Desperate Living · LeviOsa

Loading movie…

Desperate Living · LeviOsa

Desperate Living key art

1977·NC-17

It isn't very pretty…

ComedyCrime1h 31m

🍅73%

🍅

73%

Tomatometer

🍿

80%

Popcornmeter

6.3

TMDB

Storyline

After killing her husband, Peggy Gravel and her murderous maid Grizelda wind up in the crazy town of Mortville, where Queen Carlotta presides over a sleazy collection of misfits.

Trailers

2 videos

Desperate Living trailer thumbnail

Trailer

John Waters Returns to Mortville

John Waters Returns to Mortville

Details

DirectorJohn Waters

ReleasedMay 27, 1977

StatusReleased

Original languageEnglish

Budget

$65K

Revenue

Not disclosed

Parental guideNC-17US

Studios

Charm City ProductionsDreamland

Cast

Liz Renay

Liz Renay

Muffy St. Jacques

Mink Stole

Mink Stole

Peggy Gravel

Susan Lowe

Susan Lowe

Mole McHenry

Edith Massey

Edith Massey

Queen Carlotta

Mary Vivian Pearce

Mary Vivian Pearce

Princess Coo-Coo

Jean Hill

Jean Hill

Grizelda Brown

Brook Yeaton

Brook Yeaton

Bosley Jr.

Karen Gerwig

Beth

Jay Allan

Kid

Al Strapelli

Al Strapelli

Dr. Evans

George Stover

George Stover

Bosley Gravel

Turkey Joe

Motorcycle Cop

Where to watch(NG)

Rent / Buy

Fandango At Home

Reviews

4 reviews · 3 critics

3 fresh · 0 rotten

E

Eric Henderson

RTSlant MagazineJun 24, 2026

Desperate Living is John Waters’s most furious political statement.

E

Emanuel Levy

RTEmanuelLevy.ComFeb 28, 2012

Even John Waters himself was not entirely pleased with his weird tale of mad housewives and eccentric lesbians in revolt, but the performances are good.

B

Bill Gibron

RTDVD VerdictAug 22, 2005

Desperate Living [is] a movie that feels like three separate films fused together. The first and the second are fantastic.

R

Reddit

Redditr/movies

Browse discussions about “Desperate Living”

Jump to Reddit for live threads on this title.

You Might Also Like

The Mini Maker

Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase

Nancy Drew... Trouble Shooter

Cyrus: Mind of a Serial Killer

The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag

Trapped

Chainsaws Were Singing

Kali Ma

X2000

The Defendant

The Dead King

Bright Hair

Recommended for you

Female Trouble

Ricky Gervais: Mortality

Hard to Die

Who Is Cletis Tout?

Ricky Gervais: Armageddon

68 Kill

South Park (Not Suitable for Children)

Cotton Comes to Harlem

Hobo with a Shotgun

Pink Flamingos

Heathers

More trailers on YouTube

Information

Title

Desperate Living

Released

May 27, 1977

Rated

NC-17

Region of Origin

United States of America

Original Audio

English

Runtime

1h 31m

Status

Released

Studios

Charm City Productions, Dreamland

Shane Gillis: Beautiful Dogs