer Kelly Evans exploited their Hollywood locations, and created a look that's beautifully evocative of the late-Sixties, although as Busch and Rucker point out, many scenes and montages were visually designed after these classic, trashy films.
Filmed over a ridiculous 18-day schedule, the economical production managed to attract an excellent cast (including several with ties to HBO's "Six Feet Under" series). Co-star Jason Priestley also contributes some anecdotes and production background to the commentary track. (He stays largely quiet during the film's middle scenes in spots, but reappears and reinvigorates the feature-length discussions when the director and star labor too long over certain subjects.)
Though the commentary track provides an excellent narrative for the film's creation, an archived episode of "Anatomy of a Scene" from the Sundance Channel gives us star/writer Busch without makeup, and shows the construction of a key sequence in which his character, Angela Arden, is forced to confront her past crimes by her dented family. (In case it hasn't yet occurred, Busch plays the matriarch in drag, and with great affection for his sleazy archetype.)
There's also some stills regarding Busch's original play, plus interviews with the set and costume designers (the latter having furnished 40 costumes for Busch). Composer Dennis McCarthy makes a brief appearance as well, and his retro song (which will worm its way into your subconscious) appears in two guises on the DVD: the complete 'TV show' performance by Busch, this time in full colour; and a dance remix, with plenty of intercut sound and film clips.
The Sales Trailer is more narrative-based, with a deliberate emphasis on the film's plot twists; and the archived Screen Test is comprised of silent takes featuring a costumed Busch for the benefit of the camera and lighting. The real bonus, besides included .PDF files of the publicity materials, are the unused, but superb poster designs, that recall some of the classic ad campaigns of the satirized trash classics.
For fans of high-camp thrillers starring Hollywood icons (and co-starring their arched eyebrows, and overstated reactions to absurd injustices), "Die Mommie Die!" is a fun tribute, made with great affection by its creators.
© 2004 Mark R. Hasan
|