By: Chris Waller

Chris Waller — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 18:40:10 +0000

The seeming obsession with movies involving "freaks" is founded in a normal psychologically impulse to look and see. The visual format of film media demands we focus our attentions on the subject. And if carefully crafted, convey our connection, not distance, to the subject. So while it not considered polite to stare in public at the "different", when can unabashedly concentrate on the physical spectacle before us, under the comforting darkness of the theatre ( or our caves at home, as is more commonly the case ). And if we live anywhere from Peoria to Portland, we can travel out and witness the bizarrness we might not get to see otherwise.And whether it be sympathy or abject horror, I would say empathy rather, we can be touched by something outside of our everyday, mostly humdrum experience.Personally, I'm in awe of the few brave directors ( namely Browning ) who match oddity to story, visuals with morals, and style with substance. There are other directors who, arguably, stray onto the field and hit to the outfield on rare occasion ( think Lynch ) but Tood Brownings' Freaks is one of the most human of stories in cinema, old or new. So I'm not in the camp that "super-freakiness" best expresses the all-too humaness of her posted comments. I'm glad there are others who can revel in the different with such enthusiam regardless of intent. I find her comments refreshing and ringing with enthusiasm. So keep up the good work. And keep watching movies off the beaten path.

By: RHS

RHS — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 00:38:50 +0000

Medusa, you're freaky. Perhaps even… super-freaky.

Comments on: The Three Favorites of Medusa

By: Chris Waller

By: RHS