| Freakshow | |
| Director: | Drew Bell |
| Producer: | David Michael Latt Sherri Strain |
| Starring: | Rebekah Kochan Dane Rosselli Diego Barquinero |
| Cinematography: | Mark Atkins |
| Editing: | David Michael Latt Kristen Quintrall |
| Distributor: | The Asylum |
| Runtime: | 90 minutes |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
Freakshow is a 2007 American horror film which was made by The Asylum and directed by Drew Bell. It is an unofficial remake of the Tod Browning film Freaks. According to the film poster and DVD cover art, Freakshow is banned in 43 countries, though there is no mention of which countries banned it.
A gang of thieves works as security guards in a traveling carnival. They plot to steal the rich owner's fortune.
Lucy, one of the thieves, attempts to take the fortune by herself by seducing the Boss and marrying him. The youngest member of the Freakshow, Kimmie stumbles across a few of the gang members stealing food and she is murdered by the thieves. When the murder is discovered, the freaks plot revenge. In a variety of gruesome ways, the thieves are murdered by the freaks. Lucy attempts to escape punishment by swearing her love for the carnival Boss. The freaks "spare" her by giving her a Freakshow "act" which will make her a full member of their troupe. They mutilate her, cut out her tongue, sew her mouth shut, strip her flesh, and cut off her limbs before finally displaying her in the Freakshow Gallery as the "Worm Girl".
The film was heavily inspired by Tod Browning's 1932 horror film Freaks. Many of the film's cast were actual circus performers and disabled actors which was also inspired by Browning's film.[1]
Freakshow was released on DVD January 30, 2007. It was later re-released on DVD by Echo Bridge Home Entertainment on May 18, 2010.[2]
Critical reception for the film has been mostly negative. Horror News.net gave the film a negative review stating, "Freakshow is not a movie I recommend, not because it is controversial, but because it is watered down and bland. That being said, I’m not against giving the writer and/or director another shot if I see their names on a different movie; we all make mistakes, and hopefully we learn from our biggest ones".[3] Eat Horror panned the film, calling the film's acting and script "awful", also criticizing the film's unsympathetic characters, and over the top gore.[4]