It always interesting to see what types of film scared the hell our of people decades ago. I've heard stories of people being terrified while seeing films like The Exorcist and even Night of the Living Dead, movies that by today's standards are quite tame. Both Aaron and myself have brought up people having vivid memories of buckets of blood being seen in the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre, something that is actually implied and never shown. These films may have left there impact on people of that era, but just think of the emotional scars they would have left on people decades before that.

Back in the 1930's, cinema was undergoing a drastic change. The era of the silent picture was breathing its last, heavy sigh and "the talkies" were becoming all the rage. With talking pictures came something else: the horror film. While the silent pictures had their fair share of horror pictures, Universal really brought the genre to an all time high when talking pictures came being with legendary film monsters like Dracula and Frankenstein. Some 70 years later, these classic films really don't seem to have the impact they would have when they were originally released, and while the Universal Monsters have always had a certain notoriety that goes along with their names, there was one film that took being notorious to a whole new level.

The name Tod Browning has a great meaning for many people as he is the director that is associated with Universal's Dracula, but following that film, Browning had another horror film that, back when it was released, was one of the most shocking things that the fledgling film industry had ever seen. The film of course was Freaks, and it would become not just a legendary piece of film history, but one that was considering appalling by some and a cinematic masterpiece to others.

Freaks, inspired by short story Spurs, took the premise of horror in a completely different direction. Audiences were used to seeing images of fantasy horror as presented to them by undead vampire princes, manmade golems, and other assorted creatures of the night, but Freak gave them something different; real monstrosities. Freaks is something of a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, though I'm sure it was never intended to be as such. In the film, we find ourselves a part of the lives of the members of a traveling circus. Hans has fallen in love with the beautiful trapeze artist Venus, but is unaware that she is simply leading him on. When she discovers though that he has inherited a fortune, the two are married, and her plan is to kill him so that she and her lover, the strong man Hercules, can run away with the money. Hans however grows wise to her devious plan and works with his friends to get a little revenge.

It certainly sounds like a common story, but what makes the film unique is the fact that the cast not only features Hollywood actors, but something that wasn't normally seen on the silver screen. Freaks features an ensemble of sideshow freaks. That's right, Tod Browning actually brought in those individuals that were known popularly from dingy tents, human abominations that were normally only seen by paying the barker the price of admission, and for many, seeing this was simply too much. Interestingly enough, after a short theatrical run, Freaks was pulled out of theaters by the studio and even was banned in many states and cities. In England, the film was banned for thirty years before it was rediscovered again.

Freaks isn't a film that can looked at as being something of a masterpiece as far as the way it is filmed. In fact, it's said that director Tod Browning has a rather difficult time making the transition from the silent picture to the world of talkies, and the sound in the film is quite awful much of the time, but in reality, it's the freaks themselves that really draw people to the movie. Hans, our main character, isn't quite who you might think by my description of the film. Our "hero" is actually a dwarf and Frieda, the dwarf that knows he's being used was in reality, his sister. Thus, you won't see any passionate love scenes between Harry and Daisy Earlese, or Hans and Frieda, but they are simply the tip of the iceberg.

We've all heard the stories about freak of nature in sideshows, and they are all here. Daisy and Violet Hilton, world famous Siamese twins are a part of the cast. Schlitze, known in the circuit as a pinhead (those that suffer from sever mental retardation and have a smaller cranium) actually does quite well in the film for not essentially being someone who you would consider an actor. There is also the well-known Josephine Joseph, billed as half-man, half-woman, but in reality was more than likely just a very good female impersonator, not the hermaphrodite that it is claimed that he (or she) was. Freaks also features Frances O'Connor, or the armless girl, who despite her limitations performs marvelously, though you have to remember that doing everything with her feet was simply common for her. Rardion was yet another popular body in the circus, quite literally actually. Even without arms or legs, Rardion shows us that he hasn't allowed limitations to set him back, but sadly what he is capable of isn't seen fully here. All we get the chance to witness is him lighting a cigarette, and seeing this feat is quite impressive.

The Freak featured in Browning's film aren't necessarily the best actors in the world. Despite their trade, these people were more accustomed to being gawked at. Back when the film was produced though, these types of disfiguring ailments weren't something that were treatable, but those afflicted found that performing as a sideshow act was a perfect way to make a living. Many of them actually made very good livings at being nothing more than a sideshow. However, with today's standards and outcries of wanting to be "politically correct," I'm sure many of these people would find themselves in an institution somewhere or begging on a street corner. The days of the real freak are behind us for the most part, replaced now with fakes that have simply recreated themselves as something different.

You might be thinking that Freaks simply has the feature and that is it, but the DVD release actually does have bonus material. The film has commentary, not by any cast members, but author David J. Skal, and his insights and information on the film are incredible. David is also featured in the included documentary about the film, and this gives even more background on the movie as well as the cast members that appeared in Freaks. There is a special prologue message that is decent, but is nothing more than text, and even three alternate endings, though these are separate and not a part of the film.

To some it may be offensive, but in reality, Freaks is a history making part of the film industry. The plot may be a little thin, the acting bad, the dialog far too cheesy when compared to what we are sued to hearing now, but the simple fact that Browning was able to get the financial backing for the film from a studio as well as get "freaks" to work and appear in the film is nothing short of amazing. And the moral of the story . . . . never mess with those that are less fortunate. Freaks really is a must have disc for any film buff, and being a freak is something that here, is a blessing.

 -mike-