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Freaks [1932]
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Probably the most chilling finale to any movie of its day
Review date: 2008-10-13 Rating: 10 out of 10
It's from 1932. Remember that when you watch it. A 1932 movie with a delightfully grotesque ending. I doubt they'd be allowed to make this film now - certainly not using real "freaks" as that'd be considered abuse in some way...but such tallented actors the entire cast are too. Prince Randian and Schlitzie stand out with particularly good performances. It has some very chilling scenes and Olga Baclanova is just superb as the ultimate villain who gets what she deserves in the final reel. When you see the last scenes, remember: 1932. Amazing.
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Reviews
Notoriety is it's only strength
Review date: 2007-11-09 Rating: 4 out of 10
I finally checked out this little film after it kept turning up on most Top 50 Horror lists, but it just goes to show that, while it may be significant in terms of horror film history, that doesn't necessarily make it a good film to watch.
I can understand a limited casting pool in terms of having real 'freaks' play in this movie, but most of these people are not actors. I found a lot of the dialogue difficult to understand, and the acting is truly atrocious for the most part, including some looking straight into the camera.
Having said that, there are some nice moments. The main 'normal' female, whilst abysmally bad through most of the film, is quite effective when she turns nasty. And the sequence of the 'freaks' crawling through the mud and rain to exact their revenge is genuinely creepy. But these moments aside, it's not a film I would watch again, add to my collection nor recommend, and in my opinion the only reason it's still talked about is due to it's notoriety. But that does not a good film make!
watch while u can
Review date: 2007-07-13 Rating: 10 out of 10
You will never see another piece of cinematic history like this one. Some will say this is sick ( like my gf) but take it for what it is.
Fantastic acting, outstanding directing and moving to boot. It starts as a freak show, and ends as heart churning classic.
what to make of this?
Review date: 2006-12-20 Rating: 6 out of 10
I saw this film first in the 1960s and again recently. It's a famous/notorious film depending upon your view of it. It features a number of physically malformed people - the 'Freaks' of the title - who would in the time that film was made indeed be circus freaks, strange-looking people whom circus or show-goers would pay to see. There is clearly a moral issue here. I do not take the view that the film is so good as to justify this exploitation, if artistic excellence could indeed ever be said to justify it. The 'success' of the film to me lies not in the story or the shooting of the story but in the 'freak' element, and I find that uncomfortable, however well the cast members may have been treated during and after the making of the film. Essentially what happens is that one of the 'freaks' is duped by a beautiful woman and the others take revenge on her. But for me it leaves a bad taste. It is indeed a remarkable film and as such difficult to rate - I've gone for a compromise three stars - but it is not one I much enjoy or would recommend.
Beautiful, compassionate, freaky.
Review date: 2006-02-04 Rating: 10 out of 10
"We'll make her one of us"- say the Freaks, yet ironically that statement is already true as it is the "normals" who are the real freaks.
When Hans the midget first catches sight of the lovely Cleopatra, he thinks she is the most beautiful "normal" he has ever seen. She treats it as joke and flirts with him to poke fun at him, but when she finds out he has inherited a large sum of money, she hoodwinks him into marrying her, and with the help of Hercules her strong man lover, she plots kill him. All the other freaks, including; Frieda the dwarf, the Bearded Lady, the half boy, the living torso, the half woman/half man,the pin heads, Koo-Koo the bird girl, the stork woman, the living skeleton and the armless wonders can not except her as one of them.
It is finally on their wedding night, when the Freaks learn that the whole thing is a hoax, when Cleo is repulsed and insulted by the freaks' propsition she is now one of them having married Hans. The following evening the Freaks witness her trying to poison Hans, and plot a shocking, terrifying revenge, in an attempt to really make her one of them which is the code of the freaks: "offend one, you offend them all".
The wedding scene is a prime example of excellent use of "mise en scene", with the bird girl dancing atop the table, and the Freaks' chanting of " one of us, one of us...gooble, gobble..." while passing round "the loving cup of wine".
The revenge scene however has to steel the title of one of the best scenes in cinematic history, with the freaks crawling in the pouring rain, chasing Cleo and Hercules through the woods. What makes it even more scary is that the viewer sees hardly anything, therefore the terror relies solely on imagination to decide what happened.
To conclude, this is a cult/horror/drama classic which needs a place in all DVD collections and proves tht you should'nt judge a book by its cover.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Harry Earles
Leila Hyams
Rosco Ates
Olga Baclanova
Wallace Ford
Creators:
Wallace Ford (Primary Contributor)
Olga Baclanova (Primary Contributor)
Recording label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
EAN: 7321900651912
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Black & White, PAL,
Release date: 2006-06-19
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 60 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1932