Flickering Opinions: Freaks

Film Details:

Directed by Tod Browning (London After Midnight, Dracula)

Written by Tod Robbins (short story) (The Unholy Three)

Starring
Olga Baclanova (Avalanche)
Harry Earles (The Wizard of Oz)
Daisy Earles (The Wizard of Oz)

Review: by Melissa (e-mail your faithful reviewer)

This is one of the most unusual films you will ever see. Basically, this is more of a drama than a horror film, set in a circus sideshow. The plot involves a love quadrangle between two midgets, a strongman, and a beautiful blonde acrobat. Money and bloodlust and revenge gets mixed in, and the film culminates in a climax that must have been incredibly shocking in 1932.

The film is historically remarkable for many reasons. Nearly all of the characters are played by real circus "freaks" and performers, not studio actors. The script is remarkably compassionate, portraying all of these midgets, pinheads, and Siamese twins as real people with real emotions. The ending is twisted enough that it managed to get the film banned for 30 years in the UK.

However, it is a very sad film. Because it was so remarkable historically, I very badly wanted for it to be a good movie as well. It really isn't. Since Browning didn't use actors, the acting is very bad, and lines are often completely lost. Aside from the "freaks" angle, the dialogue and plot are hackneyed, like they were ripped from every other love-triangle picture of that era. The film has also suffered badly over time; the images that were so shocking 70 years ago are now so diffused by modern copycats that the ending is no longer particularly strong.

It's heartbreaking watching these real people stumble through this movie. It's heartbreaking to see all this ambition and good intention turn into a choppy final product.

That's not to say that you shouldn't see the film if you get the chance. Parts of it are really quite fascinating. The dinner scene with the "one of us" chant is quite memorable, and the mud-soaked finale should be preserved in the pantheon of classic filmmaking. It is worth a viewing, by all means. Just expect a lot of mixed feelings.