A traveling carnival of freaks, cared after by Harley Dune(Tim Curry),a paternal figure who has provided them with refuge from the cruelties of life, stops off at a small town, surrounded by woods. The film centers around "wolf girl", Tara(Victoria Sanchez), and how she yearns to be "normal", to not be a freak of nature. Tara meets a meek nerd, Ryan(Dov Tiefenbach), a victim of the local bullies, led by thuggish prick Beau(Shawn Ashmore)and bulimic tomboy lesbian Krystal(Shelby Fenner),who offers her an experimental drug, concocted by his scientist mother(Leslie Ann Warren) which may can reverse the process she has involving abnormal hair growth. When Tara agrees, she becomes addicted to the drug and it does in fact cause her hair to slowly shed..but, in return, she loses her humanity, as larger doses, stolen by her from Ryan's mother's fridge, cause a primal reaction involving violence, not to mention, wolf-like tendencies. It begs the question, is it worth looking normal, if you lose what made you actually beautiful on the inside?
Good role for Sanchez who earns our sympathy as we see how looking different causes a difficulty pulling away at her emotionally. Sure, we see how this gorgeous girl emerges as the hair dissipates, but the cost to achieve this will become irreparable. It's an interesting development, to see a young girl, with a wonderful heart and soul, seek to look beautiful so she can fit in, only to lose those qualities which made her so entirely likable. In contrast, characters causing the despicable conflict towards Tara, Krystal and, especially, Beau, may look normal on the outside(..although, Beau has a freakish flaw that's hilarious perfectly conveying that his bullying antics, this aggressive a$$hole always tormenting innocents, derives from his needing to compensate for a lack of "manhood")but carry an ugliness inside that makes them "abnormal" regarding humanity.
Curry has a great role as a low-rent PT Barnum, whose carnival shows bring less and less profit, that is until Tara starts taking those "treatments" and becomes more animalistic and threatening. The film deftly explores the tension between the "normals" and "abnormals", how the interaction between the regular folks and freaks are often awkward and uncomfortable. There's one memorable sequence where Ryan and Tara enter a diner and we see literal fear creep into the place, a look of horror evident on the faces of customers and waitresses alike. Sanchez, in these moments of crisis and sadness, shines and it's pretty easy to sympathize with her plight. Our intolerance for those who were born different is explored well here in this movie. An effective little sleeper, worth seeing for fans of movies concerning "freaks" and werewolves. Shawn Ashmore's secret "dificiency" is certain to earn grins and giggles for his character is so repulsive and antagonistic, you can't help but wish him ill. Phenomenal make-up work for Sanchez by Paul Jones' effects department. The film features plenty of "sideshow attractions" and we are immersed into their world.
Good role for Sanchez who earns our sympathy as we see how looking different causes a difficulty pulling away at her emotionally. Sure, we see how this gorgeous girl emerges as the hair dissipates, but the cost to achieve this will become irreparable. It's an interesting development, to see a young girl, with a wonderful heart and soul, seek to look beautiful so she can fit in, only to lose those qualities which made her so entirely likable. In contrast, characters causing the despicable conflict towards Tara, Krystal and, especially, Beau, may look normal on the outside(..although, Beau has a freakish flaw that's hilarious perfectly conveying that his bullying antics, this aggressive a$$hole always tormenting innocents, derives from his needing to compensate for a lack of "manhood")but carry an ugliness inside that makes them "abnormal" regarding humanity.
Curry has a great role as a low-rent PT Barnum, whose carnival shows bring less and less profit, that is until Tara starts taking those "treatments" and becomes more animalistic and threatening. The film deftly explores the tension between the "normals" and "abnormals", how the interaction between the regular folks and freaks are often awkward and uncomfortable. There's one memorable sequence where Ryan and Tara enter a diner and we see literal fear creep into the place, a look of horror evident on the faces of customers and waitresses alike. Sanchez, in these moments of crisis and sadness, shines and it's pretty easy to sympathize with her plight. Our intolerance for those who were born different is explored well here in this movie. An effective little sleeper, worth seeing for fans of movies concerning "freaks" and werewolves. Shawn Ashmore's secret "dificiency" is certain to earn grins and giggles for his character is so repulsive and antagonistic, you can't help but wish him ill. Phenomenal make-up work for Sanchez by Paul Jones' effects department. The film features plenty of "sideshow attractions" and we are immersed into their world.