We saw the Freaks, and the Freaks are US!
We Saw the Freaks and the Freaks are Us!
Why are we afraid or repulsed by those who are different then us? Why do we cringe when we see human “oddities” doing mundane things?
Recently I visited the “Freakshow,” 2007, IMDB comment page, there I saw so many negative comment, some of them filled with hate, and I wanted to know why was there such a reaction to this movie, “Freakshow” by The Asylum Studios.
The movie it self, even though not the best film out there, was not that bad. So, why is there such an unreasonable hostility toward this film?
Because, I realized, they are not angry at the movie, the real live Freaks in the movie terrifies them! It‘s this fear of what is different, out of the norm for them that make them so incensed toward “Freakshow” (The Asylum, 2007).
You see, this century there have been other movies with the same theme, one called “SideShow” (Full Moon Pictures), another one called “Freakshow” (Arrow Home Entertainment Inc. 2001) and people loved them, however, these movies did not have “Real” freaks. The movies had gaffs and grifts, made up freaks.
“Freakshow” (2007) has “REAL” freaks. Tom Devlin is a great make-up artist and FX guy. He did not make Jim Gold Man (The Great Riwami) an armless wonder, Jim was born that way. Bill Quinn (Chef) needs no special effects to appear legless. Jeffrey Allen, (The Strong Man) is truly built that way. Margaret the Cannibal Girl, played by Amanda Ward, smiles as bright in real life. McKenna Geu, AKA Little Kimmie, is really as adorable. The suspension guys’ hooks really did go through their flesh, and their tattoos are real. That is Chris Adamson's REAL tooth you see there. VeeKay (Wolf Man) is a sideshow curiosity, once known as The Wild Boy and Dieguito el Negrito in South America. Larry “The wolf Boy” Gomez was born with hypertrichosis. That facial hair is 100 per cent real! And, speaking of faces. The most tragic of them all is "the outside talker." That is the outside talker’s (the barker) real face. He could be hiding somewhere, or covering his face, a face that only a wife could love, but he is brave enough to go out in public that way. Even appearing in movies and talk shows to show that it is okay to be different. But I digress.
Why are they so angry at these freaks, these disabled or unusual people? Because they realize that if not for fate, choice, or accident they themselves could have been one of these freaks. And that terrifies them. Thus, their fear turns to hatred, as they are not able to express their fears, or unwilling to admit that the freaks makes then uncomfortable.
Because they do not want it to be known of the prejudice toward those of us who are different, they turn their anger toward the movie.
Having grown up in the sideshow, performing with other special people, AKA freaks, I saw this hatred. Not while we were performing, No, they paid money to see us. However, when we were out in the “real” world, shopping, playing, going to the movie, etc. That’s when we saw their prejudice toward us. You see. Some people would like for us to go away. Locked up somewhere where they do not have to see us. Where they do not have to think of us as “people.”
We are people. We are like most of you. We have feelings, we fall in love, we have families, we cry, we laugh, we go on diets, and we even have “cell phones!” As Shylock said, “If you prick us, do we not bleed” or feel pain? Well, actually, if you are the “suspension guys” (piercing people) the answer may be, no.
Instead of hating us, give thanks that you are who you are, as we give thanks that we are alive, able to work, support ourselves, our families, performing in the sideshow, circus, even movies. So, enjoy "Freakshow."
What I am trying to say is, you are we, and we are you.
A page for VeeKay's fans:
http://www.zootsuitclown.com/