Fag Hag (1998)

Director:

Damion Dietz

Writer:

Damion Dietz

Stars:

Stephanie Kirchen, Damion Dietz, Saadia Billman

Cast

Cast overview:
Stephanie Kirchen	...	Destiny Rutt (as Stephanie Orff)
Damion Dietz	...	Scott Bushey
Saadia Billman	...	Sasha Cardona
Darryl Theirse	...	Pageant Director
Wil Wheaton	...	Christian Bookstore Manager
Jaush Way	...	Madonna-obsessed Party Host
Keythe Farley	...	Confused Gay Basher
Ann Closs	...	Lola Beavers
Sharon Orff	...	Wakie Funches
Jill Kocalis	...	Colada Bang

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

satire | fag hag | gay | beauty contest | christian | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Official Sites:

Official

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 July 1998 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Potemkin Productions, Troma Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

73 min

Color:

Color

User Reviews

Sick, twisted, cheap, trashy fun! Lampoons the things society (straight OR gay) should cop to -- but usually won't.

My friends and I were surprisingly impressed by this spirited,

kooky flick when it turned up, inexplicably, at our local bar's "Movie

Night" recently. The bartender asked whether we should take a

chance on "Fag Hag" and showed off the video packaging.

Noticing immediately that it was distributed by Troma, I got the

jitters and became extremely skeptical that it could be ANY good,

but (thankfully) distribution appears to be the only tie this

production has to Troma. "Fag Hag" is blessedly unlike standard

Troma "cannibal zombie bimbo" fare -- in fact, it turned out to be

remarkably funny.

[Admittedly, not too long ago, Troma distributed a restored version

of the cult classic "Horror Hotel" (1961), so with "Fag Hag", I doff

my hat to Troma two times for having smarts. I won't talk bad about

Troma anymore, promise...! <WINK>]

The title "Fag Hag" was as a warning sign of sorts, also. With a

title like this, I expected the film would be miserably UNfunny, an

attempt to make the conceited "gay world" all warm and fuzzy

(attempted, unsuccessfully, by the cloying film "Broadway

Damage" (1997), featuring a "luvable" fag hag (Mara Hobel, of

"Mommie Dearest" fame).

Instead, "Fag Hag" was delightfully demented, unpretentious, and

cynical.. It was so much fun that my buddies and I were in stitches

time and again. I kept asking myself, "how did I miss this??!!! Why

didn't I see this (1997 release) sooner???!!!"

High praise for writer/director/producer/actor/wunderkind Damion

Dietz who, having his hand in all levels of production, has put a lot

of talent and imagination into this little flick (as well as his rather

tasty looking, scantily clad bod). There's a LOT to make fun of in

"gay culture" (which all too often takes itself far too seriously) and

Dietz pulls no punches lampooning the "gay life" while he gleefully

tosses daggers at American pop culture and traditional values.

Kudos to all involved, particularly Stephanie Orff (as Destiny Rutt)

who pulls out all the stops. Another actress (not named here in

IMDBs lamentably spare details for "Fag Hag") who plays

Destiny's main opponent in the beauty pageant also makes a

memorable splash. Then there's the party host who is utterly

obsessed with Madonna, the "gay basher" who shows his true

colors, and on and on runs the list of wacky characters. Dietz uses

them all to winkingly point out the flaws our society (including gay

society) ought to recognize but usually won't cop to. Applause!!!

Dietz also knows how to make the most out of very little.

Rock-bottom production values add the right kind of tinsel-and-papier-mache "glamour" to all aspects, particularly the

climactic beauty pageant, which is an all out riot containing a

memorable song.

Put your "gay pride" in your hip pocket, take a chance, and rent this

insane bit of burlesque -- gather a group of friends together to

enjoy it to the full (and keep the alcohol flowing). Further

suggestion: Pair "Fag Hag" up with a 1985 documentary about the

Alternative Miss World beauty pageant, titled "I Want To Be A

Beauty Queen" (starring Divine and Little Nell) -- IF you can even

find it on video anymore. If that's not available, you can always trot

out John Waters' "Desperate Living" to keep the cynical, trashy

mood running high.

I didn't know it until I looked up Dietz's filmography, but he's

responsible for 2003's "Neverland" -- a film I sadly missed in

cinematic distribution. You can bet, after seeing "Fag Hag" and

what Dietz is capable of, I will rent "Neverland" ASAP. I hope we

can continue to see great things from Damion Dietz in the future,

and that he gets the recognition he deserves.