The Freakmaker (aka The Mutations/1972)
Picture: C+
Sound: C+ Extras: B- Film: B-
Todd Browning’s Freaks (1932) continues to be a
celebrated classic coming out of the biggest studio of the Classical Hollywood
era (MGM) and being the opposite of the kind of glossy films they were best
known for. Influential on many
cinematographers and directors since, cinematographer turned director Jack
Cardiff admired the film enough to helm a unique take on the film called The
Freakmaker in 1972.
Donald Pleasance in prime form, is the kindly science
professor who turns out to be pulling a Dr. Moreau with nothing to laugh about
wants to cross man with plants instead of animals. Unbeknownst to the public at large, he is already practicing what
he preaches. He has cut an ugly deal
with Mr. Lynch (a pre-Dr. Who Tom Baker) who heads a freak show in town
and is sending some of them to the professor for experimentation. In return, he is being promised a reversal
of his own physical deformities. Add
“Dr. Loveless” Michael Dunn and you have some solid performances in an
ambitious little gem where Pleasance and Baker show why they are genre
favorites.
The only thing that dates the film besides the print and
time period is the makeup that was decent for its time, but is not as
naturalistic today as it was then. A
plus however is that none of this is digital, so the advantage of physicality
remains.
The anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 transfer is not
great, with definition and color issues throughout, but it is on the consistent
side and interesting. Rank did the
color and when the Blu-ray of the James Bond film Live & Let Die
(1973) arrives, one will be able to see how this should look. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono is actually
better than the Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo mix in this case, the latter of which
sounds shrill. Extras include a fine
audio commentary with director Cardiff, stills, trailers for the film, six
trailers for other Subversive Cinema DVDs and a featurette on the making of the
film with good interviews. The DVD case
also includes reproductions of the lobby cards and original theatrical
poster. All in all, that is solid
treatment for a little gem.
- Nicholas Sheffo
