It's a superb film and one that you couldn't imagine ever being made today (at least not with real "freaks" - the PC brigade would have a fit and it would have to use CGI versions of the bloomin Basket Case 3 mob) - it isn't scary so much as a sort of twisted fairy tale with some truly despicable characters and despite it's reputation isn't as expoitative as you might think, especially considering the time it was made the "freaks" on the whole are portrayed as very human and apart from those with ulterior motives are treated as such by the average shaped characters.

one of us! one of us! I love that movie. I wouldn't call it the best horror movie ever...or even horror...but it is excellent. Though the ending didn't quite add up...ironic, yes...still doesn't mean I get how it could happen. All right, dispel logic and watch the movie!

There are disfigured people all the time. I wouldn't consider that 'horrible' just like I wouldn't consider 'Freaks' to be a horror film. I'd agree it's a revenge film. Set in a strange enviornment, sure, but still a revenge film. It's what's going on in people's minds that is horrifying.
CK

Todd Browning IS amazing.

First time poster on this site ><

i was thrilled when i saw this on the first page of the forums, i have to say it is one of my favorite shows of all time - definatly on my top ten list anyway - I have been trying to collect some tidbits of the film and have the charachature of roscoe yates from the brown derby in hollywood and a few signed photos by the guy with no pelvis and the little dwarf couple.

anyone know where i can find an inexpensive repro poster?

Not really sure how Tod Browning was amazing, he set up the camera and let it sit there. Here's a question about the film though, would anyone find the movie entertaining if it didn't contain "freaks"? I enjoyed the movie but I can honestly say I wouldn't have liked it otherwise, just something to think about...

thats kind of like asking people if they'd like alien, if there werent any aliens ...

!!!
 

good point made by jackie brown! if freaks contain regular people (and i say regular loosly) would anyone have cared? it was a good movie, for what it was. i still likek chanting "one of us" every now and then.

would people get offended if in a zombie movie, mentally handicapped people were my extras? send some down syndrome people in makeup storrming a old farmhouse. think of it, and ignore the naked girls in the bath tub of (pig's) blood that is the opening scene?

better point!
 

pictures aliens with no aliens* uggghhhh, god that would suck. think if gieger hadn't had anything to do with it? that would be aliens with NO aliens! good point my neighbor to the north!

I juess i'm just saying that the very concept of Freaks were the Freaks.
You could apply the 'what if' logic to any genre film.
Sure it would be just another jilted lover revenge flick ....
And almost every single Sci-Fi flick would just be a western ..
And every slasher flick without a crazed killer would be a crime drama.

Freaks was a landmard film for a number of reasons .. it was daring as hell for the time and it painted a sympathetic picture of the poor unfortunates in the film. It also made them human.
Which was the point of the film .. these poor creatures were more human than the 'normal' girl.
So without the freaks .. the movie would have no point.

I understand where the question came from ... but in this case i'd have to say that they were integral to the film.

Ineresting, but I never looked at it like that. Nice train of thought there.

urgeok
IMO you can't apply that sort of logic to the question. Afterall the freaks were real people and the Aliens were fictionally created. Not sure what I'm trying to say with that statement... I guess what I'm saying is that the story in Freaks could have been done without having freaks in it, I'd be interested to see the story of Aliens portrayed without aliens.

i understand where you're coming from but as i went on to explain .. the movie was about the freaks ... they were the story ..
(normal vs freak contrast and all that)

Ok .. a better analogy would be .. a movie about Princess Diana .. without Princess Diana ...


i think you're saying that it wasnt a great origional story and the cinematography, etc.. was pedestrian .. but in this case i dont think you can seperate the subject material from the story .. they really were the story ..

interesting argument
to use a "freak" or fake a freak
aren't we all

"we all go a little crazy sometimes."
anthony perkins-psycho

I don't think I have seen it!!

Me neither!! ;)

freaks
 

i thought the whole premise of freaks and the movie was stupid

Oh a freak posting a picture.

fuck you

Midgets

...

It's a classic motherfuckers. Jesus Christ!!!!!!

great thread.

Freaks
 

This is a Browning Classic. This movie used REAL (to be politically correct) people with disabilities and differences. :eek:

Try to make a movie like that now, with all of the politically correctness and sensitivity being shoved down our throats at every corner and they would eat the producers livers for it.

Unless I'm mistaken the movie was made circa 1924. that was eighty years ago. Calling this movie crap is like calling Lon Chaney Sr.'s Phantom of the Opera the same. That's a No-No. :D

Yeh.... what the fuck is up with saying this movie sucks? Fuck dude you have no taste this is one of the best and most influentual horror movies ever made.

He can say what he wants....just say it better!!!

It was made in 1932.
Think if all the horror films made since then, and all that you have seen, have never been made yet. Then some of the things in "Freaks" would be genuinely new and brave.


**SPOILERS***



I'm no big fan of the film, but it still holds a fascination and the finale, even to this day, where they crawl through the mud on a stormy night with weapons gripped in their hands or teeth, with vengeful stares on their faces, is still a prime 'horror' moment IMHO.

GREAT new DVD release as well, with some fascinating extras.

why bother to start a thread on a movie forum without articulating what moved you to be here in the first place ?

if you have passion about something - negative or otherwise, employ the old Who What Where When Why rules.

Write something that might be of interest to anyone reading it.

If something sucks - say why.

Otherwise you'll get flamed by people who would rather hear some method to the madness than just a ...

'this movie sucks'

Where i come from ... something/someone sucking can be a good thing :)

tod browning is an amazing director that brought a lot of his own life influences into the movie. when browning was growing up he was actually in a sideshow playing "the wild man". he also did many magic tricks such as being buried 6 feet below the ground in a box for 24 hours only living on malted milk balls. so, i say kudos to browning, and i give an A to "Freaks".

Hi the Psychicfetus excuse me while I Laugh LOL LOL LOl I have no idea where you heard Tod Browning did a magic trick where he was burried alive 6 ft under ground for 24 hours. LOL Not even Harry Houdini did that and he had planned on doing it before he died in 1926. Every Escapeartist and Magican who has tried to be burried alive died or failed while trying it. Who ever told you that Browning did this is full of it. I know Browning did not do this because I am a Magican and I know Magic History. If you want to talk Magicians and Horror better start with former French Magican Georges Melies who made the very 1st Horror movie in 1896 titled The Devils Castle.

wow, you are incredibly retarded. i read it in a biography about browning for one. it wasnt an actual "magic" trick because there was a system breathing tubes set up for him to breathe with. he also had water and malted milk balls hidden for him to live off of for those 24 hours. now before you go making assumptions and say that im "wrong and full of it" why dont you go read a book about it. its all there. and are you trying to impress me by saying that youre a "magician", and just because you are you know everything about every other magician in history. fucking nOOb.

Hey Psychicfetus what is the name of the book that says Tod Browning did this breathing underground stunt or underwater stunt. I would like to read the book myself. Maybe someone got their facts wrong. Btw I have been a fan of horror movies for 38 years and I like Horror movie history and I am a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicans IBM and I am a member od the Society of American Magicans SAM. I also pretty much know the history of Magic as well.

I think this is about the 30th thread about Freaks.

Freaks
 

I saw this a couple of months ago. it was actually a decent little movie, not that it really qualifies as horror. Great twist ending, though.

I have to say that the Pinheads were the most disturbing people to see in the movie... with the exception of the torso guy running at the end, and the limbless man crawling with a knife in his mouth... Has anyone else seen this?

This is a bizarre, bizzare, totally strange movie. One of those things I think everyone ought to see once, at least.

I agree completely. Bragging rights alone are worth it.

i was impressed that it portrayed them as people. they were only scary at the end, pretty much like anyone would be if they were ganging up to mutilate someone.

I've heard of this, my dad said he saw it when he was young. Old movie. 1932

Keep in mind, that in the 1930's this movie was considered a bonifide real horror movie. Things were much tamer back then and "freaks" were something that most people didn't see except for the daring ones in a tent during a circus.

I have this one on DVD. Actually, the documentary that's included in the "special features" section is better than the movie. Lots of cool stuff. An actual "Bearded Lady" even gives some commentary. There's lots of insight into the making of the film and background info on all the stars.

Like someone said in the documentary, it's not exactly a GREAT film but a somewhat IMPORTANT one. Important to the horror industry that is.