Freak Show

[A] bitterly funny and warmly empathetic first feature.

Freak Show is carried by a fully committed performance from Lawther, who quivers and swans and roars like the best of the Hollywood grand dames.

Lawther’s a charismatic, uncompromising lead, and Billy’s campaign is an inspiring one, but this sometimes settles for broad strokes of heroism or villainy where more subtlety would have increased its impact.

Freak Show’s formula, fabulousness and feel-good messaging doesn’t sparkle so much as soak up the glow of its obvious predecessors.

What keeps it reasonably engaging...is an appealing central performance from Alex Lawther.

Freak Show...doesn’t exhibit an understanding of queer identity that goes much deeper than the sheer sequined fabulosity of Billy’s image.

It’s not terrible, just irritating. Freak Show is too busy flying the white flag, surrendering to the obvious, to ever let its freak flag fly.

I stumbled upon this little gem for Pride month. Alex Lawther of the end of the f***ing world stars as Billy Bloom a creative and talented young man who finds himself living with his father in a middle American town filled with homophobia. Regardless of what anyone thinks he stays true to himself. After a vicious attack he is saved by the school quarterback and a friendship begins. The boy, Flip is played by the adorable Ian Nelson of the boy next door, tries to help him fit in better but he's commited to being his genuine self. Diva Bette Midler (Beaches) stars as his mother and Abigail Breslin (Zombieland), Anna Sophia Robb (Bridge to Terebithia), Celia Watson (Invasion) and Willa Fitzgerald (MTV's Scream) also star. It's a fun, emotional coming of age flick that's not perfect but is definitely worth a watch. 7.25/10

cliche and mediocre. but, alex performance definitely daved entire film. his performance so engaging.

I was captivated from the moment Alex Lawther (as Billy) began the narration in the opening scene. I consider him incredibly talented and he played this role fabulously. It is a role which I would consider difficult and needed real talent to be convincing. The film has a global message and thankfully avoids labeling. It is not a movie that follows the formulas seen in Call me by your Name or Love, Simon. It's quite different to those. I totally recommend it.

Good for its message, it undoubtedly touches inclusion and bullying in an accurate way but it is also handled in a simplistic way, it seems to be focused on audiences that will not demand more and it also feels at times like an episode of Glee. It is worth watching for the strong perfomance of its lead actor Alex Lawther.