Carsick: John Waters Hitchhikes Across America

The elder statesman of trash cinema, director/writer Waters (Shock Value; Pink Flamingos and Other Filth) brings us his take on the Great American Road Novel, recounting his nine-day solo hitchhiking odyssey from Baltimore to San Francisco. Before setting out in real life, he imagines best- and worst-case scenarios for the trip. In the former, he stumbles into funding for a new film, explores chaotic music festivals and pirate truck stops, and finds true love, while the latter sees him losing, in short order, everything but the clothes on his back (don't worry, the clothes experience their own share of suffering), and culminates in his brutal murder. After these manic musings, the retelling of the actual trip can't help but seem just a tad mundane, but Waters's inimitable blend of compassion, curiosity, and camp will be sure to hold readers' interest until journey's end.