Freak Show

Name: Freak Show
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: January 12, 2018
Duration: 95 min
Rating: 54
Cast: Abigail Breslin, Alex Lawther, AnnaSophia Robb, Bette Midler, Celia Weston

2018

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 10 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 23 Ratings

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8.2

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8.2	User Score Universal acclaim based on 23 Ratings

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Freak Show

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Movie Details & Credits

IFC Films | Release Date: January 12, 2018 | NR

Starring: Abigail Breslin, Alex Lawther, AnnaSophia Robb, Bette Midler, Celia Weston, Christopher Dylan White, Doris McCarthy, Eddie Schweighardt, Ian Nelson, Laverne Cox, Michael Park, Mickey Sumner, Willa Fitzgerald

Summary: Billy Bloom (Alex Lawther) is one-of-a-kind: a fabulous, glitter-bedecked, gender-bending teenager whose razor-sharp wit is matched only his by his outrageous, anything-goes fashion sense. When his glamorous mother (Bette Midler) is forced to send him to live with his straight-laced father (Larry Pine), Billy finds himself aBilly Bloom (Alex Lawther) is one-of-a-kind: a fabulous, glitter-bedecked, gender-bending teenager whose razor-sharp wit is matched only his by his outrageous, anything-goes fashion sense. When his glamorous mother (Bette Midler) is forced to send him to live with his straight-laced father (Larry Pine), Billy finds himself a diva-out-of-water at his new ultra-conservative high school. Undaunted by the bullies who don’t understand him, the fearless Billy sets out to make a big statement in his own inimitable way: challenging the school’s reigning mean girl (Abigail Breslin) for the title of homecoming queen. [IFC Films]… Expand

Director: Trudie Styler

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: NR

Runtime: 95 min

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Critic Reviews

Serena Donadoni

Jan 9, 2018

[A] bitterly funny and warmly empathetic first feature. Read full review

Rex Reed

Jan 16, 2018

The results are a mixed bag of charm and calamity, marking the feature-length directorial debut of Trudie Styler who, in real life, is the wife of singing star Sting. She’s a talent worth watching. Read full review

Katie Walsh

Jan 18, 2018

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. Read full review

Glenn Kenny

Jan 11, 2018

Mr. Lawther is sympathetic and appealing as Billy, but Ms. Styler seems to mistake broad strokes for stylistic daring, and her colorful but diffuse movie never jells. Read full review

David Rooney

Jan 11, 2018

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

Sarah Ward

Jan 11, 2018

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

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Aug 20, 2020

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. Read full review

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User Reviews

enikmix

Apr 18, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The freak show is a very underrated masterpiece (IMDb 6.6), most of you probably haven't even heard of this movie and it's probably fine. The film was originally aimed at a small audience, unfortunately in our world, only a small number of people will be interested in this film, the problems that it raises, the stereotypes that it shows. Billie Bloom is my homecoming queen. The plot of the films at first glance is very simple LGBTQ boy moves to a small town, where he begins to hate almost all the students of the school. But there is no only black or only white, in the crowd of these haters, he finds Flip Kelly, Mark Kelly and a couple of other friends-acquaintances, but honestly this is nothing more than an extra. I'm not going to tell you the whole story to be honest, it's not really important, so if you're interested in this movie, you can watch it. This one will be like a mirror for every LGBTQ person, the film shows harassment from a homophobic society, the film shows a friend (girlfriend) - an acquaintance (acquaintance) with whom you want to be together, but he is not an LGBTQ person, although you may sometimes think that this is so. The film shows latent LGBTQ people who show homophobia only as a defense of themselves, but eventually, realize that they live in "someone else's skin" only because someone can condemn them or take the place of Billy Bloom. The film shows how society is not ready to accept LGBTQ people, even if it treats them positively or neutrally. The film shows a friend ( girlfriend) who likes to spend time with you, who considers you his friend, but because of the fear that his (her ) ) they will also consider LGBTQ a person, or they will also start hounding you because of the fact that he ( she ) communicates with you, he (she ) as in the movie, he asks you to hide it or just turns away from you, either because of your refusal or because of other reasons. Each of us needs a person like Billy Bloom, who can reveal to us our inner freak, who we really are without the mask that we wear when we go out into society. And as the film shows, when we open our inner freak to ourselves and others, many people will turn away from us. But is it better to live under a mask, but in the approval of society, or to be what we are, even without those people who consider us freaks? Also, the film does not go into some fairy tale, wherein the end everything will be fine and everyone will accept you and everything will be fine, NO. The film shows that even if people understand you, they will not be able to accept you (some of them) and eventually that friend will not take off his mask or just turn out to be an LGBTQ person and you will not live like in a fairy tale, the world will not become a beautiful place, etc. In summary, I want to say that this film is ideal for those people who doubt who he really is, for already open LGBTQ people, this film will only be such a good look from the outside at themselves, that would understand what we do not owe this society. I hope that you will want to watch this film and I still repeat once again that the film is most underestimated, I understand that it is not ideal from the point of view of shooting, na… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

santymvazquez

Feb 17, 2018

Definitely, the best movie I've seen, I loved everything, but the best thing was the message the movie gave, it was incredible!

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

justwibi

Aug 29, 2018

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

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ShowMeMore

Jun 1, 2018

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 messageI 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.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Rcavey92212

Jul 29, 2020

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 toI 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… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Jan 22, 2018

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 perfomanceGood 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.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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