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Review

The faded star Angela Arden is now retired from her years as a pop singer, her voice tired from decades of stage performances. This latest creation from gender illusionist Charles combines Joan Crawford and Barbara Stanwyck into one fierce woman with a heart of ice. Years ago Angela had a hit "Why Not Me?" but that was a long time ago. And then there is the mysterious death of her twin sister Barbara, forcing her retirement. Angela lives with her husband Sol Sussman (Phillip Baker Hall), a liberal Jewish movie producer, and their two twisted children Edith (Natasha Lyonne) and Lance (Stark Sands) who just got thrown out of college for starting an orgy in the male faculty lounge. Also hanging out at the palatial estate is tennis pro and gigolo Tony Parker (Jason Priestley). By the end of the movie, Tony has slept with both "children" as well as mama! And to top off this crazy family, the maid Bootise (Frances Conroy -- Ruth on "Six Feet Under") passes Christian judgment on all the goings-on. It's a crazy mixed-up world at the Arden house, one with lots of secrets and a murder on the horizon.

This spoof of thrillers, women's films and exploitation films from the 40's to the 60's works on many levels. If you are a fan of old movies, you can identify references to Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, Imitation of Life, Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte and many more such classics. If you like mysteries, this one's actually pretty good. If you love drag, you can't miss Charles Busch's latest creation. And for the rest of us, there's even a hot gay sex scene between the surprisingly funny Jason Priestley and the sweetly adorable Stark Sands. Yes, the film is a melange, but we love it!

Scott Cranin

"The fun of "Die Mommie Die!" flows out of its caricatures and camp references more than from the dialogue itself. Mr. Busch's funniest technique is to throw in raunchy, potty-mouthed zingers out of the blue to ratchet down the tone and to remind us that in the trashy Hollywood of Mr. Busch's imagination, wanton lust triggers most of the bad behavior. Greed runs a close second.

Although most of the supporting performances are carefully, shaded caricatures, "Die Mommie Die!" is really Mr. Busch's show. Within the cramped limitations of drag, he exudes a genuine screen charisma. That star quality as much as anything should earn the film a niche in camp heaven."

Stephen Holden, The New York Times