Freaks
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Movie Reviews of Freaks
Movie Review: So much more than a mere horror film...
Summary: 5 Stars
`Freaks' is one of those movies that just has to be seen, by everyone. It is classified as a horror film but to me it is much more than that. Much like the beautifully written (and adapted) `Of Mice and Men', `Freaks' broaches the horrors of mistreating and misjudging others based on their physical limitations. There is no reason to simply cast this film aside as nothing more than a `scary movie' for `Freaks' is far too important a film to be typecast in such a way.
Like the prologue explains, there was a time when ones with such drastic physical and mental deficiencies were cast aside as unworthy and left to die. Those that survived were more often than not taking in as sideshow freaks and paraded about for the amusement of the `normal' people (much like `The Elephant Man'). Thus begins `Freaks'; a story about a group of these sideshow freaks who have simply had enough of being walked all over. When Hans falls in love with the beautiful Cleopatra, a normal trapeze acrobat, the rest of Hans' friends and fellow freaks (including his one-time fiancée Frieda) smell something wrong. It so turns out that Cleopatra is using Hans for his good nature and money and that she plans to marry him and poison him in order to take his money and run off the Hercules. When the freaks get word of this they take matters into their own hands to save Hans from his new wife's evil plan.
It's obvious that we as the viewer are supposed to sympathize with the `freaks', for they are painted as the more normal of the lot exposed here. Questions about our idea of real beauty and worth arise as we are able to examine our own vanity. Even Hans is subject to his depiction of love and admiration for he leaves his wonderfully supportive and obviously infatuated fiancée Frieda for the beautiful Cleopatra who herself exhibits no real likable or desirable qualities other than her surface beauty.
Us `normal' humans (if that's your standard of normal) are given varying degrees of tolerance to examine within the close nit community. You have Cleopatra and Hercules who are disgusted by and fancy using those different from them. You have Venus who does not dislike or desire to abuse the freaks but is obviously not as comfortable around them as some (just watch her facial expressions in certain scenes); and then you have Phroso (as well as Madame Tetrallini) who defend the `freaks' and consider them equals.
The question is; who are you?
I actually found the acting within `Freaks' to be quite good, especially on the part of Wallace Ford and the Earles' siblings (Harry and Daisy Earles play Hans and Frieda). I really enjoyed Daisy's performance, for it added so much genuine warmth and concern for her lover Hans. She just wants him to be happy and you really believe that.
As far as the `horror' aspect of this film is concerned, it really isn't all that horrifying in the sense that it isn't truly scary. The fact does remain that these human beings are scary looking (I know that sounds mean but it is a fact) and that alone may send some shivers down your spine; especially when they start chanting "one of us" or when they are crawling towards you with knives in hand; but truthfully `Freaks' is horrifying in that it exposes a common thread of thought that is found in many people today, a line of thinking that is not only hurtful but, as we've seen here, very dangerous.
Movie Review: visionary, provocative, uneasy film of brilliance.
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a marvelous movie, but it has had a hard time really gaining true respect because it did what so few films really did - removed the safety net from viewers. In every horror film, the movie goers had that "net" of saying to themselves, no matter how horrific the film was, "this is only make-believe". One loses that in the provoking film by Tod Browning (who directed Lugosi in the original Dracula). This is really uncharted territory, (though Nightmare Alley with Tyron Power, 1947 walked into this realm very effectively), the lives of the Circus Freaks. By today's standard it's still having a hard time gaining respect in the politically correct consciousness where we would blanche at calling any human a freak.
Still, Browning's tale is haunting, mermerizing. It's a story of love, betrayal and the ultimate retribution acted out by the circus freaks themselves in an eye for an eye justice. Evil trapeze artist, Olga Baclanova deliberately sets out to seduce and marry a midget in the circus sideshow, with a wicked eye on getting his money. However, the perfectly gorgeous Olga has crossed the line with the tightly knit community of the very human and compassionate - just different - sideshow artists. These people use their "differences" to make a living in the world. They endure the harsh treatment and laughter at their expense, but they have a very supportive code amongst themselves. And for Olga to see the little man as an easy target and cause his death, it is beyond the pale to them. The sideshow people are a family, a clan, and when you do something to one of them, you do it to all of them.
Browning set out with a very provocative premise - frankly, I am still amazed after all these years the film was made - because Browning did not go for the more "acceptable" sideshow denizens, he went for the most famous of the era. It was a move that very nearly cost him his career. And that is where the viewer loses the safety net. This is real people displaying their sad and strange peculiarities. This film is disturbing on so many levels, holds up a mirror to the audiences faces, and possibly makes them face their own emotions with which we are not too comfortable. In Great Britain the film was banned for over 30 years.
The film is still potent, still brilliant, still holding up mirrors making us examine very uncomfortable prejudices and emotions. It's a masterpiece, everything Browning set out to make it realized. It's just moving, visionary, just often not an easy experience.
Movie Review: Disturbing, but unforgettable
Summary: 5 Stars
I remember first watching this movie in High School English class. As expected, many of my classmates were repulsed by it and left that class with a grimaced look on their faces. And I'm sure this reaction is common for many people who see "Freaks" for the first time. But if one puts all prejudices aside and looks at the movie objectively, they will see this film for the great achievement it really is.
"Freaks" is about a group of circus sideshow performers, all of whom are aberrations of some sort. We have the human torso, siamese twins, 2 microcephalics, etc. What they all have in common (besides their oddities) is a life of abuse and exploitation from their owners. Deciding to band together as a unit, they set out to get retribution and some respect. And the final scene is truly unforgettable in its own surreal and tragic way. You will ask yourself, who are the REAL freaks?
As I said, this movie is not for everyone, but not only for the obvious reason. It forces us to look at ourselves and see our own flaws and admit that we have all rejected (and perhaps been on the receiving end of rejection) before. I doubt the movie's message is as cliche and corny as "love thy neighbor and each other," but it's something along those lines. Perhaps the true message is that when people step on those who are different, they're only projecting their own insecurities and fears. But whatever message this movie has, it's a brilliant work of art that pushes the envelope and deals with a subject that few are comfortable looking at head-on. For that reason alone it should be seen at least once, and hopefully purchased.
Finally, it's great that Warner Brothers has released this gem on DVD. I'm very impressed with the sound and audio quality. Bonus material is quite substantial considering how old this movie is. Among the features is an informative commentary by David Skal and 3 alternate endings. These other endings aren't as effective as the original IMO but are still interesting to see for novelty's sake. The only minor complaint I have is the absence of a chapter search card inside the DVD case, or at least some kind of booklet. I don't know, it makes the overall DVD presentation seem incomplete. But other than that it's a superb DVD. Give this movie a chance. Once the shock value wears off you'll appreciate its true meaning.
Movie Review: Exploitation or compassion?
Summary: 5 Stars
The story isn't much. Beautiful woman marries a rich man for his money, all the while carrying on with another man behind his back. The rich man, of course, is the only one blind to the beautiful woman's duplicity, and when he finally finds out there's all heck to pay.
This time around, though, the woman is a towering 5'4", the man is a midget and his friends include the Human Torso, the Human Skeleton, and an assortment of microcephali (a.k.a. `pinheads'). Tod Browning's FREAKS (1932) started its career as a critical and box-office disaster, was resurrected in the 1960s and by the 1990s was added to the National Film Registry by the National Film Preservation Board in 1994. Very few movies start out so despised and end up so revered. But then, FREAKS is like no other movie ever made.
Even today, with my senses dulled beyond repair from years of exposure to outrageous special effects and incredible cgi animation - even though I've seen this movie three or four times over the years - it still seems shocking and unsettling. The special hour long `making of' special included on the disk, featuring David Skal and a host of circus side-show historians, provides plenty of background on many of the `freaks' in the movie. Skal also provides a commentary track, in which he discusses the many hurdles FREAKS had to overcome during its troubled early history. Better yet, he provides the viewer with information on the many deleted and edited scenes.
On one level, FREAKS isn't a very good movie. Some of the acting is terribly wooden, the A-List original cast (Myrna Loy, Victor McLaglen, Jean Harlow) begged off the project and considering their replacements and the film's short running time of 62 minutes it's obvious that MGM quickly decided that this was a b-picture. On another level, because it so humanizes those we usually avoid (and thus in a sense deprive of humanity), and because it does so without resorting to optical tricks, FREAKS is a movie like no other, before or since.
Movie Review: The unforgettable masterpiece...
Summary: 5 Stars
I first rented the DVD because of the "cult" status it holds. After watching it repeatedly over a single weekend, I had to own it. It's almost 75 years old now, so keep that in mind when watching it- how many of today's Oscar winner movies will be remembered in 75 years? All the more interesting was the hysteria that surrounded it, its banning from Europe for decades, and that it virtually ended the careers of those who produced it.
The story and some of acting are rather mundane, but the movie grips you and you can't turn away. You'll find yourself siding with the "Freaks" as they take on the abuse and prejudices that have changed very little in all this time. The actors with disabilities are so totally engrossing that you wonder why we are all so afraid of the "different." Of special interest for me are Daisy and Harry Earles, also known as part the Doll Family. Born in Germany, they were siblings from a family of 7 children, of which four were Little People who formed the "Doll Family. Daisy was billed the "Midget May West" for her adorable screen persona and looks. Harry was one of the "Lollipop Guild" trio from the Wizard of Oz, and the other three Dolls were in it as well.
The movies has some rough edges, and yes, the accents are sometimes hard to understand. But the DVD has subtitles in English, which you can turn on briefly if you just can't make out a line. The Special Features section has some great background on the production that you should not miss.
Watch this masterpiece and you will never forget it or the magical people that made it what it is.