"Sideshow" is a cliché but interesting story.
**SPOILERS**
As the carnival comes to town, five people, Bobby, (Jamie Martz) Tommy, (Michael Amos) Grant, (Scott Clark) Melanie, (Jessica Keenan) and Jeannie (Jeana Blackman) wander around playing the games, eating the food and having a fun time. When Abbot Graves (Phil Fondacaro) announces the opening show for a spookshow, they all line up to see the sights. Grant tries to explain how they did the make-up effects but after a while, Jeannie becomes jealous of some of the performers. Because of their individual reactions to the performances, they all become separated. They find evidence of foul play and go to the police, but Abbot Graves is able to convince them that nothing is going on. After they can't find her, they begin to wonder what to do. Grant feels like something is wrong, and convinces Tommy and Melanie to go look for her back in the sideshow. They get captured and transformed into what they supposedly deserve. Only Bobby remains normal person. Learning from Madame Volosca (Brinke Stevens) about his and his friend's fate, he finally leaves the carnival.
The Good News: I have never liked Carnival Sideshows for this reason: they are creepy and make me uncomfortable to be around. This film perfectly captures this spirit and does it well. This is a carnival that actually seems creepy because the freaks in it are not the usual freaks in a sideshow. All of them are also pretty unexpected as well. They were pretty scary realized and manipulated, yet shared the inhumanity that makes them look like sideshow freaks. All of them were also designed to creep people out, and they did creep me out. What was also new was that there was one person left alive at the end. Normally, these movies kill off all of the characters and left town. This was a very nice and new touch that not many films would try to get. It has that "Wishmaster" vibe to it, that those who get wishes will get their just rewards. I really like this theme for films and it should become a more regular fixture in friends.
The Bad News: Unless watching the freaks in the sideshow is not upsetting for you, then this may be a less enjoyable film. I really can't see why, but it can seem that way. Like all Full Moon films, this contains no jumps or shocks to make it a more interesting experience. This has to become a very noticeable change in their films, as I've only found one film, "Shrunken Heads," that contains a jump. With all the films in their catalog, they do have a niche, but it isn't among those that like to be scared with their horror films.
The Final Verdict: Unless you like Full Moon films or hate carnivals, this would should be approached with caution. It does star two cult stars, Brinke Stevens and Phil Fondacaro, but the fact is that it does need something else. Take a chance, which is all I can say.
Rated R: Violence, Graphic Language, and Nudity
**SPOILERS**
As the carnival comes to town, five people, Bobby, (Jamie Martz) Tommy, (Michael Amos) Grant, (Scott Clark) Melanie, (Jessica Keenan) and Jeannie (Jeana Blackman) wander around playing the games, eating the food and having a fun time. When Abbot Graves (Phil Fondacaro) announces the opening show for a spookshow, they all line up to see the sights. Grant tries to explain how they did the make-up effects but after a while, Jeannie becomes jealous of some of the performers. Because of their individual reactions to the performances, they all become separated. They find evidence of foul play and go to the police, but Abbot Graves is able to convince them that nothing is going on. After they can't find her, they begin to wonder what to do. Grant feels like something is wrong, and convinces Tommy and Melanie to go look for her back in the sideshow. They get captured and transformed into what they supposedly deserve. Only Bobby remains normal person. Learning from Madame Volosca (Brinke Stevens) about his and his friend's fate, he finally leaves the carnival.
The Good News: I have never liked Carnival Sideshows for this reason: they are creepy and make me uncomfortable to be around. This film perfectly captures this spirit and does it well. This is a carnival that actually seems creepy because the freaks in it are not the usual freaks in a sideshow. All of them are also pretty unexpected as well. They were pretty scary realized and manipulated, yet shared the inhumanity that makes them look like sideshow freaks. All of them were also designed to creep people out, and they did creep me out. What was also new was that there was one person left alive at the end. Normally, these movies kill off all of the characters and left town. This was a very nice and new touch that not many films would try to get. It has that "Wishmaster" vibe to it, that those who get wishes will get their just rewards. I really like this theme for films and it should become a more regular fixture in friends.
The Bad News: Unless watching the freaks in the sideshow is not upsetting for you, then this may be a less enjoyable film. I really can't see why, but it can seem that way. Like all Full Moon films, this contains no jumps or shocks to make it a more interesting experience. This has to become a very noticeable change in their films, as I've only found one film, "Shrunken Heads," that contains a jump. With all the films in their catalog, they do have a niche, but it isn't among those that like to be scared with their horror films.
The Final Verdict: Unless you like Full Moon films or hate carnivals, this would should be approached with caution. It does star two cult stars, Brinke Stevens and Phil Fondacaro, but the fact is that it does need something else. Take a chance, which is all I can say.
Rated R: Violence, Graphic Language, and Nudity