| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Emile Hirsch | ... | Dad | |
| Bruce Dern | ... | Grandpa | |
| Grace Park | ... | Agent Ray | |
| Amanda Crew | ... | Mom | |
| Lexy Kolker | ... | Chloe | |
| Ava Telek | ... | Harper Reed | |
| Michelle Harrison | ... | Nancy Reed | |
| Matty Finochio | ... | Steven Reed | |
| Aleks Paunovic | ... | Robert Kraigen | |
| RJ Fetherstonhaugh | ... | Police Officer (as R.J. Fetherstonhaugh) | |
| Kwesi Ameyaw | ... | News Host | |
| Ryan Beil | ... | Leo the Cook | |
| Reese Alexander | ... | ADF Agent | |
| Dakota Daulby | ... | Executioner | |
| Lee Shorten | ... | Security Chief | |
A seven-year-old girl, Chloe, who lives with her father, was told that the outside world was dangerous and was spending lonely days in her house. One day, she left the house while her father was asleep, and she was approached by an old man in an ice cream truck standing in front of her house. The old man, who is Chloe's grandfather, tells him about the fact that Chloe's mother is alive and the mysterious power he has. Chloe, who was scolded by her father for going out, awakened her special ability by raising her emotions. The ability was a very dangerous thing to manipulate a person's mind. Chloe works with a grandfather and a father with different abilities to rescue a detained mother. Written by Linda Jenkinson
Freaks starts out (or so you think) as a film which promises to deliver some uncomfortable moments between an over-protective dad who may or may not be outright crazy as well as possibly dangerous, and a cute, socially inexperienced, awkward and defenseless 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.