Freaks

Audience Reviews

View More

Draco R Sep 21, 2018 It's a movie that they would never let be made today due to exploitation "rules", which makes it even more special. It may not be everyones cup of tea. I found it to be very interesting and entertaining. There are definitely some creepy scenes that give you goosebumps. The plot is different and entertaining. See more

Finn M Jul 18, 2018 A classic of pre-Code cinema, Tod Browning's 'Freaks' is populated with a broad cast of real-life carnival performers and those with deformities, and the effect is striking. We see the armless, legless, and completely limbless. We see conjoined twins, a 'human skeleton', and microcephalics (so-called 'pinheads'). We see a 'bird girl' and a 'stork woman' (who we find out later had Virchow-Seckel syndrome). And we see some of the more conventional carnival acts: a bearded lady, a half-man/half-woman, a fire-eater, and a sword-swallower. We never see them performing in front of an audience; instead all of the action in the film is behind the scenes, and the effect is humanizing. We see life from their perspective, and that they face the same relationship issues that the rest of society face. We watch the film perhaps voyeuristically because of the deformities and differences, but it's to Browning's credit that they are shown sympathetically. A caretaker for a group which includes the three microcephalics chides a couple of guys who react in horror, pointing out they're just children who are playing in the sun. A little person (Harry Earles) points out that most 'big people' laugh at him, because "they don't realize that I'm a man with the same feelings they have." It's telling that the real 'freaks' in the story are two "normal people", a trapeze artist (Olga Baclanova) and her strong-man boyfriend (Henry Victor), who play on Earles' emotions, and then plot to kill him for his money. There are several truly memorable scenes, starting with Prince Randian, "The Human Torso", an armless and legless performer in a tight one-piece garment making him appear like a caterpillar, manipulating a cigarette and a matchbox with ease, and fluidly giving himself a light. Another is when the performers are all drinking at a wedding and chanting "One of us, one of us, Gooble gobble, Gooble gobble, We accept her, we accept her, One of us, one of us" riotously, until Baclanova erupts in disgust and calls them all freaks. The look of hurt in their eyes, and shame in Earles' face is heart-rending. However, nothing can top the circus performers crawling through the mud, with revenge in their eyes. The extended sequence that this led to was so disturbing that the film's 90 minute run-time had to get cut down to just 64, and it's a real shame that the original is lost. Great film, from a great director. See more

George G Mar 31, 2018 WHY THE HELL does everyone think this movie is so great? I hated it, i thought that it was so long and annoying!

Anakin S Feb 17, 2018 Hmmm...this is a tough one to talk about on a critical level. 1932's "Freaks" is an oddball short film (1 hour long!), but not for its obvious use of circus performers and deformity as a message, but for how it structures itself in telling its short story. A story that, to be honest, does not warrant one to see it again and again. I'm also left confused with what it was trying to say because of its odd approach to story telling. I'm glad to have seen this curious piece of film history, but I don't think it will appeal to many who aren't film buffs. See more

Jan 10, 2018 Would have liked to see the full version. As for the "Freaks" - they're not scary at all. I imagine back in those days it was as they never saw a disabled person before but nowadays we see much more revolting pictures e.g. of rare diseases with a simple google search. Still, the story was good imo. See more

Albus W Dec 6, 2017 Rightfully considered as standing alone in a subgenre of one, Freaks has well-balanced characters, an engaging atmosphere, and a controversial yet important message, that still holds up. Historically condemned and met with lackluster contemporary reception, Freaks is now considered culturally and aesthetically important - for several reasons, ranging from the daring vision of its director, to the unsettling plot, making the viewer confront his/her own stereotypes. Overall 7/10 Full review here: https://movie-discourse.blogspot.de/2017/11/freaks-usa-1932.html See more

Read all reviews

Freaks

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING