Sitcom actor Ricky Coogin (Alex Winter) is spokesman for E.E.S. (Everything Except Shoes), a corporation that markets toxic fertilizer to the third world. Ricky is sent to South America to placate a scandal involving Zygrot-27, a poisonous caltalyst used in many E.E.S. products. Ricky says, "I heard that s**t's lethal."
Ricky and two friends encounter a strange amusement park operated by Elijah C. Skuggs (Randy Quaid), who dispays "Hideous Mutant Freekz" (the original title of the film). Skuggs uses Zygrot-27 to transform the trio into freaks. They join the other freaks such as a bearded lady (Mr. T), a human worm (Derek McGrath), Sockhead (Karyn Machchus), Toad (Jaime Cardriche), and Dog Boy (Keanu Reeves).
Ortiz the Dog Boy: "Twelve milkmen IS theoretically possible. Thirteen is silly. Looks like there's one milkman too many, Coogan!"
As half man and half beast, Ricky is disgusting. I could not watch all of this in one evening and had to take a break for a few days. The makeup work is so remarkable that the movie is cruel as well as funny. Gross-out humour can go too far. FREAKED is inventive, rude, loud, fast-paced, obnoxious, and tasteless. It's not for the squeamish.
Ricky Coogan: "I wonder if I they're still casting "Gremlins 3"..."
Bearded Lady: "When I arrived here, I was nothing like I am now. I was confused; a walking contradiction, and I was so full of questions."
Elijah Skuggs: (flashback) "You know, you'd be better off without a d**k."
Bearded Lady: (grunts angrily)
Elijah Skuggs: "Hey, you can keep the beard."
(they hug)
Elijah Skuggs: "Do I seem like a wierdo?"
Ricky Coogan: "Nope. You seem like a regular dumbs**t old redneck to me."
The budget for FREAKED was $12 million, largely eaten up by the three separate special effects companies involved. Keanu Reeves' salary was $1 million for his uncredited cameo as Ortiz, the Dog Boy. Brooke Shields plays Skye Daley, a TV host. She looks very out of place in the film, instantly recognizable as...Brooke Shields. Strangely, there are equal entries on the internet for "Zygrot-24" and "Zygrot-27", so I'll have to pay close attention the next time I watch this flick.
Others in the cast include: William Sadler (Dick Brian), Eduardo Ricard (George Ramirez), Brian Brophy (Kevin), Michael Stoyanov (Ernie), Morgan Fairchild (stewardess), Alex Zuckerman (Stuey Gluck), Megan Ward (Julie), Jeff Kahn (Nosey), John Hawkes (Cowboy), Lee Arenberg (Eternal Flame), Patti Tippo (Rosie the Pinhead), Tim Burns (Frogman), Bob Goldthwait (Sockhead), Don Stark (editor), Arturo Gil (clown), Gibby Haynes (Cheese Wart), Joe Baker (Prof. Nigel Crump), Calvert DeForest (Larry Melman), Joseph S. Griffo (N. Eye), Ray Baker (Bill Blazer), Jon M. Chu (Giant Stuey Monster), and Vincent Hammond (Giant Rick Monster). The script was written by Tim Burns, Tom Stern, and Alex Winter. Original music is by Kevin Kiner. Tom Stern and Alex Winter directed.
FREAKED is a very good, funny movie. Twentieth-Century Fox didn't promote it properly, and this outrageous, weird, surreal fantasy did not get the distribution and publicity it deserved. Fortunately we have home video.
