Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- eccentric
- nostalgic
- sentimental
- historical fantasy night
- international cinema evening
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film visually accomplished, eccentric, and humanistic, while divided over its length and uneven storytelling.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Matilde, Cencio, Fulvio, and Mario are circus performers whose extraordinary traits become central to their survival and resistance.
The circus family loses its social place as wartime fascism threatens people who are physically or socially different.
World War II Rome, hidden powers, Nazi occultism, and polished action are combined into an emotionally heightened adventure.
Matilde, Cencio, Fulvio, and Mario rely on one another after Israel disappears and the circus collapses.
Films like Freaks Out, and why
Pan's Labyrinth
shares wartime fantasy, anti-fascist resistance, eccentric outsiders, and heightened visual storytelling
The Night of the Shooting Stars
shares Italian historical setting, persecuted outsiders, humanist sentiment, and fantastical adventure
The Greatest Showman
shares colorful circus imagery, superhuman performers, ensemble camaraderie, and emotional spectacle
X-Men: First Class
shares superheroic abilities, historical persecution, and a found-family resistance narrative
Movie Details
- Director
- Gabriele Mainetti
- Release Date
- 2021-10-28
- Runtime
- 141 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (964)
Cast
- Claudio Santamaria
- Aurora Giovinazzo
- Pietro Castellitto
- Giancarlo Martini
- Giorgio Tirabassi
- Max Mazzotta
- Franz Rogowski
- Éric Godon
- Emilio De Marchi
- Anna Tenta
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Midnight Pulp Amazon Channel, Cineverse Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Freaks Out about?
- A displaced circus family with extraordinary abilities confronts fascist persecution and wartime chaos in a flamboyant Italian fantasy adventure.
- What is Freaks Out like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Freaks Out as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Freaks Out violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Freaks Out as moderate.
- What did critics think of Freaks Out?
- Critics broadly found the film visually accomplished, eccentric, and humanistic, while divided over its length and uneven storytelling.
- Which films are like Freaks Out?
- Films with a similar feel include Pan's Labyrinth, The Night of the Shooting Stars, The Greatest Showman, and X-Men: First Class.
- How long is Freaks Out?
- Freaks Out runs 141 minutes.
- Where can I watch Freaks Out?
- In United States, Freaks Out streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Midnight Pulp Amazon Channel, Cineverse Amazon Channel.
