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Sci-fi thriller

Freaks (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch

Freaks (2019) movie poster

Freaks is a 2019 sci-fi thriller directed by Adam B. Stein and Zach Lipovsky, starring Lexy Kolker as Chloe, Emile Hirsch and Matty Finochio. It runs 1 hour 45 minutes and earned $368,410 worldwide on a $2,000 budget. It earned 2 award nominations, including Best Independent Film Release at the Saturn Awards 2021. Critics gave it 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and 63 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.7/10. Stream it on Amazon Prime Video and Fandango at Home Free, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

IMDb rating
6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes
88%
worldwide gross
$368.4K
award nominations
2
Freaks (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 45m (105 min)
Genres
Sci-Fi , Drama , Mystery , Thriller
Original language
English
Budget
$2K
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Freaks About?

The premise of Freaks without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A shy and imaginative seven-year-old girl believes monstrous Abnormals threaten her world, keeping her hidden from view. When a mysterious stranger arrives, she is offered a chance to uncover the truth. Chloe’s journey leads her to a startling realization about the nature of reality and a danger that proves to be very real.

Freaks Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • father daughter relationship
  • escape
  • neighbor
  • ice cream truck
  • mind control
  • invisibility
  • grandfather granddaughter relationship
  • little girl
  • frozen time
  • overprotective father
  • supernatural power
  • ice cream
+38 more
  • stopped time
  • psychotronic film
  • stabbed in the eye
  • bleeding from the eyes
  • time bubble
  • bleeding from eyes
  • title spoken by character
  • one word title
  • locked in
  • superpower
  • explosion
  • mail slot
  • children's book
  • popup book
  • swingset
  • public park
  • tv news
  • shot in the chest
  • shot to death
  • slumber party
  • duct taped to a chair
  • reference to the los angeles dodgers
  • mutant
  • genetic abilities
  • flying
  • stabbed in the eye with a pen
  • no opening credits
  • no title at beginning
  • bundle of money
  • rehearsal
  • flashlight
  • motherless child
  • wounded man
  • gun
  • safe
  • news broadcast
  • sheltered life
  • psychic power
Where to watch

Where to Watch Freaks

Stream it on Amazon Prime Video and Fandango at Home Free, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

Freaks Cast & Characters

Lexy Kolker leads the cast as Chloe, with Emile Hirsch as Dad and Matty Finochio as Steven Reed. Directed by Adam B. Stein and Zach Lipovsky; 14 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Freaks

· 10 more
Ratings

Freaks Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Freaks 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and 63 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.7/10. Our Echo Score gives it 70/100, strongest in character & emotion (80) and weakest in rewatch factor (60).

70 /100

Freaks Echo Score Breakdown

Freaks exhibits an ambitious blend of genre elements that balance inventive concept with uneven execution. While its narrative approach and character performances often engage, the pacing and visual presentation fluctuate in consistency. Viewers respond positively to its subversive undercurrents and strong emotional moments, but some structural and technical shortcomings limit its overall impact. Ultimately, Freaks presents a thought-provoking premise with enough strengths to recommend, tempered by occasional lapses that prevent it from reaching higher acclaim.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 65

    In terms of art & craft, Freaks delivers moments of striking visual detail and purposeful composition, though production limitations emerge in its modest effects and occasional rough execution. Direction exhibits clear vision in many scenes, but inconsistencies in technical polish and execution prevent sustained immersion. Overall, the craft oscillates between inspired framing and budgetary constraints that slightly hinder cohesion.

  • Character & Emotion 80

    When it comes to character & emotion, Freaks benefits from compelling performances, particularly from its leads, whose interactions convey genuine warmth and tension. The film successfully explores parental dynamics and a child’s perspective with emotional nuance. Despite sporadic underdevelopment in secondary roles, the central relationship remains the driving force, imbuing the narrative with lasting resonance.

  • Story & Flow 70

    In terms of story & flow, Freaks offers an original premise that unfolds with occasional suspense and inventive turns. The pacing alternates between measured slow burns and more dynamic revelations, resulting in uneven momentum. Narrative clarity occasionally suffers under ambitious thematic aims, yet the film’s core concepts and gradual escalation maintain viewer interest enough to deliver a largely engaging arc.

  • Sensory Experience 65

    Regarding sensory experience, Freaks features an evocative score and purposeful sound design that heighten its hallucinatory atmosphere. Visual style fluctuates between impactful framing and resource-constrained effects, occasionally undermining immersion. While certain sequences display strong cohesion of audio and imagery, other moments reveal budgetary limitations. Altogether, the sensory palette contributes memorable highs amid some technical unevenness.

  • Rewatch Factor 60

    As for rewatch factor, Freaks combines intriguing thematic depth with character-driven moments that invite reflection on subsequent viewings. While structural unevenness and modest production value may limit repeated enjoyment for some, the film’s subversive ideas and emotional core offer lasting appeal. On balance, it retains sufficient originality to reward revisits.

Plot

Freaks Plot Summary

What happens in Freaks from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Seven-year-old Chloe Lewis, Lexy Kolker, has spent her entire life inside a dilapidated house, forbidden to step outside by her father Henry, Emile Hirsch who warns that “the bad men” will harm them if she ever tries to leave. Chloe longs for the outside world and for a maternal figure she never knew, Mary, while Henry trains her in social graces so she can one day blend in with the neighboring Reed family.

From the shadows, Chloe notices unsettling signs—Henry bleeding from his eyes after fits and visions of a woman in her closet. She learns about abnormals, people with extraordinary abilities who are hunted by the government’s Abnormal Defense Force (ADF) and kept in a facility beneath Madoc Mountain.

Full summary

The whole story of Freaks, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Freaks Box Office & Budget

Freaks grossed $368,410 worldwide on a $2,000 budget. $276,591 came from the US and Canada and $91,819 (25%) from the rest of the world.

2019 box office

Worldwide gross

$368.4K

US & Canada
$276.6K
International
$91.8K
Budget
$2K
US & Canada 75% Rest of the world 25%
Awards

Freaks Awards & Nominations

Freaks earned 2 award nominations, including Best Independent Film Release at the Saturn Awards 2021.

2 nominations1 ceremony

Videos

Freaks Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Freaks.

FREAKS (2019) Official Trailer | Sci-fi Horror | Emile Hirsch, Grace Park, Bruce Dern
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Freaks?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is the name of the young protagonist who has been kept inside her house her entire life?

Cars

Cars in Freaks

9 cars on screen, including the Grumman-Olson Kurbmaster and the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu.

All 9 cars
  • Grumman-Olson Kurbmaster in Freaks Grumman-Olson Kurbmaster Main role
  • 2006 Chevrolet Malibu in Freaks 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Minor role
  • 2015 Dodge Charger Pursuit in Freaks 2015 Dodge Charger Pursuit Minor role
  • 2016 Lenco BearCat Replica in Freaks 2016 Lenco BearCat Replica Minor role
Details

Freaks Also Known As

19 alternative titles, including “Другите” and “Město podivínů”.

Also known as
  • Другите
  • Město podivínů
  • Иные
  • Наказе
  • 怪胎
  • Szörnyszülöttek
  • Aberrações
  • Различните
  • מוזרים
  • 프릭스
  • Odmieńcy
  • Freaks - Sie sehen aus wie wir
+7 more
  • Kỳ Quái
  • 怪胎世界
  • คนกลายพันธุ์
  • Почвари
  • FREAKS フリークス 能力者たち
  • Keistuoliai
  • Ciudații

Seen Freaks?

FAQ

Freaks FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office

Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and awards of Freaks, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Freaks?

Freaks runs 1 hour 45 minutes (105 minutes).

When was Freaks released?

Freaks was released on September 13, 2019.

Who directed Freaks?

Freaks was directed by Adam B. Stein and Zach Lipovsky.

More films by Adam B. Stein

Who is in the cast of Freaks?

Freaks stars Lexy Kolker as Chloe, Emile Hirsch as Dad and Matty Finochio as Steven Reed, among 14 credited actors.

Where can I watch Freaks?

In the US, Freaks is streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Fandango at Home Free and Fawesome and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).

How much did Freaks make at the box office?

Freaks grossed $368,410 worldwide ($276,591 domestic, $91,819 international) on a budget of $2,000.

How is Freaks rated?

Freaks has 6.7/10 on IMDb, 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, 63 on Metacritic and 68% on TMDB.

Was Freaks nominated for any awards?

Freaks received 2 nominations across 1 ceremony.

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