Critic Reviews

The first half hour of this deliriously rude comedy, codirected by Winter and Tom Stern, is so overflowing with anarchic invention that it holds up against such certified classics as Duck Soup and Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The last 48 minutes aren’t bad, but they rely so heavily on gross-out makeup and special effects that the movie’s initial rush wears off.

Attempting to compare “Freaked” to any other movie would prove an exercise in futility. This is a singular film—a wholly originally movie that, despite its flaws, will win over the most jaded film fan simply because it is uniquely and wonderfully bizarre.

That’s already more laughs than a month of Saturday Night Lives.

As subversively clever as it is unsubtle.

A classic, of sorts.

Freaked, which was directed by Mr. Winter and Tom Stern from a screenplay they wrote with Tim Burns, has the candy-colored glow of a goofy psychedelic comic book and the irreverent sensibility of Mad Magazine.

Combined with the terrific creature effects, this smug stew results in at least a couple-of-dozen moments of wildly inventive fun and roughly twice as many puerile groaners. “Freaked” is a whole lot more entertaining than most films that open in a single theater without press screenings, but neither Tod Browning’s nor Monty Python’s reputation is in danger just yet.

Freaked definitely isn't for everyone, and in my opinion it certainly shouldn't be rated PG-13 (who made THAT stupid decision???) but as a "beer and buddies" movie you'll find it funny and, well... weird.

Clearly a labour of love for co-writer, co-director and star Alex Winter (the other one in the Bill and Ted movies), this freewheeling, anarchic, gross-out comedy should satisfy the six-pack post-pub crowd, but it can't really stand up to sober viewing.

In terms of rollicking wacky gorefests, "Freaked" has nothing on "Dead Alive," the superior New Zealand cult hit from earlier this year. Still, the uniqueness of the project will ensure a number of die-hard fans. [4 Oct 1993]