Freaks (1932)

"Freaks" is I think by far one of the best black and white films I have watched to this point. The plot follows a family's life as freaks at a circus, now, they are not actually blood related, but the way they act and talk to eachother, and spend everyday of their lives together, gives off a big family vibe. It is centred around one of the male freaks, whom is either a child with a fully developed brain, or an actual adult who's body has not progressed beyond childhood; in my opnion, I think it's the latter. This "freak" believes that he is in love with one of the two "normal" people of the circus, and they are destined to be wed (which it shows later in the film). However, this woman's intentions are not that of an honourable person and plans to kill the freak for his fortune, then run off with the other normal person. The freaks of the circus of very loving and honourable people (this shows in the feeling of family you get from them, and also the fact they chose to welcome an outsider) all except the two normal people, who are in fact the monsters themseves; with no honour or respect for those around them. Browning (the director) chose to use actual people for this film, rather than actors; which is probably why the acting is so realistic and spot on- It really does the film justice. I think the fact that he chose real people with deformities was a good decision, because it enabaled them to really put the emotion into their performances. This came across on screen miles better then what it would have, if the people cast were actors in costumes and slathered in make-up. Overall, I think that "Freaks" is a fantastic film that must be watched. It showed that the monsters out there were not the freaks themselves, but the two normal people off the circus, it's classic case of the saying "don't judge a book by it's cover"...It's what lies beneith the surface that makes you, for what you are.