Part of Queer Qlassics
Before going on to be a prominent writer on The L Word, director Angela Robinson dared to dream of a world where crime-fighting, comedy, lesbians and espionage all collide. Thus D.E.B.S. was born! In this lesbionage rom-com, there is a subliminal agility test embedded in the SAT exam used to recruit spies for an elite paramilitary defense agency. Schoolgirls Amy, Max, Janet and Dominique all show a proclivity for cheating, lying and kicking ass — in other words, perfect candidates for the underground academy of secret agents known only as D.E.B.S. The crime-fighting divas set out to capture the vivacious supervillain, Lucy Diamond — but when the quartet’s ringleader Amy falls for their deadly target, chaos ensues.
Receiving a total of seven awards on the film festival circuit in the early aughts, D.E.B.S. has accrued a cult following and maintains its reputation as a certified crowd pleaser.
“The precursor to contemporary high-concept lesbian films like BOTTOMS, the spy flick is filled with something that queer female moviegoers still often yearn for: fun.” —Bessie Yuill, Vulture