“Introducing
Desireé Costeau as 'PEACHES'”
Hugh
(John Leslie, DRACULA SUCKS)
is about to marry Lily (Flower, SHIELA'S PAYOFF)
and he wants his bubbly daughter Peaches (Desireé Costeau, HOT
RACKETS)
from his first marriage, to be a part of the festivities. Thankfully
the stepdaughter-stepmother relationship starts off well with the
trio hitting up the nearest slot machines. Unfortunately, Peaches
comes to the realisation that she now has to potentially compete for
her father's love and attention. After sinking down a few shots she
does the sensible thing and jumps in her jeep to let off some steam.
Whilst on her little bender, Peaches is involved in an accident and
subsequently left unconscious. Thankfully, however help is on hand as
Kid (Joey Silvera, CARNAL HAVEN)
and Jesse (Ken Scudder, CHAMPAGNE FOR BREAKFAST),
two good Samaritans who are having their car problems “nurse” her
back to health. Once Peaches has regained consciousness, she realises
that she is suffering from amnesia. Seeking their opportunity to have
their own personal plaything and the potential of making some good
old fashioned ransom money, they invite her to stay with them and
help her get better. Kid suggests she pay his “Uncle Percy” a
visit. Instead of help, Peaches finds herself on the wrong end (as if
there's a right one) of a forced enema. After such a traumatic
experience, her spirits are lifted when she finds a potential job as
an erotic dancer. Unfortunately, what starts out as an above board
(if not slightly scuzzy) audition turns in to Peaches being forced in
to an all-girl dominatrix show (it happens to best of us). Just as
things are reaching breaking point for Peaches, she has a chance
encounter with a handsome psychiatrist (Paul Thomas, JESUS
CHRIST SUPERSTAR)
who may hold the key to not only healing Peaches, but reuniting her
with her worried father as well bringing her genuine happiness. No
matter what the outcome, this is a de Renzy film so it's only going
to get even stranger!
Pretty
Peaches
is certainly a stand out film. Where else are you going to find a
warped adaptation of Voltaire's Candide
that plays sexual atrocities off as a goofy comedy? Yes indeed, all
of the physical, emotional and psychological abuse dished out to the
naïve Peaches is played for laughs! Being a de Renzy film, it
wouldn't surprise me if it was purely intentional. Therefore, it may
not sit right for some of the more sensitive amongst you, but it sure
did make this corrupted soul smirk! From being bubbly and innocent to
a complete emotional mess, Costeau plays Peaches perfectly. You
really go from swooning to feeling genuine sympathy in a heartbeat.
She suffers pretty much every sexual shame you could imagine; raped
whilst unconscious, forced enemas, bondage... All that's missing is
being shat on! The film is brilliantly cast and as well as those
already mentioned, seeing the likes of Blair Harris (TROPIC
OF DESIRE)
and Sharon Kane (BABYLON BLUE)
really help to elevate the film even more. Of course, the lovely
Desireé Costeau is the star of the show (not even her bob cut
hairstyle can put you off!) and steals every scene she is in. You
will be eating out of her hands! All in all, this is a bizarre little
comedy that will make you question your existence because of some of
the things you WILL genuinely laugh at. It's a simple story that's
well written and even though it's a porno with a feature length
running time; you won't need to press that fast forward button.
You're probably not really going to get off on the action, but it's
definitely “interesting” to say the very least. The ironic thing
is, de Renzy is capable of much seedier and sinister delights!
There's a reason why this film is a classic. There's a reason why
most consider this de Renzy's greatest film.
A
wonderful film like this deserves the gold star treatment and golly
gosh has Vinegar Syndrome
done just that! Restored fully uncut in 2k from 35mm elements, the
film looks and sounds fantastic. Of course, there's some minor damage
here and there, but it's only there if you are actively looking for
it just to bitch on forums. Not only does the film look and sound
wonderful, but there's some great special features too. There's a
rare interview with Alex de Renzy himself in which he talks about the
film, his career and those he had the pleasure to work with. There's
also an interview with film historian Dr. Ted Mcilvenna, founder of
the Institute for Advanced Study of Human
Sexuality
which gives us more of an insight in to the prolific de Renzy and a
bit of a dick tease regarding multiple unedited documentaries from
the great director. Aside from those two wonderful interviews, there
are also trailers for Pretty Peaches 2,
Femmes de Sade
and Baby Face 2.
As you can tell, it's a wonderful release and a must own.
Pretty
Peaches is available as a stand alone DVD or part of a limited
edition Pretty Peaches Blu-ray as well as being available on
Exploitation.tv
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