Freaks (DVD)

Freaks, a horror film made in 1932, was hugely controversial when released. One of MGM’s few horror films, it flopped disastrously, and for years was only exhibited on the shadowy exploitation circuit alongside nonsense like Reefer Madness. Rediscovered in the 60s, it’s since gained quite a following among horror fans and cineastes, although it’s still capable of stirring up controversy. (Predictably enough, it was banned for decades in this country.) Set in a circus somewhere in Europe, the film features a wealthy midget, Hans, part of the circus’s freak show. Although engaged to another midget, he falls in love with the beautiful (and normal-sized) trapeze ...  Read the complete review

A few weeks ago a documentary crew followed comedian Matt Fraser as he travelled to America to gather new ideas for a one man show he was intending to take to the Edinburgh fringe. There, he got taken on by one of the few remaining carnivals, billed as "Sealo the Seal Boy". Sealo had actually existed. He performed in front of audiences showing his dexterity carrying out every day tasks, like dressing himself, or cooking, showing that his deformity of arms that resembled flippers did not mean he was incapable. Matt Fraser is thalidomide. More recently, the Guardian carried two reports: the first about one of its editors who recounted the only time he had met his ...  Read the complete review

Tod Browning's 1932 movie has been an example of the extremity of censorship for generations of film students, and despite the difference in attitude today's society has towards film, it remains just as misinterpreted as it was on its release. 'Freaks' is not a horror film. Believing this is so demonstrates the same prejudice that got it banned in the first place. Forget the circus setting and the appearance of some of the characters and focus on the story, and you are left with a melodramatic thriller. Love triangles, murder plots and revenge are symbolic of this, it is the so-called freaks that give the film its cult status, and shallow ...  Read the complete review

Freaks is one of the classic movies of the horror genre. It was meant as MGM's comeback at the huge success of Universal's Dracula and Frankenstein movies which preceded it the year before, but its release was met with much opposition and disgust and it soon found itself banned. Later it found its way into private showings etc. which added to its cult status and only recently has the British Film Board decided that it is now fit for video release...and despite it being almost 70 years old, have still slapped a 15 rating on it. The story is based around the 'freaks' at a circus. Cleopatra is the main character, a beautiful able-bodied trapeze ...  Read the complete review

Freaks was made by Tod Browning in 1932, and released by MGM, who were trying to jump on the horror bandwagon that Universal had first got rolling with Dracula and Frankenstein the year before. It bombed at the box office and was all but unavailable until it was rediscovered in the 1960s. It was hugely controversial, and is probably the film that was banned in Britain for the longest period of time. The fact that even today it's been released on video with a 15 certificate, where most if not all 1930s horror movies escape with a PG, is testament to its enduring power to shock. It's about circus freaks, all of whom are played by, er, circus freaks. No men ...  Read the complete review