Polyester

Watch Polyester

  • R
  • 1981
  • 1 hr 26 min
  • 7.0  (8,909)
  • 72

Polyester is a 1981 comedy-drama movie that follows a housewife named Francine Fishpaw, played by Divine. Francine is an important member of her community, but she is also struggling to maintain her family and her sanity amidst a series of chaotic events. The film takes place in Baltimore, Maryland, and is set in the 1970s. At the beginning of the movie, Francine's husband, Elmer Fishpaw, played by David Samson, is having an affair with his secretary, who also happens to be his son's girlfriend. Meanwhile, Francine's son, Dexter Fishpaw, played by Ken King, is a delinquent who is constantly getting into trouble. Her daughter, Lulu Fishpaw, played by Mary Garlington, is a crazed individual who spends her time sniffing glue and worshipping her favorite rock star.

As the story progresses, Francine finds herself alone and desperate as her life spirals out of control. She tries to get some help from her "friend" Cuddles Kovinsky, played by Edith Massey, who runs a local beauty parlor. Cuddles is also struggling to maintain her own sanity as she deals with her abusive boyfriend Bo-bo Belsinger, played by Stiv Bators.

Despite the chaos, Francine manages to maintain some sanity by relying on her faith in the church and her perseverance in dealing with her problems. All throughout the movie, Francine is haunted by the ghost of Tiny, her favorite dog who was hit by a car. The ghost of Tiny serves as Francine's confidant and her guide throughout the movie.

Tab Hunter plays Todd Tomorrow, a local pornographer to whom Dexter sells sex photos of his own mother. Todd becomes romantically interested in Francine and tries to help her deal with her problems. Together, they accidentally inhale some of Cuddles' hair spray and embark on a hallucinogenic trip before making passionate love in a dream sequence.

The film was directed by John Waters, known for his taste for bizarre humor and underground storytelling. The movie features a mix of vivid colors, strange characters, and surprising twists and turns that create a unique viewing experience. The film is primarily shot in "Odorama", which provided the audience with scratch and sniff cards that corresponded to certain scenes in the movie. In the Odorama system, a number flashed on the screen to indicate that it was time to release the corresponding scent.

Polyester was a groundbreaking movie in 1981, as it provided a new and unique movie-going experience. It also marked another successful collaboration between iconic director John Waters and underground superstar Divine. The film was a commercial success, and it still holds up today as a cult classic amongst fans of edgy and unique cinema.

Polyester is a 1981 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 26 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0 and a MetaScore of 72.

Polyester
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Where to Watch Polyester
Polyester is available to watch, stream, download and buy on demand at Amazon Prime and YouTube VOD. Some platforms allow you to rent Polyester for a limited time or purchase the movie and download it to your device.
  • Release Date
    1981
  • MPAA Rating
    R
  • Runtime
    1 hr 26 min
  • IMDB Rating
    7.0  (8,909)
  • Metascore
    72