Freak Show (2017)

Follows the story of teenager Billy Bloom who, despite attending an ultra conservative high school, makes the decision to run for homecoming queen.

Director:

Trudie Styler

Writers:

Patrick J. Clifton (screenplay by), Beth Rigazio (screenplay by)

Stars:

Alex Lawther, Ian Nelson, AnnaSophia Robb

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alex Lawther	...	Billy (as Alex J. Lawther)
Ian Nelson	...	Flip
AnnaSophia Robb	...	Blah Blah Blah
Celia Weston	...	Florence
Walden Hudson	...	Bib (as Walden Bryan Hudson)
Abigail Breslin	...	Lynette
Daniel Bellomy	...	Bo-Bo
Bette Midler	...	Muv
Larry Pine	...	William
Christopher Dylan White	...	Bernard
Willa Fitzgerald	...	Tiffany
Michael Park	...	Principal Onnigan
John McEnroe	...	Coach Carter
Mickey Sumner	...	Dr. Veronica Vickers
Wally Dunn	...	Mr. Reamer

Storyline

In the vein of CLUELESS and NAPOLEON DYNAMITE, FREAK SHOW tells the moving, heartwarming, and hilarious story of Billy Bloom, a boldly confident, wildly eccentric teenager, who faces intolerance and persecution at his ultra conservative high school, and decides to fight back on behalf of all the misunderstood freaks of the world by running for the title of homecoming queen.

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Plot Keywords:

title directed by female | two word title | high school | queer | homecoming queen | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Before Trudie Styler took over as director, Lorraine Toussaint was supposed to be one of the co-stars of the film, along with Laverne Cox, who had previously co-starred in Orange Is the New Black (2013). When Styler and her producing partners approved the final casting, Toussaint was no longer a cast member.

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Quotes

William: I'm here.
Billy Bloom: I'm queer.

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Crazy Credits

AnnaSophia Robb is credited as Blah Blah Blah instead of Mary Jane.

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Connections

References Dancing with the Stars (2004)

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Soundtracks

Viva Las Vegas
Performed by Boy George

User Reviews

Good acting - average teen movie

Alex Lawther's acting is the best thing about this movie. He breathed life into this movie that easily might have been worse.

Kudos to the writers for trying, but this movie suffers from what most teen movies do: one dimensional characters and weak scripts. Almost all of the characters are cardboard cut outs whose actions are predictable - The jock who hates being a jock, the bitchy cheerleader, clueless parents (including Bette Midler's overacted alcoholic mother), the secretly gay bully in love with the protagonist, etc...

There were some genuinely funny moments though.

Details

Country:

USA UK Sweden

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 January 2018 (USA)

Also Known As:

Freak Show

Filming Locations:

Mill Neck Manor, Mill Neck, Long Island, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,809, 14 January 2018

Gross USA:

$19,696

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$20,657

Company Credits

Production Co:

Maven Pictures, Flower Films (II), Bruno Wang Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo Dolby Digital (English Dolby Digital 5.1ch 48kHz)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1