Plot: What’s it about?
Dr. Graves (Phil Fondacaro) is the ringmaster of a true life freakshow, where hideous and disfigured folks are commonplace and the crowds always flock to see the newest additions. And Dr. Graves never has a short supply of new and impressive freaks to line his show with, which leads one to wonder where he manages to find them all. As it turns out, some teens that visit the freakshow discover the secrets behind the show and get much more than they bargained for. The teens meet Dr. Graves and when he offers them their wishes and dreams to come true, of course they agree to the deal. But soon the teens begin to change into strange beings and they realize they just might be the next attractions in Dr. Graves’ sideshow.
This another bizarre flick from the folks at Full Moon and if you’re a fan of their usual work, this one should provide you with more the same enjoyment. I didn’t like this movie as much I did Blood Dolls or the Puppet Master movies, but it still has the elements we’ve all come to expect from Full Moon. That means blood, guts, and some wicked cool makeup effects, all of which are present in Sideshow. I think the makeup effects and the various creatures that result from them are the film’s main draw, but the storyline also offers some incentive to check this one out. The makeup work is awesome and while this is not realistic type stuff, there is skill in disfigurement and such, believe me. I knew the effects would be good, but I was surprised with how effective it is and how frequently we see effects used. The acting is pretty bad for the most part, but with a flick like this you don’t need Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan to make it work for the fans. If you’re a Full Moon fanatic and need a fix, Sideshow is a perfect choice, to be sure.
This film was directed by Fred O. Ray, who certainly knows how to make strange and offbeat movies. I don’t think Sideshow is his best work, but I think without his guide it would have been a much poorer film for the wear. Ray is used to working with low budgets, tight schedules, and unusual circumstances and his experience is probably what kept this movie from falling into the muck of worthless cinema. I still don’t think Sideshow is a tremendous film by any means, but Ray makes sure it delivers some good laughs and shocks here and there. If you want to see more of Ray’s work I recommend Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers, Bad Girls From Mars, Witch Academy, Bikini Hoe-Down, and many, many more. This cast is pretty weak, but the material doesn’t need strong acting so it all works out well. The real star is Phil Fondacaro (Blood Dolls, Willow), who brings the evil doctor to life well and seems to have a knack for more unusual roles. The rest of the cast includes Jessica Keenan, Michael Amos, Jamie Martz, Jeana Blackman.
Video: How does it look?
Sideshow is presented in a full frame transfer, which retains the original aspect ratio of the film. This is a step below more refined pictures in terms of source material, but this transfer still delivers a very nice looking version of the movie. The colors look terrific and plenty of chances to stream across the screen, but no dullness or bleeding emerges in the least. When they’re supposed to, flesh tones seem natural and warm though usually they appear gnarled and discolored (on purpose of course). The contrast is a little on the light side, but still displays nice shadow depth and detail is high also. This is a very solid transfer and I think fans of the film will be pleased.
Audio: How does it sound?
I didn’t expect much from this from track, but I found it to be an above average audio experience. This track doesn’t display expansive or intense range of course, but you’ll never be let down by the overall presence of the film’s audio. I detected no distortions or volume inconsistencies with this track and I doubt fans of the flick will find much to complain about either. The music and sound effects come through well and show no problems, while dialogue is crisp and without flaw. You don’t watch a movie like this for the audio to be sure, but this is a more than adequate track.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc contains some talent files, information of Full Moon’s catalog and web site, and a new VideoZone featurette on Sideshow. This piece runs about twelve minutes and contains interviews and behind the scenes special effects footage, which is very cool. You’ll also find the film’s trailer on this disc.
