How is Bonnie treated by the adults she encounters?

Bonnie is repeatedly objectified and manipulated by a series of adults: forced into a kidnapping by Pat, used as a model and kept girl by Geraldine, and ultimately desired as a caged 'pet' by Vincent Stackman.

Drama Cult Classic

A runaway girl becomes the object of every twisted desire in this sleazy 1970s menagerie drama.

PETS

There's an Animal in Every Woman

1974 · 1h 42m · R · Drama · IMDB TMDB

Naive, but brash and sultry teenage runaway Bonnie finds herself lost and adrift in America. The lovely young lass runs afoul of a colorful array of evil oddballs who all treat her like an object.

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Quick Answer

What is Pets about?

Pets is a 1974 American drama film directed by Raphael Nussbaum about a naive yet brash teenage runaway who falls prey to a series of predatory and eccentric adults who treat her as an object.

Programmer's Pick

Candy Rialson struts through exploitation’s hall of mirrors as Bonnie, a character who’s as much a survivor as she is a target. Between the swanky mansions, leering weirdos, and that unforgettable menagerie, Pets is pure drive-in sleaze with a sly wink—and more than a few puffy nipples.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

Pets follows Bonnie, a naive but brash and sultry teenage runaway adrift in America, whose journey quickly becomes a gauntlet of exploitation and manipulation. As she traverses a world populated by violent criminals, domineering artists, and wealthy misfits, Bonnie is confronted by individuals who view her as a mere possession or object for their amusement. The film offers a lurid, sexually charged look at 1970s America through the lens of exploitation cinema, combining psychological drama with pointed social commentary. Starring Candice Rialson, Pets is equal parts sleazy spectacle and cautionary tale, reveling in its amoral atmosphere and gallery of unsavory characters.

Details & Specs

Director: Raphael Nussbaum
Writers: Raphael Nussbaum, Richard Reich
Release: 1974
Runtime: 1h 42m
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Genres: Drama
Also Known As: Submission, Questo sesso ribelle, One-Night Stand, Mujeres domadas, Animal Women - Animalische Frauen, Original title: Pets

Cast & Crew

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Director: Raphael Nussbaum Writers: Raphael Nussbaum +1 more

Candice Rialson Bonnie

Ed Bishop Victor Stackman

Joan Blackman Geraldine Mills TG Teri Guzman Pat

Frank Parker Dan Daubrey MG Matt Green Ron

K.T. Stevens Mrs. Daubrey

Mike Cartel Bonnie's Brother

Roberto Contreras The Gardener

Berry Kroeger The Art Connoisseur RW Rodney Wallace Hoodlum WD Walton Dornisch The Hitchhiker MG Matt Green Ron the Burglar

Explore More

Psychological Drama coming of age drama Independent Film Female Nudity Female Frontal Nudity Female Star Appears Nude Lesbian Female Protagonist Kidnapping One Word Title Exploitation Film 1970s Breasts Mansion Evil Man Hostage Misogynist Whip

Why Cult

Runaway Exploitation

The film dives headfirst into 1970s drive-in cinema’s obsession with runaway and hitchhiker narratives, placing its naive protagonist in increasingly dangerous and bizarre scenarios.

Menagerie of Misfits

Bonnie encounters a parade of oddballs, from domineering lesbian artists to a rich man who collects women as pets in his mansion basement.

Candy Rialson Lead

Candice Rialson anchors the film with a central performance that’s as cute as it is cunning, making Bonnie more than just another victim.

Seventies Sleaze Style

Between sultry costuming, a sublime theme song, and unapologetic nudity, the film is a time capsule of 1970s exploitation aesthetics.