Freaks (2018) User Reviews

Now THIS is true Science Fiction... A slow-burning Mystery, but for serious Sci Fi fans it is worth it!

[lathe-of-heaven · 8/10 · 1 December 2019]

My title pretty much says it all. For those of you who grew up reading 'serious' Science Fiction, you will appreciate this movie. It is very rare to find a Sci Fi film that would be what I would personally call 'serious', but this is it. Not exactly 'Hard' Science Fiction in the sense of it being real technical, but serious in the sense of it being in my lowly and wretched opinion, a DAMN good story!

I have no bloody idea who this little actress is, but if hopefully she can survive the dangerous rigors of Hollywood, she is going to be a PHENOMENAL actor... IS a phenomenal actor. Quite impressive. Most child actors usually I feel come across as either somewhat artificial or overdone, but definitely not this little lady. Restrained, controlled, and VERY believable.

Also, I got to hand it to ol' Bruce Dern... The dude was frigg'n MADE for this part. There were some very nice, but subtle touches of dry humour in just a few well placed areas too that gave the film a nice rounded emotional anchor. And, I loved the way the writers / director really did an excellent job keeping the audience truly guessing about what the HELL is going on, playing out the story and clues at just the right pace that I personally found quite riveting.

If you do enjoy serious Science Fiction and don't mind forgoing the big technological effects of your usual blockbuster Marvel film (not that there's anything wrong with that either : ) and you appreciate just a really well done story and a pretty darn good mystery if you go in cold, not knowing anything about it beforehand, then I think you will really find this movie not only very entertaining and involving, but also rather powerfully moving as well.

A nice find...

Finally got to see this

[Mfbarry-90-773507 · 7/10 · 29 November 2019]

Been waiting awhile to watch this take on "what if mutants (X-men) started popping up in the real world?" Suspenceful script, taut direction and an excellent cast elevate this fine indie flick. Bruce Dern and Emile Hirsch star in this sci-fi thriller and with those two you know the movie is off to a good start. The claustrophobic atmosphere and smart script literally kept me on the edge of my seat for much of the picture. Really enjoyed it, well done.

Excellent storytelling.

[mrjudsonj · 8/10 · 30 November 2019]

Yes the basic plot isn't particularly original, but it the way in which the story is told that has this movie stands out. Movies don't necessarily have to have original plots to be good, they just have to have something about them that is original or intriguing. This movie succeeds with its point of view and tone. It's also unusual to have young children under 10 as the stars in such films and boy does this little star nail her performance. We'll be seeing more of her as she ages I imagine. Worth watching just for her performance alone.

Abnormals are dangerous

[lojitsu · 7/10 · 3 October 2021]

Oct. 2

Here's The Lowedown on "Freaks" (R - 2018 - Blu)

Genre: Sci-Fi/Thriller My Score: 7.1

Cast=7 Acting=7 Plot=6 Ending=8 Story=6 CGI=7 Pace=5 Violent=8 Intense=7 Suspense=10

A bold girl discovers a bizarre, threatening, and mysterious new world beyond her front door after she escapes her father's protective and paranoid control.

"Abnormals are dangerous and we can't let them live free." I came into this movie not knowing a lot about it. I wouldn't classify this as a horror movie per se, but it does have a definite "Firestarter" vibe. If you don't have any expectations coming in, this movie will keep you guessing until the end. Aside from some pace and story issues, this is a solid watch.

Well Acted, Cleverly Written and Also Underwhelming

[TwistedContent · 7/10 · 28 November 2019]

A much awaited sci-fi indie for sure, from early positive festival buzz to a neat trailer to a both pleasantly surprising & slightly underwhelming result. I had my doubts about Lipovsky and Stein, their portfolio is not exactly reassuring, but they have done a great job with little budget (which also, on the flip side, makes the movie feel restrained) & the solid cast, including an impressive performance by the 7 year old Lexy Kolker, helps greatly.

"Freaks" is a take on mutant mythos, much like the more shinier "X-Men" movies, but this time freshened up by some different creative decisions in script writing. However, as the story unraveled, sadly, it turned out that the questions asked were more interesting than the answers received. The filmmakers had nailed the world-building during the first half, structuring the plot carefully, giving it piece by piece. Themes like childhood curiosity, extreme parenting & dystopian horrors are explored. The lesser flaw is the pacing, it's a slow-burn long before it is action, but it's never really boring. The big flaw, though, is how actually straight forward and routine the story is, hidden carefully behind the aforementioned world-building. Clever choices, but the resolution/s in the story are therefore less surprising and less impactful. Nevertheless, we have an interesting main hero, Chloe, a 7 years old girl whose head we live in throughout the movie. Most of the characters were decent if a little (or more) clichéic & the performances carrying them - great. For one I feel like Bruce Dern literally never fails. "Freaks" are clothed in a fine cinematography that doesn't exactly excel, but, given the budget, the production design, FX and editing is well done and do not ruin or damage the viewing experience.

"Freaks" has a handful of great elements but doesn't quite pack the punch it promises to. Originality is something it seems to possess, but, as the credits are rolling and I put the whole thing together in retrospect, it's more convential than it wants to be. This goes out as a recommendation to the fans of ambitious sci-fi indies, non-Hollywood superhero movies & mysterious little thrillers. My rating: 7/10.

Pretty Enjoyable Ride

[Her-Excellency · 9/10 · 29 November 2019]

Freaks starts out (or so you think) as a film which promises to deliver some uncomfortable moments between an overprotective dad who may or may not be outright crazy as well as possibly dangerous, and his cute, socially-inexperienced, defenseless and mostly awkward little girl. If you know nothing about the film going in, like we did not, upon viewing the first few scenes, naturally, your mind can't help but run to all kinds of dark places, wondering where the filmmaker is going to take us.

Well, where it goes, although the ride hits a couple of small bumps, are dark and eerie places touching on the horror genre, and then surprisingly, it pulls back and takes an unexpected left turn into something completely different.

Much of the supporting cast is okay, but the real revelation is the outstanding performance by Lexy Kolker as the little girl, and just slightly less-so, although still great, her dad, played by Emile Hirsch. They pretty much carry the film. Bruce Dern also delivers, if not a riveting performance, at least a mentionable and memorable one. His role in their lives unravels slowly and is not completely understood until somewhere in the middle of the film. It takes a while to discern what his purpose truly is and for the viewer to see the entire picture. I enjoyed that.

I also liked that the film lets the viewer decide for themselves if what they've witnessed is abuse, trauma, or something else entirely. I also like that while I believe the characters are used as a stand-in or metaphor for discrimination, it isn't anything that is heavy-handed or overtly pushed.

All in all, I found Freaks to be entertaining, and that its concept had been well-executed and delivered. The journey, despite the twists and turns, was captivating, and the destination was 99% equally pleasing and enjoyable, if not 100% where I had expected to go.

Wow...!

[paulclaassen · 7/10 · 9 December 2019]

'Freaks' is unlike any film of this genre you'll find out there at the moment. The film contains elements of 'Jumper, 'Room', and '10 Cloverfield Lane', yet it is unlike any of these films, and definitely not trying to be like anything we've seen before.

'Freaks' captured my attention from the very beginning - for being so different, and so mysterious. Well past the halfway mark it is still not clear what is actually going on, and this is what makes 'Freaks' so different and captivating. It grabs a hold of you to the point where you can hardly contain your curiosity any longer.

Lexy Kolker is excellent as 7-year old Chloe. My goodness, this girl can act!! She completely sold her character to me. She is sensational! For a sci-fi movie, there's not really much in the line of CGI - or obvious CGI for that matter - and that's a bonus. The subtle effects throughout the film are effective and stunning. 'Freaks' is a freakishly weird and brilliant movie that you'd want to watch again and again. Wow, this was incredible.

A Solid Movie Worth Watching

[Neon_Gold · 8/10 · 26 June 2020]

I hadn't really heard much about this movie for some reason which is strange considering it came out last year. I'm also shocked that it didn't have any buzz because it is really great.

It is slow at the start and kinda confusing but just enough so that you are not annoyed by it and want to find out more about what is going on.

It is an interesting premise and after watching it i think this would have also made a great tv show as i feel like i want to know this world and explore what else is going on it in.

It looks great too and the effects look pretty clean. It also makes such good use of the sets in a cleaver way. The majority of the move takes place on one set and i think they found a great way around spending lots of money and it is really effective.

I think this film should have got more notoriety than it did and i think people should watch it. Keep in mind that the first 10 to 20 are a little slow and maybe put you off but work through them and I'm sure you will enjoy this movie.

Very Entertaining

[wandernn1-81-683274 · 7/10 · 19 December 2020]

I liked this one quite a bit. A bit cheese in parts but a solid performance from Bruce Dern . Emile Hersch was good also. A different sort of take on a somewhat overused premise. But good. 7/10

Script Let Me Down

[breannadcouch · 5/10 · 15 March 2020]

At first I really enjoyed the movie. They don't explain anything upfront and so you're left to try and figure out if the Dad is actually trying to protect his daughter, is she even his actual daughter, had the dad lied about the world outside, or are people actually trying to kill him Etc. But once the world falls into place it quickly turns into a chore to finish the movie. The father is probably the only character who feels like an actual human being. The grandfather starts out creepy which is understandable (since we don't know if we can trust him or not) but then he never changes, he gives of this dirty vibe for the entire movie. The daughter comes off as bratty and annoying, constantly yelling, not listening to her father etc. you would think a girl who was raised to believe people would kill her if she stepped outside wouldn't leave the house over something as simple as ICE CREAM. And the mom at the end lets the daughter save her, instead of the other way around.

There are a lot of plot holes, the characters could have used their powers to get away multiple times and then safely saved the mom. The daughter has inherent knowledge on how to kill people and doesn't seem to care? Overall the movie wasn't terrible but it left me unsatisfied, which is a shame because the actors did a great job.

Different

[kosmasp · 8/10 · 21 February 2020]

Being different can be tough. Especially at a certain age. But who really is different and how different? And why would your own father ... well the story is quite complex, especially if you haven't read anything about it before you watch the movie.

Which is a nice way to enjoy it, since this has a few surprises ahead. For a low budget movie, the effects are quite nice. And the story is more than interesting and holds the tension throughout. Some things may be easy to spot and predict, but it's still quite original and very entertaining.

they are (among) us

[lee_eisenberg · 7/10 · 5 March 2020]

"Freaks" strikes me as a look at how those seen as the "other" - whether it's about race, sexual orientation, or religion - have to withdraw from the rest of society. From what I understand, Stan Lee created the X Men to address this point (but also to indict McCarthyism).

Worth seeing.

Not great, not terrible, time may stop while viewing

[mrliteral · 5/10 · 8 March 2020]

This is one of those movies where they don't bother with world-building or backstory up front, so you're watching it without really understanding what's happening or why anything is the way it is...then at some point they start explaining things but by then you've pieced it together and are just waiting for them to get on with the story. So you spend the first half of the movie wondering what's going on and the second half waiting for it to get moving again, which adds up to only a mildly enjoyable viewing experience.

The performances are good, including the young girl who is the main focus of the story, so the quality of the acting keeps the movie from slipping into negative-rating territory -- but since it takes a while to get a handle on what the world of the film is like, it's difficult to feel invested in the characters or their situation.

This storytelling technique is definitely preferable to opening narration, but jumping in at a point when a lot of unexplained events have already occurred can easily leave a viewer impatiently looking ahead for clarity rather than absorbing the story as it unfolds. It isn't until about halfway through when the characters start giving out exposition, but by then, everything they're saying is already understood, and it's just wasted dialogue delaying narrative progression.

Worth watching on Netflix for those who like family drama mixed with low-budget superpowers, but doesn't break new ground in terms of storytelling and fantasy.

What a surprise

[Gordon-11 · 20 December 2019]

I knew nothing about this film before I watched it, so I was really pleasantly surprised by how good it was. The plot keeps you on edge all the time, and surprises me constantly. I actually marvel at how the plot turns out. I like this film a lot!

Freaky

[btreakle · 7/10 · 8 January 2021]

Wasn't quite sure that I would like this movie when I 1st turned It on. But as I got further into the movie it became apparent that was going to be a pretty good thriller.

Stick with it...

[murada1967 · 7/10 · 2 September 2021]

I almost switched this off after 10 minutes. Initially seemed to be some sort of muddled horror movie but ended up more a cross between Chronicle and Heroes. Decent storyline with solid performances and good effects. Recommended.

Superb!

[devilsadvocate-70805 · 9/10 · 1 December 2019]

This movie came out of left field and it is the best release of 2019 so far.

It is difficult to write about without spoiling anything. What I can say is that Freaks combines drama, psychological thriller, action, sci-fi and even horror beautifully.

The story twist and turns; it encourages you to think one thing then gives you something better. The pacing is expertly managed with continual drips of minor revelation to hold your intrigue. The story is complex, but the excellent direction, acting and screenplay save it from being complicated.

This is the kind of movie that could've failed in 101 different ways. It really had to be handled deftly, and it is. Every cliche and pit-fall is avoided while the execution is superb.

See it, support it.

this is the real review ....

[ferforeman · 7/10 · 29 November 2019]

If you like firestarter with a young drew barrymore and patrik swayze then you will love this...firestarter was not good at all. but this one is pretty good....the special affects are on point....the story is predictable...but what movie isnt..... all in a nutshell if is an enjoyable movie and worth watching...

Well I wasn't expecting that!

[Sergiodave · 8/10 · 13 July 2021]

Watched this on Netflix. For the first 30-40 minutes I really didn't know where this movie was taking me. Is it a film about Paranoia, is it the dreams of a child in a coma, I really hadn't got a scooby doo (clue for non-english). What kept me in was the great acting; Bruce Dern and Emile Hirsch I knew were good, but the young girl played by Lexy Kolker was a real find. I won't discuss the the second half, except to say you might be surprised. Give it a go, you'l be pleased you did.

Paranoid or Over Protective?

[stevendbeard · 7/10 · 15 September 2019]

I saw "Freaks", starring Emile Hirsch-Lone Survivor, The Girl Next Door; Bruce Dern-The Peanut Butter Falcon, The Hateful Eight; Grace Park-Hawaii Five_O_tv, Battlestar Galactica_tv; Amanda Crew-Charlie St. Cloud, The Haunting in Connecticut and Lexy Kolker-Shooter_tv, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D._tv. This is a sci_fi thriller with some twists. Emile plays a man that has hidden his daughter, Lexy, in their house for 7 years-she is 7 1/2 years old. He tells her that she has to stay hidden because there are people outside that want to kill them, the same people that killed her mother, Amanda. Emile makes runs outside for supplies and tells her not to leave while he is gone or even talk to anyone if they come to the door-when she does, she is punished by being locked in a closet. Sometimes, when she is being punished, Lexy sees Amanda in the closet with her and doesn't know if it's a ghost or what. Is Emile being paranoid or just being a little over protective? Bruce plays an ice cream truck driver that hangs around a lot in front of Emile's house, selling his wares. Grace plays the leader of a group of armed government agents that Emile seems to be afraid of. Like I said, there are lots of twists, but everything is explained by the end. It's rated "R" for violence and language and has a running time of 1 hour & 45 minutes. I enjoyed it and would buy it on DVD.

Not sure how this got a good rating

[cagesliquidators · 4/10 · 12 January 2020]

I really wanted to like this movie. It does start off slow like lots of others have said but the story is ridiculous as well. The acting is not great either. The kid is very annoying and the old man unnecessarily creepy. The story wouldn't have been so bad if they would have not followed the same recipe everyone in movies seems to follow where they keep a damn secret that doesn't need to be kept. The only reason i'm giving this more than three is because of the powers they had.

***Spoiler*** Also the dads powers from my understanding can control time outside of his projected bubble. So literally at any time he could have froze time and relocated to a safe area and proceeded with freeing the mom.

More stories like this one please.

[deloudelouvain · 8/10 · 14 January 2020]

I'm glad I didn't read anything about the story before watching Freaks, so it was all a big guessing what the hell was going on. You can't deny there is a lot of mystery in this story and that made it more than entertaining. There are no tons of action scenes, but the few ones are spectacular. The movie has it more from the suspense building and the intriguing story. The acting was really good, especially from Lexy Kolker, what a great performance for a nine-year old, she has definitely a future in the movie business. Her interaction with Emile Hirsch, who was also excellent in his father role, made Freaks stand out in this genre, it's slightly better than a good sci-fi movie. I wouldn't be surprised if one day they made a sequel, I would definitely watch it.

A hidden gem

[ropelawshiel · 7/10 · 30 November 2019]

Wow I was really surprised how much I enjoyed this. Another reviewer said," slow start", but after half an hour, the mysteries begin to clear, and then one rollercoaster ride. Don't miss this. How I have never heard of this is beyond me. The young girl is an absolute joy(how do they act so well). If you like science fiction and action, watch.

Ugh!!

[aprilwalton-27682 · 2/10 · 8 March 2020]

I'm sorry but I absolutely hated that little kid. her character ruined the movie for me. Some of the acting a dialogue was cringeworthy. The story was alright I guess. There was a part in the movie that got me furious & I wanted so bad for somebody to take out the girl. One time viewing only for me.

Quality X-Men rip-off

[metahumanity_01 · 25 June 2021]

Well...it´s not Marvel. But this is exactly what I would like to see in an X-Men tv series for adults.

Little actress has a future. Good performance.