The Netflix Dark Sci-Fi Thriller With A Terrifying Child
Freaks is currently streaming on Netflix, and it’s the perfect blend of sci-fi and horror for those who are having trouble choosing between the two genres for their next viewing experience. Starting out in a claustrophobic setting, this film puts a mind-melting twist on the tried-and-true story of an overly sheltered child trying to experience the outside world for the first time against her family’s wishes. As the story progresses, we see the world through a troubled child’s eyes as she tries to make sense of the chaos that waits for her outside the confines of her home.
At its heart, Freaks is a story about manipulation for the sake of protection. The film’s protagonist, Chloe Lewis (Lexy Kolker) has a deep desire to live a normal life. But the 7-year-old is confined to a run-down house that her father, Henry, won’t allow her to leave.
Though Henry’s motives aren’t entirely clear, he suggests that “the bad men” will kill her if she ever steps outside.
In spite of Henry’s warnings, Chloe leaves the house so she can make sense of the world as she sees it. Chloe learns the true nature of the bad men, who belong to the government’s Abnormal Defense Force (ADF). The world that Freaks establishes shows us that Henry, though misguided, truly wants to protect his daughter from outside forces beyond his control that will tear his family apart.
It doesn’t take long for Chloe to learn that she’s an “abnormal” with psychic abilities and a primary target for the ADF. After a run-in with an ice cream man named Alan, who just so happens to be her maternal grandfather, the truth emerges in Freaks. Now, knowing that both her father and grandfather have abnormal powers of their own, Chloe no longer wants to run from her oppressors.
Upon its release in 2018, Freaks was a hit among critics and garnered an 88 percent critical score against an 86 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Lexy Kolker was universally praised for her authentic and semi-improvised portrayal of a child who simply wants to understand the chaotic world she lives in. Emile Hirsch’s portrayal of Henry, a concerned father who has the ability to manipulate time, was also praised for its authenticity.
Freaks‘ storytelling is filtered through Chloe’s perspective, which creates a level of ambiguity that elevates the narrative. Through Chloe’s limited comprehension of what’s actually going on around her, we’re left questioning who the real bad guys are in this sci-fi thriller that will leave you guessing what’s truly at stake well into the third act.
The unfortunate reality for independent films like Freaks is that they never get the love they truly deserve at the time of their release. Despite its critical acclaim, Freaks only earned $350,112 at the box office, meaning that a lot of us slept on this one. Luckily, we live in the streaming era, and the film has found its home at Netflix, so you can take a deep dive into Chloe’s psyche and see what all the hype is about.
