Lurking in the vaguest depths of my childhood memory, I recalled catching a downright freaky flick on late-night TV. Assuming it was some sort of fever dream, it wasn't until years later that I began digging into the few clues I remembered and rediscovered the long-forgotten film, Freaked. However, to my dismay, Freaked was not easily accessible nor had anyone seemed to have heard about it. This hidden gem was absent from the public eye and, still today is only available through YouTube rips or pricey original DVDs. Regardless of how it's found, Freaked is a film that deserves to be sought out and rescued from obscurity.
Fresh off the success of Bill & Ted, Alex Winter partnered with Tom Stern to create an oddball MTV sketch comedy show, The Idiot Box. Though short-lived, the series inspired the duo to create a feature film with similar surreal humor. Hideous Mutant Freekz was born from the ashes. Pitched as a low-budget horror film, 20th Century Fox picked it up and gave the movie a budget of $12 million, sparking Winter & Stern to go all out with their crazy idea. After studio heads changed, the film was scrutinized and the post-production budget was slashed. Retitled Freaked, the film received lackluster test screenings which caused the studio to nearly eliminate its marketing budget and only release the movie in 2 theaters in the US, garnering about a $30,000 gross. Despite all that, the film was well-received critically and has received a cult following in the years since its release.
Egocentric actor Ricky Coogan (Alex Winter), his imbecile best friend Ernie (Michael Stoyanov), and deceived activist Julie (Megan Ward) decide to detour to Freek Land after being stuck with each other. Arriving at the freak show, ringleader Elijah C. Skuggs (Randy Quaid) wastes no time offputting his new guests as they discover they will be forced to join his freakshow. Alongside a collection of other freaks, the unlikely trio must find a way out or remain trapped in Freek Land forever.
Freaked is a one-of-a-kind thrill ride from start to finish. The story is absolute madness and executed flawlessly. Written by comedic masterminds, every moment is jam-packed with clever references, laugh-out-loud jokes, or wildly interesting hijinks. While it is a product of its time, that means nothing but praise as the creativity of Freaked is unmatched by modern projects. Though its post-production budget was slashed, Freaked is a practical and prosthetic masterpiece. The film features some of the most creative designs and, from the most complex to the simplest, each one looks and feels perfect within the world of Freaked.
Over 30 years later, unfortunately, the film has fallen into the most obscure corners of cinematic history, rarely spoken about or given the praise it deserves. I highly urge you to track down this film and check it out for yourself. Lovers of cinema, purveyors of the unknown, and viewers who want a unique cinematic experience, Freaked itches for your attention.
Fresh off the success of Bill & Ted, Alex Winter partnered with Tom Stern to create an oddball MTV sketch comedy show, The Idiot Box. Though short-lived, the series inspired the duo to create a feature film with similar surreal humor. Hideous Mutant Freekz was born from the ashes. Pitched as a low-budget horror film, 20th Century Fox picked it up and gave the movie a budget of $12 million, sparking Winter & Stern to go all out with their crazy idea. After studio heads changed, the film was scrutinized and the post-production budget was slashed. Retitled Freaked, the film received lackluster test screenings which caused the studio to nearly eliminate its marketing budget and only release the movie in 2 theaters in the US, garnering about a $30,000 gross. Despite all that, the film was well-received critically and has received a cult following in the years since its release.
Egocentric actor Ricky Coogan (Alex Winter), his imbecile best friend Ernie (Michael Stoyanov), and deceived activist Julie (Megan Ward) decide to detour to Freek Land after being stuck with each other. Arriving at the freak show, ringleader Elijah C. Skuggs (Randy Quaid) wastes no time offputting his new guests as they discover they will be forced to join his freakshow. Alongside a collection of other freaks, the unlikely trio must find a way out or remain trapped in Freek Land forever.
Freaked is a one-of-a-kind thrill ride from start to finish. The story is absolute madness and executed flawlessly. Written by comedic masterminds, every moment is jam-packed with clever references, laugh-out-loud jokes, or wildly interesting hijinks. While it is a product of its time, that means nothing but praise as the creativity of Freaked is unmatched by modern projects. Though its post-production budget was slashed, Freaked is a practical and prosthetic masterpiece. The film features some of the most creative designs and, from the most complex to the simplest, each one looks and feels perfect within the world of Freaked.
Over 30 years later, unfortunately, the film has fallen into the most obscure corners of cinematic history, rarely spoken about or given the praise it deserves. I highly urge you to track down this film and check it out for yourself. Lovers of cinema, purveyors of the unknown, and viewers who want a unique cinematic experience, Freaked itches for your attention.