Plot: What’s it about?
Cleopatra (Olga Baclanova) is a beautiful woman, she is adored by countless men and even other women admire her good looks. But she is not so beautiful on the inside, as her mind is cruel and she thinks of no one but herself. So she will do whatever it takes, no matter who her actions could hurt, in order to get what she wants. Her latest desire is to take control of a large estate, one that belongs to a wealthy man named Hans (Harry Earles). Hans happens to work in the same circus as Cleopatra, but while she is a prized trapeze artist, Hans is a member of the sideshow. While Hans has a big heart and an even bigger bank account, he is much smaller than a normal man and works the sideshow as one of the attractions. Hans also happens to be very interested in Cleopatra, which means her plan could become reality in no time. But Hans is engaged to another small person, but that could be ended, if Cleopatra has her chance to do so. She gets a hand from the strongman Hercules (Henry Victor), whom she manipulates as she wishes to further her hideous plan. She is soon able to win over Hans and begin a relationship, though she despises him because of his freak status and is repulsed by his fellow sideshow denizens. Will her plan work as she wishes, or will she discover the dark side of these tortured souls?
This is one of the most controversial, disturbing, and unsettling motion pictures ever made, but Freaks is also a true masterpiece of cinema. Although not a horror movie in the sense of blood and screaming coeds, Freaks fills the audience with tension and dread right from the start, via the cast of various oddities. These sideshow attractions weren’t created with makeup effects, trick cameras, or computer magic, not even close. The actual freaks from sideshows were used and without question, that results in an unbelievable sense of realism. Tod Browning (The Unholy Three, Dracula) directs with intense skill, never fading into exploitation in the least. We’re taken inside this rarely seen world, so we relate to these people, as unusual as they might be. Browning presents them as human beings, not freaks and in truth, he shows more damnation toward the normal performers. The cast, even the sideshow performers, all turn in fantastic performances and that brings the circus to life like never before. The atmosphere is incredible in Freaks, as if we’re right there and we’re watching as the events unfold. I never thought we’d have a top notch disc for Freaks, but Warner has outdone themselves with this release. I highly recommend this DVD to anyone with even a casual interest in film, as Freaks is a movie that must be seen.
Video: How does it look?
Freaks is presented in full frame, as intended. I had mixed expectations, as I knew the elements weren’t in pristine condition, but I knew Warner would deliver a solid presentation. In the end, this edition sports a tremendous new visual treatment. The print is in incredible shape, with only minor defects to mention. You’ll see some small nicks and scuffs, as well as some grain, but on the whole, the print looks excellent. The image is also quite crisp, so the visuals have more depth than I’ve ever seen. The contrast performs well also, so black levels remain refined and well balanced at all times. You can tell this is an old movie still, but Warner has produced a top notch transfer that is sure to delight fans.
Audio: How does it sound?
A clean, not too dated audio track is what I wanted here and in the end, that’s what this disc provides. As I figured, the track offers little in terms of dynamics or depth, but that’s fine and this movie doesn’t need those elements. The music has some spots where it sounds a tad distorted, but nothing serious, so no worries there. As is the case with the sound effects, which are decent in scope, but due to the age & nature of the material, never get to shine. The dialogue is easy to understand and never harsh, so I am giving this one a passing grade on all counts, though I have tilted the scales to reflect the film’s nature & age, of course. This disc also includes subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
David J. Skal provides an excellent audio commentary session, in which he details how the production unfolded from start to finish. Skal reveals all kinds of insight about Freaks and while the track is often technical, he is never dull to listen to. I have enjoyed all of his previous sessions, so this one was no exception. Next up is Freaks: Sideshow Cinema, a one hour documentary that explores how the freaks invaded the screen. This was a terrific piece, taking the time to look into the lives of some of the stars of Freaks, the production of the film itself, as well as the general themes touched upon in the movie. This disc also includes a special message prologue, as well as not one, not two, but three alternate end sequences.
