_**Wonderful 60’s go-go girls, music and excitement, but the story is immature and overly dramatic**_ Released in 1965 and conceived & directed by Russ Meyer, "Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!" is a campy melodrama/crime thriller featuring Tura Satana as a sneering woman who, along with her two go-go dancing friends (Haji & Lori Williams), find amusement in hot rodding across the desert. Following an incident where the trio captures a sweet bikini girl (Susan Bernard) they believe they can easily make money at a remote ranch in the desert, home to an older wealthy man (Stuart Lancaster) and his two sons (Dennis Busch & Paul Trinka). Ray Barlow portrays a "nice" desert racer while Michael Finn appears as a talkative gas station employee. The movie has gained a significant reputation as a cult classic and Meyer's defining film, alongside 1970’s "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls," so I was very eager to finally watch it. The initial twenty minutes or so are enjoyable in a lively 60s style, highlighted by the attractive female cast where Meyer makes full use of showcasing their beauty (no nudity is shown). The music, cars, clothing and thrills are additional highlights. Unfortunately, once the women encounter the ranch with the “Ben Cartwright” and "Hoss" & "Adam" look-alikes (sorry, no "Little Joe”), the poor writing and corresponding exaggerated emotional displays become apparent. It feels like Meyer and fellow writer Jackie Moran were trying to create a 60s desert version of one of Tennessee Williams’ melodramas, but lacked the necessary writing skill or a professional cast to succeed. Consequently, the story loses the viewer's interest, leaving you laughing at the over-the-top antics while attempting to appreciate the previously mentioned positive aspects. The black and white cinematography doesn't help matters either. For a better film that explores similar themes (though with an entirely different plot), I suggest "Village of the Giants," which was released just 2½ months after "Faster" and is presented in vibrant color. The female performers are equally good, if not superior, and the soundtrack is better, to say nothing of it lacking a completely scornful, one-dimensional female villain (I do think Tura’s performance is strong, but her character is so consistently disdainful that it grows tiresome after about 25 minutes, and you just want someone, anyone, male or female, to knock her out). "Village" also doesn't pretend to be a serious 60s tragedy like “A Streetcar Named Desire” set in the desert. The movie has a runtime of 83 minutes and was filmed in the Mojave Desert (Lake Isabella, Lake Cunniback, Johannesburg, Randsburg & Ollie Pesch’s Musical Wells Ranch) and Van Nuys (The Pussycat Club), California. GRADE: C+

Source on TMDB