Tura! (2025)
Director: Cody Jarrett Run Time: 105 min. Rating: NR Release Year: 2025
Starring: John Waters, Kitten Natividad, Margaret Cho, Tura Satana
Country: United States
Language: English
About the film:
The one and only Tura Satana. Best remembered for her role as the fierce Varla in Russ Meyer’s 1965 cult classic Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!, Tura’s real life was just as wild and unapologetic as her on-screen persona. And her post-film legacy was just as noteworthy, leaving a fist-shaped mark on pop culture and an indelible signature in burlesque stages, queer clubs, and comic conventions everywhere.
TURA! is a powerful homage to female rage and resilience, tracing the exploitation star’s tumultuous journey for independence and revenge. Narrated by Margaret Cho, the film features interviews with legends John Waters and Dita Von Teese, alongside Tura’s family, friends, and colleagues as they dish about her dangerous lifestyle, her body count, and her life off-camera. Rare archival footage offers a glimpse into the gritty corners of the entertainment industry where Tura thrived, shining as a larger-than-life figure.
The documentary paints an intimate portrait of a previously enigmatic femme fatale, a trailblazing Asian American woman who reclaimed control over her fetishsized identity and redefined what it meant to be a strong, provocative woman in entertainment. More than just a screen siren, Tura Satana was a force of nature who shattered stereotypes, leaving a lasting legacy for future generations of badass women. Hail Satana!
About the filmmaker:
Cody Jarrett is a Los Angeles-based director, writer and producer. Initially a musician living in Tampa Bay, Cody’s Hollywood career kick-started early when director Renny Harlin (Cliffhanger) and producer Joel Silver (The Matrix) saw him in a music magazine and chose him for a supporting role in the 20th Century Fox Andrew “Dice” Clay comedy “The Adventures of Ford Fairlane.” Cody eventually moved behind the camera, helming his feature directorial debut “Frogman” (Koch/Entertainment One). Featuring Andy Warhol/Roger Corman legend Mary Woronov, the film was hailed as a cult classic in Japan and the US, where a festival win and series of outrageous publicity stunts (crashing the Michael Jackson trial, an unforgettable “Tonight Show With Jay Leno” segment) earned the film a forever spot in the classic B-movie pantheon.
See our upcoming films