Marihuana is a far better movie than the more well known Reefer Madness. It has a better story and is actually funnier than the cult classic. It still has the narmish hilarity, but couples it with much more talented filmmaking. Dwain Esper was bringing his A-game this time around.
The film follows a young woman gulled into attending marijuana party. After a drug-induced tryst with her boyfriend, her life is thrown into chaos by a pregnancy. What follows is a descent into crime and degeneracy.
Marihuana succeeds on a number of levels, with a far more compelling story and better acting than its counterpart. Although both films were labeled "Adults only" in their time, Marihuana actually delivers with some nudity and graphic (for its time) violence. Just on the level of exploitation, it does better.
Furthermore, the film is reasonably well acted. For example, the drug dealers, while falling into ethnic stereotypes, actually come across as more human than the hardened protagonist or her family. In a scene involving a kidnapping, they actually try to make the child happy, while the child's "upright" family refuse to pay her ransom because she's adopted. Who are we supposed to root for here? The film has more than its share of unintentional humor, with some truly hilarious dialogue during the pot party. The exaggerated Italian stereotypes are also fun. Marihuana is a much better choice for when you get the camp munchies.
The film follows a young woman gulled into attending marijuana party. After a drug-induced tryst with her boyfriend, her life is thrown into chaos by a pregnancy. What follows is a descent into crime and degeneracy.
Marihuana succeeds on a number of levels, with a far more compelling story and better acting than its counterpart. Although both films were labeled "Adults only" in their time, Marihuana actually delivers with some nudity and graphic (for its time) violence. Just on the level of exploitation, it does better.
Furthermore, the film is reasonably well acted. For example, the drug dealers, while falling into ethnic stereotypes, actually come across as more human than the hardened protagonist or her family. In a scene involving a kidnapping, they actually try to make the child happy, while the child's "upright" family refuse to pay her ransom because she's adopted. Who are we supposed to root for here? The film has more than its share of unintentional humor, with some truly hilarious dialogue during the pot party. The exaggerated Italian stereotypes are also fun. Marihuana is a much better choice for when you get the camp munchies.