A disturbed father locks his bold seven-year-old daughter in a house, warning her of grave dangers outside. But then comes a mysterious old man, who mans an ice cream truck, and convinces the young girl to run away and join him on a quest for family, freedom, and revenge.
Freaks is a highly acclaimed film that is described by critics and viewers alike as a “genre-bending” feature that will appeal to fans of thrillers looking to be shocked and surprised in the theaters. It is also a treat for viewers who want to dissect their movies and TV shows like puzzles so they can solve the mystery before the film reveals its mind-boggling twist.
Freaks received a standing ovation during its premiere in the Toronto International Film Festival in 2018 and has garnered positive attention for its writer-director duo Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein. Inspired by Stein’s own experience as a new father, the filmmakers “wanted to explore a father’s unbounded love and desire to protect his child, coupled with a parent’s exhaustion, inadequacy, temper and guilt.”
“Parents sometimes shield children from the whole truth about the world. For a child who is different, the world can be a cruel place. In addition to a grounded father-daughter story, we aimed to make a film that reflected current stories of parents and children in a time of xenophobia and prejudice,” Lipovsky and Stein added.
Like its directors, critically acclaimed actor Emile Hirsch (who also stars in the upcoming Quentin Tarantino film Once Upon A Time in Hollywood) immediately connected with the film’s theme.
“Freaks was a script that spoke to me as I read it, in a most intimate and personal way. Like my character, I’m also a father, and the dynamic between the father and daughter, and the deep bond and stresses that the script explored — almost felt like it had been written for me, personally,” Hirsch shared.
Besides Hirsch and Bruce Dern, Freaks boasts of an impressive cast, which also includes Grace Park (TV’s Battlestar Galactica and Hawaii Five-0) and Amanda Crew (HBO’s Silicon Valley).
The Hollywood Reporter praises the movie’s “tight-knit ensemble” and singles out young Lexy Kolker’s performance as the “feisty little girl determined to protect her family.” The film’s directors are all praises for Kolker, calling her “a true discovery, a charming girl who could stand her ground with veteran actors. When unleashed, Lexy was truly fierce, a powerful force that had no limits, just like her character Chloe.”
Bruce Dern 
Emile Hirsch
Kolker was chosen by Lipovsky and Stein after combing through 1,200 audition submissions. The young actress is best known for her work on the USA network action thriller, Shooter, playing the daughter of Ryan Phillippe for its 3 seasons and running. Most recently, Kolker filmed a multi-episode arc in the popular series Marvel’s “Agents of Shield”.
Freaks is Lipovsky and Stein’s debut feature length film, but already critics are praising the movie and hailing it as a “must-watch.” io9 declares that Freaks is a “wonderful, exciting film. Stein and Lipovsky stuff Freaks with limitless imagination, finding ways to execute their loftier ambitions. It’s a film filled with complex, robust ideas that not only have a unique twist to them but a realistic grounding that makes them more relatable and impactful.”
The movie will be released in the United States by WellGo USA. Freaks is distributed locally by TBA Studios. It opens in Philippine theaters nationwide, starting today.