Movie spotlight
Movie Star, American Style or; LSD, I Hate You
Producer/director Albert Zugsmith's acid-therapy "comedy," complete with a tinted trip sequence "in hilarious LSD color." A suicidal film star named Honey Bunny is sent by her producer to a rest home run by an unhinged Dr. Horatio, who gives his patients LSD as a cure. The wacky patients include female impersonator Skippy Roper as an effeminate dress designer, a midget, a fat lady, and lots of actors, directors, and producers, including Zugsmith himself.
Insights
Plot Summary
A troubled teenager, desperate for money, becomes involved with a group experimenting with LSD. As the drug's effects take hold, she finds herself in a surreal and disorienting journey, questioning reality and her own sanity.
Critical Reception
This experimental film was met with very mixed reviews upon its release. It was praised by some for its artistic ambition and exploration of controversial themes, but criticized by others for its disjointed narrative and gratuitous use of psychedelic imagery. It remains a cult curiosity from the era.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its bold, experimental visual style and attempt to capture the disorienting effects of LSD.
Criticized for a confusing and fragmented plot that often overshadows any thematic depth.
Considered a product of its time, reflecting the counterculture and drug experimentation prevalent in the 1960s.
Google audience: Audience reception is sparse due to the film's niche appeal and limited distribution, but available comments often highlight its peculiar nature and historical interest rather than strong artistic merit.
Fun Fact
The film's title was famously changed from 'LSD, I Hate You' to 'Movie Star, American Style; or LSD, I Hate You' in an attempt to get the film released by major distributors who were hesitant about the drug reference in the title.
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