''Sometimes Aunt Martha Does Dreadful Things'' is a 1971

cult film A cult film or cult movie, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a cult following. Cult films are known for their dedicated, passionate fanbase which forms an elaborate subculture, members of which engage ...

written, produced, and directed by Thomas Casey. Set in Miami, and shot at the now closed Moberly Studios in Hollywood, Florida, the story centers around two criminals, Stanley (

Wayne Crawford Wayne David Crawford (February 11, 1947 – April 30, 2016) was an American film and television actor, and film producer, director and screenwriter. Crawford appeared in nearly thirty films, produced fifteen, wrote nine, and directed seven. Cra ...

under the name Scott Lawrence) and Paul, played by Abe Zwick, who, because of their criminal history in

Baltimore Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...

, have decided to lie low in a

Miami Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a East Coast of the United States, coastal metropolis and the County seat, county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade C ...

suburb. They hatch a plan that involves Paul in drag. He wears wigs, women's blouses, skirts, and sensible shoes to pose as Stanley's "Aunt Martha." An implicit

homosexual Homosexuality is romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality is "an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions" to peop ...

relationship ostensibly exists between Paul and Stanley. Stanley is shown in the company of several girls. Aunt Martha is not heartened by them and forbids Stanley to see them. Stanley and Aunt Martha argue constantly with Martha expressing a great deal of dissatisfaction with Stanley's

lifestyle Lifestyle often refers to: * Lifestyle (sociology), the way a person lives * ''Otium'', ancient Roman concept of a lifestyle * Style of life (german: Lebensstil, link=no), dealing with the dynamics of personality Lifestyle may also refer to: Bu ...

. Stanley seems to have no real direction in his life beyond

hallucinogenic drugs Hallucinogens are a large, diverse class of psychoactive drugs that can produce altered states of consciousness characterized by major alterations in thought, mood, and perception as well as other changes. Most hallucinogens can be categorize ...

and becoming terrified and hysterical when "far out chicks" start unbuckling his pants. When he gets absurdly high, usually by his drugged out friend Jerry, played by Jessie Eastland, he tends to become violently agitated.

Cast

* Abe Zwick as Paul *

as Stanley (as Scott Lawrence) * Don Craig as Hubert * Robin Hughes as Vicki * Yanka Mann as Mrs. Adams * Marty Cordova as Alma * Maggie Wood as Dolores * Mike Mingoia as Joe * Jessie Eastland as Jerry (as Robert De Meo) * Sandra Lurie as Mary Lou * Pat Finn-Lee as Neighbor (as Pat Erle)

Reception

The TLA Video and DVD guide gave the film one star, stating that it is full of stereotypes, but is "good for a laugh." Raymond Murry stated that "Gay relationships don't come any sicker than in this enjoyably bizarre drive-in slasher-cum-camp pic."Images in the dark: an encyclopedia of gay and lesbian film and video
/ref>

References

External links

* 1971 films 1970s crime thriller films American crime thriller films American independent films American LGBT-related films Cross-dressing in American films 1970s exploitation films Films set in Florida Films shot in Florida American serial killer films 1971 LGBT-related films 1971 independent films 1970s English-language films 1970s American films {{crime-thriller-film-stub