Private Parts (1972)

To me, this movie is perfection.

Intense, gripping, stylish and poignant

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

Unusual movie, not quite horror but also not quite black comedy either. As another reviewer said, it resembles Psycho or Peeping Tom with it's focus on psychology and even relentless presence of camera - but those themes aren't explored further, they're there just to add another touch of weirdness. On the other hand, film is also one part exploitation, with some nude scenes to oogle here and there. Psychology is the most interesting part: Cheryl is written well as a needy but neglected teenager who is creeped out by the neighbor photographer, but too flattered to resist - and what little glimpses of Aunt Martha and George we have, are interesting. Sadly, acting is below average, except for Lucille Benson who is quite good, leading actress Ayn Ruymen in particular speaks her lines as if she hears them for the first time (which adds to the exploitation feel). The ending is at the same time great and unsatisfying. The scene is cut away in the middle of final fight, and next ten minutes we are left wondering what happened next, while director taunts us with daylit scenes of two cops searching the premises - very effective way to present aftermath. On the other hand, a lot is left half-explained, and this film in particular doesn't benefit from that. The final appearance of Cheryl is a pretty cliché final twist, one that you see coming, but hope that director will have more imagination. It's an unusual and quirky film that many will find interesting, but don't expect a masterpiece.

PRIVATE PARTS is a hard film to categorize - a strange film with lots of different elements working for it that comes together to make and "interesting" whole. I really didn't know what to think of going into this one as I hadn't done any research on it prior to viewing, and I suggest that anyone else that chooses to check out this semi-obscure little gem not read too much about it either...Cheryl is a super-cute runaway who shacks up at her Aunt Martha's hotel after a falling-out with her roommate. It is apparent early-on that there are a LOT of strange characters inhabiting the hotel, including an eccentric gay priest, a weird photographer who has a penchant for blow-up dolls, an weirdo Aunt Martha herself - among a few others. When people start getting bumped-off around the hotel - things kick into bizarro-overdrive...PRIVATE PARTS is an entertaining and well-done black-comedy/exploitish film that is a good precursor to director Paul Bartel's EATING RAOUL. Lots of interesting characters, and Ayn Ruymen as Cheryl is a treat to behold with her naively sexy innocence. Definitely a "strange" film to say the least (including the bizarre BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS-ish ending) - and should definitely be checked out by fans of 70's weird cinema...8.5/10

"Private Parts", the directorial debut of Paul Bartel, is a wild and thoroughly engaging black comedy. Ayn Ruymen plays Cheryl, a young but not so innocent girl, who runs away from home and eventually ends up at the hotel of her Aunt Martha (Lucille Benson)in the skid row section of downtown Los Angeles. Although warned by her puritanical aunt to stay put, Cheryl explores the old place at every opportunity,soon becoming involved with George, a mysterious photographer. He is only one of the odd tenants in the establishment, but he's the one who fascinates her the most. With its lurid plot, beautiful color photography and great, brooding score, "Private Parts" is not to be missed! This October, Warner Home Video will release it in a widescreen DVD featuring the original trailer! It's not likely to be in print long, so grab it while you can!

A runaway bad-girl touches ground at an urban hellhole...a residence hotel owned and operated by her kindly, but captious and set-in-her-ways, Aunt Martha. The tenants of the hotel are a curious bunch, among them a senile old bat, a gay transvestite priest, and a handsome, mysterious photographer with a secret that's darker than pitch. An unidentified psychotic killer is active among them, as well...before long, Aunt Martha's hotel has several unexpected vacancies.A steady momentum of shocks and a vague, peculiar climax help to make PRIVATE PARTS something rather special. Splendidly perverse creative gusto which could only have escaped from the bizarre mind of the sorely missed Paul Bartel...this is a very unusual picture, infused with brooding atmosphere and deftly appointed in every aspect of it's poverty-line production.8/10