Freaks (1932)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Graham J

  
  A very odd film that forces everyone who sees it to confront their prejudices.

• Antony S

  
  A cracker, shame it's so scissored (down to only an hour). But what's left is perfecto, a movie that couldn't me made today (or if it was, it'd be cloyingly manipulative). Why Browning gets credit much more for the very boring Dracula iover this, I'll never… More
  A cracker, shame it's so scissored (down to only an hour). But what's left is perfecto, a movie that couldn't me made today (or if it was, it'd be cloyingly manipulative). Why Browning gets credit much more for the very boring Dracula iover this, I'll never know. This flick also sports my favourite tagline ever: "can a grown woman truly love a midget?". All mutant cast as well, no punches pulled.

• AJ V

  
  This is a very cool movie. It has real people from circuses and a great story. The mixture of authenticity and a fantastic story makes for such a great movie.

• Tim S

  
  A magnificent piece of cult celluloid. I love this film. I love the controversy surrounding it...I love the fact that Tod Browning used real freaks of nature for the film...and I love that the film is my own personal collection. :)

• Unknown H

  
  I think that this movie, although impossible by today's standards of human rights and regulations, is one of the saddest films I have ever seen. The first time I watched it I did cry and with a film that has appeared on so many "disturbing" lists since it was made in… More
  I think that this movie, although impossible by today's standards of human rights and regulations, is one of the saddest films I have ever seen. The first time I watched it I did cry and with a film that has appeared on so many "disturbing" lists since it was made in 1936 I was not expecting to be so moved. The basis of the story revolves around a freak show, with genuinely deformed people replacing actors with special effects make up, which is why it caused so much controversy. At the heart of Freaks is a love story between a midget named Hans and a trapeze artist named Cleopatra. I thought although they were not actors by trade the cast delivered wonderfully and a movie where a man rolls, lights and smokes a cigarette with no arms or legs, that also bares the tagline "Can a fully grown woman ever truly love a midget?" is a good movie in my opinion and is why I have the poster for this film on the wall in my kitchen.

• jd c

  
  A circus' beautiful trapeze artist agrees to marry the leader of side-show performers, but his deformed friends discover she is only marrying him for his inheritance. The shock ending alone is enough to rate this movie 5 stars. That was such a nightmarish climax. It'll… More
  A circus' beautiful trapeze artist agrees to marry the leader of side-show performers, but his deformed friends discover she is only marrying him for his inheritance. The shock ending alone is enough to rate this movie 5 stars. That was such a nightmarish climax. It'll stick with me forever. The only thing that sucks about this film is that it's 1 hour and 5 minutes long. I didn't want this film to end. It's pure genius. Freaks is an emotional disturbing tale of loneliness, seclusion, ridicule, and sweet, sweet revenge. A rare breed of a horror film. Both touching and creepingly demented. A flawlessly brilliant classic in every sense of the term. <a href="http://s294.photobucket.com/albums/mm89/JDHallowEEn/HorrorQf/?action=view&current=Freaks.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm89/JDHallowEEn/HorrorQf/Freaks.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

• Chris W

  
  It's really pretty hard to categorize this one, as it has it all: shocks, scares, humor, sweetness, and an undeniable "message". As a cult classic, it is a landmark. As a film in general, it is also a landmark, chiefly because of Tod Browning's decision to cast… More
  It's really pretty hard to categorize this one, as it has it all: shocks, scares, humor, sweetness, and an undeniable "message". As a cult classic, it is a landmark. As a film in general, it is also a landmark, chiefly because of Tod Browning's decision to cast real people with deformities instead of using special effects and makeup. I really liked some of the lighting, framing, and camera work on display. They really added to the atmosphere of things. Not for all tastes. but definitely one to check out of you're in the mood for something odd.

• Mark H

  
  Landmark cult film about the relationship between a long legged trapeze artist named Cleopatra and Hans, the dwarf she marries. Uncategorizable film is creepy and disturbing, but also touching and sweet. What makes this film so unique is director Tod Browning's controversial… More
  Landmark cult film about the relationship between a long legged trapeze artist named Cleopatra and Hans, the dwarf she marries. Uncategorizable film is creepy and disturbing, but also touching and sweet. What makes this film so unique is director Tod Browning's controversial step in casting real people with deformities as the so-called sideshow "freaks," rather than using costumes and makeup. However it is these performers that come off as trusting and honorable, while two of the "normal" members of the circus are portrayed as the real monsters. Although certainly one of the most unusual films ever produced by a major Hollywood studio, the message of sympathy and acceptance is admirable. The well publicized revulsion with which audiences originally greeted this film seems unjustified. A fascinating movie that remains a curious oddity.

• Fernando Rafael Q

  
  Touching, effective and ocasionally creepy, FREAKS's controversy and banning can be understood. The film poses a harsh critique to the human condition and our treatment of disabled people. Ahead of its time, powerful and entertaining. The scene with the titular "freaks"… More
  Touching, effective and ocasionally creepy, FREAKS's controversy and banning can be understood. The film poses a harsh critique to the human condition and our treatment of disabled people. Ahead of its time, powerful and entertaining. The scene with the titular "freaks" in the rain is chilling.

• Anthony L

  
  An excellent film! There is no other film like it and I doubt there ever will be again. You and I are the freaks, the guy with no arms or legs is the normal one is the message but at the end of the day we are all capable of wrong doing (Adultery, punching a half man half woman in the… More
  An excellent film! There is no other film like it and I doubt there ever will be again. You and I are the freaks, the guy with no arms or legs is the normal one is the message but at the end of the day we are all capable of wrong doing (Adultery, punching a half man half woman in the face, revenge, etc). I absolutely love the ending but am confused about the woman turning into a big chicken. A great film!

• Jani H

  
  "Gooble Gobble! Gooble Gobble! One of us!" I'm sure that 'Freaks' was a very controversial film when it came out. There's no special make up effects, Tod Browning has used persons with real deformities. It actually works very well, even better than… More
  "Gooble Gobble! Gooble Gobble! One of us!" I'm sure that 'Freaks' was a very controversial film when it came out. There's no special make up effects, Tod Browning has used persons with real deformities. It actually works very well, even better than modern horror movies. 'Freaks' isn't really a horror movie though. But at times I felt kinda sorry for the characters, the way they were portrayed. The camera loved a bit too much their disabilities. The so called normal people were obnoxious but the "freaks" had heart. The pacing of the movie is really good but the duration of the film is only an hour long.The story is very simple but yet effective. It's all about love, simple as that. You just have to suffer a bit before you get it... As before mentioned, some sources call this a horror movie. Only the few last minutes could be said to contain horror elements. The final scene, when the "freaks" take justice to their own hands, is very effective. Nicely done. 'Freaks' is nearly 80 years old. Saw it for the first time now and can truly say that many modern films aren't nearly as good as this one. Without any higher expectations, I enjoyed 'Freaks' a lot. But I'm pretty sure that most of you, especially those who have been raised watching remakes and spoofs, won't enjoy 'Freaks' as much as I did. Will probably hate it. Classic, I say!

• Jennifer D

  
  Really pushed the terror factor...

• Jason S

  
  This is one creepy flick. The fact that all of the "freaks" were 100% real is amazing. The ending is awesome.

• Jennifer X

  
  Creepy and engrossing. The scene where armless/legless man lights the cigarette never fails to amaze me.

• Lafe F

  
  A classic shocker of a movie which employed real-life freaks to add to the phenomenon. It's a bit unsettling to watch, because most of them are real people. It felt as if they were being exploited in the making of this film. There's also a dramatic comparison made of a… More
  A classic shocker of a movie which employed real-life freaks to add to the phenomenon. It's a bit unsettling to watch, because most of them are real people. It felt as if they were being exploited in the making of this film. There's also a dramatic comparison made of a beautiful woman who is a freak on the inside; and lets her bitchiness ruin the fun for many. The ending is tragic and fascinating.

• Dr Blood  

  
  Not for everyone's tastes, but there are scenes of immense power that stand-up strongly to modern "shock" pictures.

• Cindy I

  
  The question to ask yourself -- who are the freaks? The deformed but kind circus people or the sinister but "normal" people who betray them?

• Michael G

  
  No CGI here kids. All freak, baby.

• James A

  
  People think that if they say they like this movie that it makes them more intellectually profound. I think it just makes them like bad movies with real retards in it.

• Matthew Y

  
  An excellent, under-appreciated classic! Frankenstein and Dracula may be legendary films but they certainly don't scare me while I watch them. Freaks however creeps the hell out of me. Real circus freaks were used to make the film authentic and boy does it work. The plot… More
  An excellent, under-appreciated classic! Frankenstein and Dracula may be legendary films but they certainly don't scare me while I watch them. Freaks however creeps the hell out of me. Real circus freaks were used to make the film authentic and boy does it work. The plot centers around a wealthy midget who is courted by a beautiful woman after his money. The dinner scene where the carnival freaks chant "Gooble Gobble, One of Us" is intoxicating and creepy as all hell. The movie is absolutely made by it's ending when the Freaks discover the girls deception. Men without limps, pin-heads without much sense, freaks and disfigurements of all kind clutch knives, clubs and anything they can to slowly crawl to and maim their prey, to hurt it, to disfigure it, to make it suffer and truly make it one of them.

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