Freaks 1932 I grew up reading The Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. He was extremely funny and of course, I was considered extremely well-read by fellow seven-year-olds for having read the entire series. One of the books took place in a circus, and the three main protaganists befriended many of the "freaks". It was disturbing to me as a child. When I watched this movie, I got the same unsettling feeling.
The film starts with an audience screaming as they see an incredibly awful sight. A circus performer then begins to tell the tragic backstory of one of the freaks. I have always loved films that are flashbacks although this one is a lot more grosteque then say, The Titanic (couldn't be more different actually). I got the ending ruined for me simply by looking up background on the movie but I will not spoil it for you.
This movie is probably nothing like you have seen before. It is completely authentic and in the age we live in now, I feel safe in saying that a film like it will never be made again. This movie, though, was not made to make fun of or gawk at the freaks but rather to show that inside they are exactly the same as us (I know that sounded lame but deal with it!). The people that pay to see them are shown as the freaks, not the performers.
RATING: ****-
Interesting Facts:
The electrical equipment on set was faulty so the actors were frequently shocked.
The romance between the midgets was subdued because they were brother and sister.
It is still technically illegal to watch this movie in some parts of the US because the laws that banned this movie were never really repealed. Uh oh.
Dracula 1931 I watched this movie awhile ago so it isn't exactly fresh in my mind. Fortunately, I love all things Dracula so I am quite qualified to write this review.
Dracula is an amazing epistolary novel and translates well to a movie. I was prepared for a corny horror film. This managed to be wonderful. You can see what a good Dracula that guy makes. He is a great actor and totally made the film. He creeped me the hell out. Lock your windows at night!
If you don't know the story, you don't deserve to know. Great movie, watch it!! I don't have time for more!
RATING: ****-
Interesting Facts:
No fangs or bite marks are shown.
Bette Davis was considered for the role of Minnie.
The guy that played Dracula was buried in his cape.
The Unknown 1927 This short movie was really grotesque and weird but really, what do you expect from a circus movie? Lon Chaney, who played the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera,and Joan Crawford are the stars in this incredibly strange horror film so you know it is going to be freaky. I think any movie with Joan Crawford is kind of horror flick, which may have something to do with the fact that I only know her from What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? and Mommie Dearest.
This film is about an armless knife thrower who falls in love with another circus performer, Joan Crawford! She is afraid of men's touch because she has had such a tough life. The armless guy, though, really isn't armless, he just made it look like he was to escape from the law! He murders her father (whoops!) and has to am-scray. He then decides that he has to have her and some messed up shit happens. The book classifies this film as horror. This movie isn't scary, just a little bit disturbing (though nowhere near as disturbing as Strike was).
Okay, time to make a point because I am just kind of rambling here. I liked it! We have seen some good movies lately, but the plots have all been pretty simplistic. This film, however, has some interesting, unpredictable twists. It is only about an hour but that is really all the time it needed. Lon Chaney is a lot better in this than he was in The Phantom of the Opera. Definitely go see it!
RATING: ****-
Interesting Facts:
This was loosely based on a real event when a man pretended to be an acrobat to escape the police.
Joan Crawford freaks me the hell out!
I am sorry that I was all over the place with this review; I have been really busy today.
