“Pets” is a curio from 1974 that provides shockingly weird entertainment. What is so bizarre about this picture is that it constantly changes genres for the entire 100-minute duration. It mixes elements of soft-core pornography, horror, psychosexual dramas, lesbian love stories and a small amount of blaxploitation. You have no clue what on earth you’re watching or where this movie is going to end up taking you, and that creates a sleazy and entertaining piece of schlock.
The film is structured in a very smart way by breaking the stories up into three segments, all centered around the beautiful Candice Rialson, who plays a runaway by the name of Bonnie. Rialson was one of the most beautiful and sensual women in the exploitation genre who, in 1979, decided to give up acting all together. “Pets” is one of the more famous roles for the late actress, whose contribution inspired Bridget Fonda’s character in “Jackie Brown,” which is not a bad legacy to leave behind.
The story begins in a car with a man who is treating Bonnie like a prisoner, and we discover that he is her brother. She manages to flee when her brother frustrates a car full of angry brothers, and her three stories begin.
The first story has Bonnie making an unlikely friendship with a woman who is trying her best to be “Foxy Brown,” but can hardly compare to the beauty of Pam Grier. The two decide to hitchhike and abduct an older gentleman. Well, in all actuality, Bonnie just thought it was a ride and nothing more. She is forced to watch the man while her new “friend” goes and loots the man’s house. In order to distract him at one point, we get to see more Rialson, which allows us to appreciate the actress so much more.
The second story of the world’s sexiest runaway continues as she becomes the muse and lesbian lover for a local artist who becomes extremely jealous of her conversations with other men. We start to understand that Bonnie is lonely and intent on making friendships with everyone – she shows no true identity throughout.
Finally, Bonnie makes friends with a perverted artist named Victor Stackman (played in an odd performance by Ed Bishop). Now, this is the story that ties in with the title because Stackman believes that women should be trapped in cages like pets. (Yes, the movie is that strange.) However, it is this final story in which we see a liberated Bonnie come to terms with who she really is and, of course, the door was left open for a sequel which never happened.
Code Red has released this ultra-rare film and presented it the only way they could with the print they had available – the result is an accidental yet genuine grindhouse experience. The screen jumps occasionally; green lines can be seen throughout, and the audio crackles.
The studio claims that this is a limited release and may become a collector’s item with only 1,500 copies in circulation, which means if you are interested in seeing this, get your copy now and don’t be concerned with the technical flaws. “Pets” has been the holy grail of exploitation collectors and it is good that it is finally released, since VHS copies were selling for $70 and up.
The extras are scarce and include a grainy trailer and a deleted scene that looks like it was found in the sewer, not the cutting room floor.
Code Red trailers for the forthcoming titles “Brute Corps,” “Devil’s Express,” “Family Honor” and “The Statue” are included.
An interesting time capsule into what 42nd Street used to play on movie screens is a major reason to see “Pets,” and you may feel like you just stepped out of a grindhouse after you view Code Red’s “restoration” of this picture.
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