Private Parts (1972)

Private Parts isn't at all scary, but it's really disturbing and creepy. The intro is a film of rapidly flashing, glittering rainbow lights... well, it was 1972, maybe it's an LSD thing. The movie features a teenage girl named Cheryl as the main character; she's a runaway from Ohio who has moved out to L.A. with her best friend, Judy. After Cheryl is caught watching Judy having sex, she takes off running to find an available room at her fat Aunt Martha's decrepit motel. Aunt Martha is old and strict and has various people staying on the same floor as Martha. There's a gay priest, a drunk and next door to Cheryl's new room there's a mysterious tenant who lives in the dark, watching through holes in the walls and taking photographs. All's still for the most part going okay until people end up murdered.This is a typical 1970's movie, with hippie kids, trippy background music and various odd characters. If you like horror movies or like to laugh at the old, low-budget ones, you'd probably like this one. Some of the characters are just so strange, I haven't seen a movie as odd as this in a long time.

I would have liked to check into this creepy hotel (which seems a lot like the Chelsea Hotel in NYC - but West Coast version and somewhat cleaner), but not with he total innocence of Cheryl (Ann Ruymen). She is a perfect "Candy" trying to find her identity and discover her sexual longings, which were thwarted by her evil sister hogging all boys to herself and excluding Cheryl.Paul Bartel is a gentleman's John Waters and he deals with his own California assortment of oddballs as did Waters on the East Coast.Ruymen is perfect as the girl seeking a sexual connection and someone finally treating her as a "woman". She seeks and flirts with he oddest of characters and is really, really convincing and is perfect for the part. She befriends the weird George, the "priest", the handyman and an assortment of oddballs that are much more friendly than her narcissist sister.I can't believe it is Paul's first film, as it is really well paced, with stylized music, great characters, even direction, a nice discovery for me in the 2 for $1 rental store. I will buy a copy if I ever find one. I really enjoyed this film and I hope you enjoy it also.Easting Raul is a classic and was shown on college campuses as a cult favorite.

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