Freakshow (film)

Lore & Background

Freakshow was heavily inspired by Tod Browning's 1932 horror film Freaks. Many of its cast were actual circus performers and disabled actors, a choice also inspired by Browning's film. The plot follows a gang of thieves who work as security guards at a traveling carnival and plot to steal the rich owner's fortune. Lucy, one of the thieves, attempts to take the fortune alone by seducing and marrying the Boss. When the youngest member of the Freakshow, Kimmie, stumbles upon the thieves stealing food, she is murdered. The freaks then take revenge, killing the thieves in gruesome ways. Lucy tries to escape punishment by swearing love for the Boss, but the freaks mutilate her, cut out her tongue, sew her mouth shut, strip her flesh, and cut off her limbs before displaying her as the 'Worm Girl' in the Freakshow Gallery.

Reader's Guide

Freakshow is notable as an unofficial remake of Tod Browning's controversial 1932 film Freaks, continuing the tradition of using actual circus performers and disabled actors. The film was released direct-to-video by The Asylum, a studio known for low-budget productions. Critical reception has been mostly negative, with reviewers criticizing its acting, script, unsympathetic characters, and over-the-top gore. The DVD cover art claims the film is banned in 43 countries, though no reports confirm this. Its significance lies in its attempt to revisit the themes of Browning's classic, but it is largely regarded as a failed homage. The film's legacy is primarily as a footnote in the history of horror remakes and as an example of The Asylum's output.

Did You Know?

• Freakshow is an unofficial remake of Tod Browning's 1932 film Freaks.
• Many of the cast were actual circus performers and disabled actors.
• The DVD cover art claims the film is banned in 43 countries, though no reports show this to be true.
• The film was re-released on DVD by Echo Bridge Home Entertainment on May 18, 2010.