Cinematography:
Stirling BancroftComposer:
Tim WynnCast:
Emile Hirsch, Bruce Dern, Lexy Kolker, Grace Park, Amanda Crew, Kwesi Ameyaw, Matty Finochio, Michelle Harrison, Aleks Paunovic, Aria Birch, RJ Fetherstonhaugh (more)VOD (3)
Plots(1)
Kept locked inside the house by her father, 7-yearold Chloe lives in fear and fascination of the outside world, where Abnormals create a constant threat - or so she believes. When a mysterious stranger offers her a glimpse of what's really happening outside, Chloe soon finds that while the truth isn't so simple, the danger is very real. (Noble Entertainment Swe.)
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Reviews (8)
Freaks is most original take on Hollywood blockbuster motifs in the form of a small indie film, which at the same time keeps its distance and looks down on them with its wit. This film is the surprise of the year, as it was conceived to first raise questions and skillfully deceive, then surprise by revealing an original film world, and then emotionally engage. By playing with the viewer as fairly as possible – without a single purposeless scene included solely for effect – it conveys a bombastic experience with a deluge of fresh ideas. The young Lexy Kolker turns in an excellent performance. Don’t watch the trailers and don’t read the plot synopses! [Sitges FF]
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Freaks slightly fools the viewer – in the first half, it lets them wonder what exactly is happening in the film, overwhelming them with a bunch of confusing motifs and weird characters (basically every single character feels disturbing and puzzling). In the second half, however, the film introduces a surprising outcome that gives the previous plot meaning and plays nicely with the viewer’s emotions. Bruce Dern as a cynical crude-ish ice-cream man is incredibly cool and his interaction with Emil Hirsch fills the film with witty lines and lots of fun, especially towards the end. And I believe we will be hearing a lot more about little Lexy Kolker. [Sitges 2018]
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Throughout the first half the film is set in a world whose laws are kept under wraps from the audience with surprising perseverance at least until halfway through, thus making it minimalist by simply having the father and daughter hiding from the surroundings in a boarded-up house, and it creates an atmosphere of uncertainty, which is perhaps justified, but also perhaps only amounts to paranoid fear of an unknown enemy. In the second half, the truth comes out in full, while a number of hitherto vague, unclear, and illusory motifs are finally supplemented by meaning and context, the characters are assigned specific goals and finally, more action-packed trick scenes take place, which do serve the story and they are never used just for effect. Elements we know from American feature films with budgets in the hundreds of millions are used imaginatively and originally for the benefit of a remarkably told and cleverly constructed story, which deserves several sequels or a TV series, and is dominated by the great acting of the talented nine-year-old Lexy Kolker.
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A film whose main strength is undoubtedly its script. Understand this as follows: you won't fully grasp the first half as a viewer; nothing makes sense, and you just stare in confusion. But trust that by the end, everything will be explained, creating a flawless puzzle. The film also benefits from solid performances; the little girl in a small role was outstanding, and even Bruce Dern, in a supporting role, didn't play second fiddle. It’s a shame the film isn’t more widely known because its unconventional idea truly deserves more recognition. The Canadians pleasantly surprised me, and I always welcome such indie films with open arms. It doesn’t try to be a Hollywood blockbuster but focuses on successful storytelling... and they nailed it. The lower budget is a drawback, as there are a few special effects scenes where the lack of funds is evident. But I can overlook this flaw in Freaks. I give it 76%.
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I’ve often mentioned in my reviews that I’m not particularly fond of children in film, but I was simply floored by the performance of the nine-year-old Lexa Kolker. Many a seasoned actor could learn a few things from her (though I’m not sure if it would be of any help to Ben Affleck or Jennifer Lawrence). I found the film entertaining from start to finish. While X-Men seem to be getting old, the sight of mutants here was captivating.
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