Strange and Fantastic Tales of the 20th Century is a look back at the weirdest, most memorable, and most off center movies of the 20th century. From head turning horror to oddball science fiction, this column examines the films that will leave a lasting impression for centuries to come.
Herman Melville once said that “friendship at first sight, like love at first sight, is said to be the only truth.” The bond of friendship is a driving force for many films. From the ladies of Steel Magnolias, to the Brat Pack to Ed and Shaun, cinema reminds viewers that friends can be the ultimate loves of a lifetime. Who would have thought that whipping out a chain and smacking girls around in a diner would produce one of the most unique meet-cutes in exploitation cinema history?
Jack Hill’s 1975 film Switchblade Sisters is a story about the love and bond between high school girls who run a gang. Sure, the film deals with romantic love, but ultimately, the main story is between Lace and Maggie, two tough alphas who fall instantly in awe of each other’s badassery.
Lace (Robbie Lee) is the pint sized leader of the Dagger Debs, the female counterpart to the male run Silver Daggers. The Silver Daggers is led by Dominic (Asher Brauner), who is a vile human. Lace and Dominic have a passionate love affair and while both are tough and no one would dare mess with either of them, their love brings out a dangerously sensitive side in both of them.
It was a regular day of shenanigans and terrorizing the local burger joint when Lace and Maggie first met. Maggie (Joanna Nail) was innocently eating a burger with an older group of strangers when the Dagger Debs demanded she move out of their seat. Maggie very casually whips a chain out of her boot and takes the group to task. Patch (Monica Gayle), Lace’s most loyal friend is not impressed, but Lace senses a kindred spirit within Maggie and an intensity is set between them.
After brawling, they are all sent to a detention facility where they are subjected to molestation by the head warden, a burly female that is the cookie cutter for all burly female wardens. Maggie refuses to be humiliated by the system and fights back. Lace is completely impressed and calls on the Dagger Debs to help a sister out. A riot ensues and Maggie joins the gang and everything should be bliss, until Dominic enters the scene.
Maggie and Lace become inseparable and become a powerful duo in the group. They could run the school, until Maggie is attacked by Dominic in a disturbing scene. Dominic goes over to Maggie’s apartment where Maggie’s mom is having sex with the landlord in exchange for rent. Dominic charges into Maggie’s room and rapes her. Maggie is forced to deal with this in secrecy. She does not want to hurt Lace, but she also has to be loyal to the gang.
Maggie doubles down on her friendship with Lace and does her best to be her right hand. This is unsettling for Patch, who suspects there is something going on between Maggie and Dominic. Maggie starts to gather a following from the Debs because she feels that they can be more powerful than the Silver Daggers. Lace begins to feel more powerless as she realizes Dominic is attracted to Maggie. In a failed plot to save her relationship, Dominic is killed and the bond between the Daggers and the Debs is dissolved.
Maggie has been respectful of Lace’s leadership, but Lace and Patch are wary of Maggie and the charismatic hold she has on the group. It becomes clear that Maggie is the better leader because she knows how to keep her focus and knows how to seek out help from others. Maggie is even able to reach out to a group of black women who are doing their own work for their militia as they seek out support for the Debs in their standoff against a rival gang.
In a perfect world, Maggie, Lace, and Patch could have ruled the world with their killer fighting skills and amazing hair, but alas, Lace lets her jealousy get the better of her. Blinded by grief, she turns her back on her gang.
This is not to say the gang was living in bliss until Maggie arrived. Lace was a bully and cruel to her followers. The Dagger Debs regularly engaged in bullying, allowed themselves to be objectified, and lived under the shadow of the Silver Daggers. The story goes beyond petty jealousy’s with commentary on social inequities, neglect, and self esteem. Moral of the story, sisters before misters. Get some chains and celebrate a belated Galentine’s with your squad and watch this week’s strange and fantastic tale Switchblade Sisters.
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