Freak Out ReviewDVD Movie Review - Christian James Movie |
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This high-energy tribute to horror films comes to us by way of Britain, and if this and Shaun of the Dead are any indication, it seems that the UK may have a monopoly on quality horror/comedy films. But where Shaun succeeds on multiple levels, Freak Out unfortunately makes for a far less satisfying viewing experience. The film begins 13 years ago, as a young boy is tormented by his classmates for being a vegetarian. After being pelted with various lunch meats, he vows revenge and runs off into the woods. By this point, it should be pretty clear that this isn’t going to be your usual parody film. 13 years later, the young boy is all grown up and recently escaped from a mental hospital. He returns to his old school, just as promised, but is surprised to find that it has been demolished. So what’s a potential serial killer to do? Meanwhile, Merv Doody (James Heathcoate) spends most of his time riding around on his bike (which we see plenty of in the high-action, music video-like opening credits) and watching every slasher film which he can get his hands on. When he’s not fending off the advances of Abby (Nicola Connell), the local video store clerk, he’s spending quality time with his best friend Onkey (Dan Palmer, who also co-wrote and co-produced), a smart-mouthed twerp who works at a local bowling alley.
This low-budget effort has a lot of charm, and it’s hard not to root for these industrious young filmmakers to succeed. It’s obvious that they have a great passion for horror films, and it really comes through on the screen. You almost need a scorecard to keep track of all the nods, homages, and parodies. But while it is entertaining to see who director Christian James will lampoon next, it also seems to stunt his ability to tell a coherent story. The vast majority of the 103 minute run time is spent moving from one gag to another with little to no regard for the overall plot. It’s only in the last 30 minutes or so that things really start to come together. And while some of the parodies are funny (the Evil Dead references and the bowling alley riff on teen movies are particularly successful), there are many that just come off as silly. Unless you’re a diehard fan of the horror genre, you may find that many of the gags go right over your head, as you’re obviously not “cool” enough to be in on the joke. That may be the biggest difference between a movie like Shaun of the Dead and one like Freak Out. Shaun worked even if you had never seen a zombie movie in your life. Freak Out almost requires a certain level of genre knowledge to be enjoyed (or at least understood). However, credit should be given to Christian James for the technical aspects of the film. The movie is well-edited, especially in the opening segment and montages, and the camera work is very solid. The choices for the soundtrack are also well done and serve to enhance the film. On the flip side, there seems to be about 300 montages in the movies. Every time one popped up, I was reminded of Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s Team America (“We need a montage!”). I know the filmmakers had some cool songs to work with, but it felt as though the montages were put in just so the various songs could be featured. This became somewhat irritating after the first three or four times. The acting is tolerable, but it’s nothing special. Loony and Onkey (who somehow manages to slightly channel Evil Ed from Fright Night) are especially annoying in the early goings. Things are toned down a bit as the film progresses, but many viewers may already have given up by that point. And let’s hope you like Larry Hagman humor, as the film is literally rife with it. It seems absurd at first, but the filmmakers are committed to making it work, and I have to admit that it grew on me. The final scene is especially hilarious, featuring a giant paper mache Larry Hagman head and lines like: Onkey: Kill him! Merv: I can’t. I might hit an innocent Larry Hagman fan. Onkey: There are no innocent Larry Hagman fans! Overall, Freak Out is a solid, if somewhat flawed, freshman effort, and one can only hope that we get to see more in the future from Christian James. However, the movie is definitely oriented towards horror movie geeks, which makes its appeal limited. If you fall into this category (which I do), then you might want to take a chance on it. If not, you’re probably better off renting something else. Grade: C If you like this movie, you might also enjoy:
Be sure to also take a look at our reviews of House of 1000 Corpses, Evil and Rest Stop. |
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