Private Parts

Private Parts is a horror-comedy film released in 1972, directed by the acclaimed filmmaker Paul Bartel. The film features a leading cast of Ayn Ruymen, Lucille Benson, and John Ventantonio.

Ayn Ruymen takes on the role of Cheryl Stratton, a rebellious teenage girl, around whom the story revolves. She's a run-away, escaping a dysfunctional family and seeking a fresh start apart from her tumultuous past. However, her demure personality, gullibility, and curiosity intertwine to weave a story that's not just about a search for personal emancipation.

Lucille Benson plays the key character of Aunt Martha, an eccentric, weirdly amusing lady who runs a rundown Los Angeles hotel and houses a bizarre assortment of tenants. Martha's character is fraught with mystery laced with a dash of quirky humor, giving the movie a unique balance of horror and comedy. With each interaction, Martha exudes an eerie vibe that is sure to send chills running down your spine yet leaves you chuckling.

John Ventantonio, playing the character of George, is an introverted, bizarre young man who lives in the seclusion of his hotel room and films the daily routine of others from a keyhole. A character marked by an obsessive hobby, with a hair-raising creepiness rendered perfectly by Ventantonio.

When Cheryl lands on Aunt Martha's doorstep, she is thrust into a world rife with oddball characters that include a former clergyman who claims to be a photographer, a peeping tom rarity collector, an eccentric lesbian maid, and more. She, unfortunately, finds herself in the middle of some terrifyingly amusing events that are far from the peaceful life she had hoped for.

Private Parts masterfully blends bizarre humor with spine-chilling mystery. The hotel, a central character within itself, is filled with macabre secrets, eccentric personalities, and dark elements hidden in every corner. It's a place where everyone is stuck in their reality, marked by their strange hobbies and peculiar behaviors. Director Bartel plays with the viewer's imagination, dipping generously into the depths of horror, and stirring it with dark humor.

The cinematography by Andrew Davis captures the eccentricities of the rundown King Edward Hotel effectively, making it feel as if it has a life of its own. The close-ups, shadow play, and smart use of light and dark amplify the sense of macabre dread that lingers throughout the film, making the viewers feel as if they are in the hotel, experiencing the unexplainable oddities firsthand.

Bartel's storytelling artistry is amplified by the strong performances from the cast. Ayn Ruymen as Cheryl beautifully displays the naivety and fear of a young woman trapped in a world she doesn't understand, struggling to comprehend the reality around her. Lucille Benson gives a commanding performance as Aunt Martha, whose eccentricities only add to the overall enigmatic allure of the film. And Ventantonio, as George, injects an eerily captivating charm to his character, making it all the more intriguing.

Private Parts is a cinematic experience that will take you on a roller-coaster ride of emotions, throwing you off with its combination of horror and humor. It will make you chuckle at the absurdities and shrewdly crafted comedy, while simultaneously making your skin crawl with its unnerving, dark undertones. This movie is a testament to Bartel's film-making prowess, successfully navigating and blending two differing genres into an unconventional, bewitching, and thoroughly entertaining feature that stands testament to the brilliance of seventies satire-laced horror cinema.