Mjeteconer Just perfect...

SanEat A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

Invaderbank The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Brainsbell The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.

elicopperman Upon Universal's Dracula becoming a huge hit, director Tod Browning was given an opportunity to make whatever he waned afterwards, which was to adapt the short story Spurs into a feature film, later entitled Freaks. By doing unconventional methods such as casting actual deformed circus performers amongst a cast of "regular" actors, the film was seen as too shocking to be released and was even cut from its original hour and a half long cut to just 64 minutes. Even at that, the film was not well received and became an infamously controversial film throughout the world. That being said, time has shown to be more kind to this film, as it has gotten more critical praise and attraction over the years, which I agree on.Set in a traveling circus, trapeze performer Cleopatra tricks the lovesick circus midget Hans into marrying her upon hearing about his inheritance so she can steal the fortune and run off with her lover, strong man Hercules. Upon hearing of this, Hans' friends and fellow performers, all of whom are deemed as freaks, decide to seek vengeance on both Hercules and Cleopatra to show them what it truly means to be a "freak." While the main story itself is pretty simple, it is intriguing enough to sit through, as it does detail how deformed people were treated back in the day (makes one wonder how the actors were treated on set). It's made clear that the so called "freaks" are not inherently horrid beings, it's really those who are prejudice towards them that are. As such, it makes the eventual ending obvious albeit disturbing once Cleo and Hercules finally get what's coming to them (although we'll never get to see the original ending where Hercules gets castrated).As for the characters, it's great that Browning was able to cast circus and sideshow performers to play the deformed beings, and they really do play off one another through their own distinct traits and personalities. Hans and his former fiance Frieda are probably the most endearing characters in the film, since while many of the other deformed beings get their fare share of taunts, we really get to see the pain and anguish shown in their faces and what happens to them really makes one feel sorry for the two. Cleopatra and Hercules are just appropriately despicable, for whether they lie to or openly insult the "freaks" themselves, their evil cunning nature is not too different to how greedy and downright malicious people were to deformities back then, or even like some people are now in general. The only "normal" characters in the film, Phroso and Venus, are much more relatable to a modern audience (or even Browning himself) as they understand the deformed being's pain and do wish they would just be happy.In addition to the main storyline, there are a few subplots revolving around other "freaks", such as Phroso and Venus' relationship, one part of Siamese twins marrying a stuttering circus clown, and even a bearded lady giving birth to the daughter of the human skeleton. Although they're charming and humorous in their own right, they mainly serve as superfluous to the main plot and come off as nothing more than filler. Phroso and Venus's arch is an exception since they do play a vital role in having a healthy relationship with the performers outside of Cleopatra and Hercules, and they do have rather witty banter with each other which makes for an entertaining couple. Considering the movie had roughly 26 minutes cut, it's possible that these subplots added up a little more in the original version, but as nonessential as many of them are, they do build up to the eventual climax, and boy do things get rough from there on out.Needless to say, Freaks holds up as an unorthodox shocking albeit insightful horror flick of Hollywood's pre-Code era for its share of warm-hearted and horrid characters, well timed tension and moral that says "freaks" may show much more honesty than a 'normal' people driven by greed, power and prejudice. If you're looking for a classic horror film that as much light to deformed beings as much as The Elephant Man and Mask, then give Freaks a watch. Similar to deformed beings of then and today, the film may have been reviled then, but its praises and even defenses are being sung now.

qmtv The audio was not great, probably because of the accents of the actors Harry and Daisy Earles. They were good actors. All the actors did well. All the freaks did well as well. As most reviewers here state, this film does not make the freaks out to be freaks. They are deformed. But human. I guess the best message of the film is that even though Cleopatra and Hercules were "Normal" humans, they were evil, the "Freaks" were presented in the good light. Up until the end when they realized that these normal humans were looking to kill one of their own. That's when they jumped into action. The best part of the film for me was the wedding dinner, and the end when the freaks were going after Cleo and Hercules. Rating is a B, 8 stars.

Shaun V. This review is most of all a reaction to all those people who are reviewing this movie as a "horror" movie. Shame on you.I was completely not planning on writing a review on this movie. As so many have explained why they love this movie in a much better way than I ever could do. I must admit that I was heavily triggered when I read the reviews and saw many people describing this as a great "HORROR" movie!? My god did you even watch this movie? Did you even understand what the message was all about? It has been some years that I've watched this movie. And the best movie you can compare this movie with is "The Elephant Man". David Lynch was obviously very influenced by this picture. Both of the directors made a movie with meaning behind it, that was way more important than the movie itself.In my recollection the movie starts with a long message from the director about why he's making this movie. Back in the 30's it was still common' to go the circus and laugh at people who had it way worse then you. Ahead of his time Tod Browning was one of the first ever to make people question their views on what should be acceptable. Is it okay to dehumanize somebody just for the way he looks? He took his greatest gift and made a movie to honor this people. But not only honor them... No he made them back human. He did no effort what so ever in making them look better than they were. He portrayed them just the way they are, and made a story about friendship, love and sacrifice. And he succeeded. Nowadays nobody would even think about banning this movie. But because of the horrific images of the people (actors) who were in it, this movie was banned for 30 years in Great-Britain.This review is a homage to the man who dared to question society's accepted standards. And nowadays it's impossible to even believe that something that was so widespread would still exist today. By portraying this movie as "30's Horror movie", you are not much better than society back then.

john_vance-20806 I really don't know what to think of this film. Nothing like this could be done today except maybe to be viewed on the dark net.I think you could be either enthralled or revolted by Freaks. It's such a stand alone production that first-time viewers are usually going to be caught off-guard. In any case, it's hard not to have a visceral reaction one way or the other.Without going into plot details, a portion of the cast is made up of people with severe disabilities or physical defects. Some clearly have very limited mental capacities but others seem to know exactly what they're doing. I suspect that much of this line-up would have been what you'd see in a 19th century traveling carnival side-show.I'm not easily offended or shocked but I'm a little uncomfortable with what's going on here. Politically correct doesn't really apply, it's beyond that. As to whether it represents inspired, courageous, avant-garde filmmaking or is an example of vomitous bad taste and ignorance is, I suppose, up to the viewer. But if anyone responds with just a 'meh' I suspect their own tastes and social skills are a bit outside the normal.I suppose Freaks speaks to our human ambivalence in dealing with things that are bizarre, abnormal or revolting. Most of us can't resist at least taking a glance at a book filled with pictures of those with congenital anomalies. Many feel the same way about photos of victims savaged and mutilated by violence or injury. You're glad it's not you, but then turn to the next page to see the next repellent example.I can't recommend this film but I wouldn't say no one should watch it. Just be a little prepared for something that might be either fascinating or stomach-churning. The response will be a reflection of yourself.