A wooden Gunnar Hansen is a freakshow operator who gives a final show for an arrogant teen and his new girlfriend. Hansen trots out his "exhibits," and tells the tale behind each of them, as we are treated to one of the worst horror anthology films of all time. The first story involves a self-involved man who dumps his girlfriend. He brings over some money for her to terminate the pregnancy- and meets her evil witch sister who is not very happy with the dude. The second story has a young boy being adopted by some backwoods types who are not who they seem. The third story takes place in the 1800's, and involves a mummy who is the prized possession of the local eccentric scientist. It is Halloween, and the eccentric scientist brings the mummy to a party to unveil it. The fourth story is about an ugly carnival freak who pays a grocery delivery guy $10,000 to change bodies with him through black magic. The hideous but now-rich guy goes on a spending spree, but will regret his decision. By now, the arrogant teen has been duly unimpressed by the stories and freaks. Same with this reviewer. He's unaware that he and his girlfriend are the finale of the film.
When a horror anthology works on film, like "Tales from the Hood," it can be wonderful. When it fails, it can be a chore to sit through. Each of the stories here run about ten minutes over. This thing is over an hour and forty five minutes, and it seems twice as long. There is no suspense, and there are better special effects on a 3-D Viewmaster disc. The actors here are what you might consider "local" as everyone either over-emotes, or delivers their lines as if seeing them for the first time. I swear in some scenes Hansen was reading his neverending speeches off of cue cards. There is a cheap air to this that starts with the opening scene and never lets up. Sure, you can be brave and try to sit through this, but consider yourselves warned. "Freakshow" is just that and worse.
When a horror anthology works on film, like "Tales from the Hood," it can be wonderful. When it fails, it can be a chore to sit through. Each of the stories here run about ten minutes over. This thing is over an hour and forty five minutes, and it seems twice as long. There is no suspense, and there are better special effects on a 3-D Viewmaster disc. The actors here are what you might consider "local" as everyone either over-emotes, or delivers their lines as if seeing them for the first time. I swear in some scenes Hansen was reading his neverending speeches off of cue cards. There is a cheap air to this that starts with the opening scene and never lets up. Sure, you can be brave and try to sit through this, but consider yourselves warned. "Freakshow" is just that and worse.