Freak Show 2018

Billy Bloom [Alex Lawther] gazes into the mirror, planning his makeup, and immediately signals that he is no ordinary teen. A flashback to his younger years shows how his indulgent, flamboyant, alcoholic mother, Muv [Bette Midler], worships him and actively encourages him to dress up, sparking loud arguments with his conservative father, Bill. After the two adults separate, Billy stays with his mother for seven years in Connecticut before being sent to live in his wealthy father’s mansion in the deep south, following her sudden disappearance that is later revealed to be rehab. Billy drifts further into a world of fantasy dress and self-expression, ignoring Florence’s quiet warnings to dress more conservatively for school.

On his first day at the local high school, his idea of conservative is still flamboyant—eyeliner and lipstick, a ruffled pirate top, a little black jacket, and a hat—an outfit that instantly marks him as different and makes him the target of ostracism. Nobody speaks kindly to him at first, but by the second day, Mary Jane befriends him and fills him in on the school’s social landscape, while Flip Kelly [Ian Nelson] introduces himself as the school’s hero and offers his support. When the three girl clique of bullies asks Billy for fashion tips, he deftly turns the moment around, tearing them down with wit and confidence. Yet the harassment only grows with the presence of homophobic jocks and a loner named Bernie, whose resentment toward Billy hints at a deeper ache; Bernie’s tension even flares into a troubling moment in the boys’ bathroom, revealing a struggle with coming out and staying in the closet.

The biology teacher’s willingness to tolerate bullying gives way to a brutal response from Billy, who starts wearing outrageous outfits for weeks as a stand against the spitballs and sneers he endures. The culmination arrives when he dresses in a wholly outlandish wedding gown, a veil, and garish red makeup, and is dragged into the lecture hall where several jocks beat him nearly to death. Flip and another ally intervene, but Billy falls into a coma for five days. Flip visits him regularly in the hospital and convinces him to come home, while he opens up about his own artistic leanings, revealing a preference for art over football after seeing a Jackson Pollock. Mary Jane stays by Billy’s side, providing updates from the hallways and applauding Billy’s defiance as a catalyst for change; the administration responds by expelling those who attacked him and organizing assemblies about hate crimes to promote tolerance.

As high school life tests the limits of conformity, Flip urges Billy to tone himself down during school hours, even as Billy finds new ways to express his identity. He delivers a dramatic Great Gatsby book report, performing as Zelda Fitzgerald, which becomes a telling moment about voice and visibility. A gym incident on rope climbs sparks another round of homophobic backlash, reminding Billy of the ongoing bias he must navigate. When he returns home, he finds Muv again, though her appearance feels more transactional—she only comes for money, while his father allows him to witness the scene. Florence, the kind housekeeper, remains a steady source of warmth, and Flip visits him again as Muv, now intoxicated, knocks him down in a moment of carelessness.

The homecoming campaign unfolds with Billy running for homecoming queen against Lynette [Abigail Breslin], the school’s reigning queen advocate. They mobilize supporters and deliver campaign speeches to win votes, each choosing a bold float to represent their vision—Lynette with a red-clubbed display alongside her friends, Billy with a glittering, purple-heeled, silver-ensemble float. The homecoming game itself becomes a dramatic backdrop: Billy’s team clinches a close victory, but Flip sustains a shoulder injury that forces him to rethink his future in art. In the auditorium, Lynette’s speech openly targets anyone who isn’t straight, while Billy’s plea for understanding earns a standing ovation from the crowd. Although Billy’s candid bravery wins a moral victory, he does not win the crown. Still, his father’s congratulations acknowledge the personal triumph of facing fear without apology, and the campus atmosphere shifts toward greater self-acceptance and tolerance. The story closes on a hopeful note: a community a little less afraid to be themselves, and a celebration of diversity that feels brighter because of that courage.