For the past year or so, I’ve written several pieces about the excellent documentary Plagues & Pleasures On The Salton Sea, directed by Chris Metzler and Jeff Springer, that has been screened in numerous underground film festivals and won an abundance of much-deserved awards. Now I’m thrilled to say that it’s finally out on DVD as of yesterday on the Docurama label.

It’s a thoroughly twisted portrait of California’s Salton Sea, an “accidental lake” that briefly flourished in the ’50s as a hip resort, but environmental problems, including a nasty buildup of excessive salt has turned the place into a fetid dump. Although, there are several locals who still live near the simmering stew of dead fish, including a guy named “Hunky Daddy” and “Naked Don,” who treat the place as if it’s the Garden of Eden redux. The film is a bizarrely fascinating portrait of one of the most forgotten places on Earth. And the movie’s narrated by John Waters of all people.

You can check out the Underground Film Journal’s original review of the film here; and then buy Plagues & Pleasures on the Salton Sea at Amazon.

Watch the Plagues & Pleasures on the Salton Sea movie trailer:

Plagues & Pleasures on the Salton Sea photo gallery: