Flesh Freaks Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		3.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		3.5

Flesh Freaks Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 5, 2024

Zombie cinema is given a South American twist in 2000’s “Flesh Freaks,” a shot-on-video production from writer/director/star Conall Pendergast. The helmer certainly attempts to jazz up the proceedings, turning a monster breakout into a series of scenes with swirling camerawork and heavy editing, laboring to make the smallness of the endeavor at least look exciting. The effort is noted, but there’s not much in the way of thrilling stuff in the feature, as Pendergast doesn’t have enough material to fill his picture, resorting to plenty of padding, which is numbing to watch. When scary stuff actually does occur, “Flesh Freaks” shows off its love of gross-out moments, but it’s not enough to sustain the entire movie, as tedium wins in the end.

Barry (Conall Pendergast) has returned to his Canadian university after months spent in Belize on an archaeological trip to unearth a Mayan temple. Stan (Etan Muskat), Barry’s buddy, picks him up at the airport, and he notices that something isn’t right about the traveler, confirming news reports that a horrible event happened in Belize, with local officials blaming terrorists for evidence of violence. All Barry wants to do is return to his Canadian routine, but Stan persuades him to visit a local movie theater for a night of bonding. During the film, Barry shares the dark details of his Belize experience with Stan, revealing how the team discovered a strange looking corpse near an ancient well. A mysterious form of evil revived the dead body, turning it into a zombified killer, forcing Barry to flee while all the researchers are murdered. And now that evil is on campus, taking a ride inside Barry’s bag, unleashed on faculty and students such as Lea (Erica Danya Goldblatt) and Jane (Eshe Mercer-James). Joining Barry and Stan, the women try to get to the bottom of horrible discoveries, coming across a new zombie uprising that’s spreading quickly.

“Flesh Freaks” was partially shot in Belize, and Pendergast is certainly happy to remind viewers of it. Once Barry decides to spill the beans about his Mayan experience, the helmer attempts to create a jungle-y mood for the endeavor, using ample footage of animals and insects on the move to capture the location. There’s more to the Belize nightmare, but it takes time to sell it, as Barry manages to participate in a horrible mistake, opening a Mayan well that permits something wicked to escape and claim ownership of a recently discovered corpse. Oddly, the central massacre isn’t all that graphic, finding Pendergast more interested in the surreal possibilities of “Flesh Freaks,” going bananas with editing achievements and camerawork, laboring to sell screen activity that isn’t there organically.

“Flesh Freaks” primarily takes place in Canada, following the characters as they reunite on campus. Barry’s back in town, not paying attention to his own bag, which brings evil into his dorm room. Stan’s the top bro, Erno (Dan Zabbal) is a janitor cleaning basement areas, and Lea and Jane are fellow students. It’s a small pack of players, and it takes time before a zombie breakout occurs, finding a professor studying a corpse the first victim in the area. “Flesh Freaks” doesn’t pursue swift pacing, handling lengthy moments of exposition instead, as Pendergast tries to find a story to tell, ending up with something that doesn’t exactly make sense, but it does provide ample opportunities for the production to work with college locations. We’re talking a few labs and all the hallways a viewer could want from chase cinema, watching the students figure out how to stop the lurching threat, and the monster menace is increasing in numbers.

Flesh Freaks Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.33:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Flesh Freaks" remains in line with other SOV endeavors. Clarity isn't on the menu, but a general appreciation for frame elements is basically intact, despite some heavily processed imagery. Human and zombie ruination is mostly appreciable. Colors are aged but accessible, with the red blood and collegiate fashion choices on display. Skin tones are close to natural. Source has a few displays of damage.

Flesh Freaks Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix secures most of the dialogue exchanges, with the production battling technical limitations at times. Exposition is understood, along with heated moments of pursuit. Music supports with a basic sound, but intended moods are understood. Sound effects are blunt but appreciable.

Flesh Freaks Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features writer/director Conall Pendergast and moderator Justin Decloux.

• Commentary #2 features writer/director Conall Pendergast.

• "Kill & Eat the Flash Freaks" (20:59, HD) is an interview with writer/director Conall Pendergast, joined by highly caffeinated moderator Justin Decloux. The interviewee explores his early fascination with movies as a child of Canada and Belize, beginning his directorial career at the tender age of nine. Raised on home video releases, Pendergast developed his love of horror movies, helping to shape his storytelling interests. Talk of "Flesh Freaks" is offered, an endeavor pieced together over months, with the helmer also dealing with high school obligations. Editorial puzzle solving is highlighted, as the feature was completed in chunks, and the picture's release is tracked. Talk moves over to "Kill Them and Eat Them," which was primarily shot in his family's basement. Looking to craft an offering that was closer to his "personality," Pendergast details some production achievements and technical challenges, attempting to make a more "idiosyncratic" monster effort. He also examines the current state of his career.

• Outtakes (4:36, SD) collect mistakes, giggle fits, and blown lines.

• Image Gallery (2:41) collects film stills, marketing art, home video release covers, and newspaper coverage.

• Conall Pendergast Short Films include 2001's "Flicker" (5:01), 2001's "Satan's Psycho Ghoul" (2:30), 2006's "Guts of the Gods" (9:20), 2007's "Legend of the Seven Bloody Torturers" (5:08), 2020's "The Cyclops Diet" (2:31), 2021's "Self-Actualization of the Werewolf Woman" (4:01), and 2023's "The Noonday Demon" (7:48).

• And a Trailer (1:59, SD) is included.

• Bonus Movie: "Kill Them and Eat Them" (79:44)

• Commentary features writer/director Conall Pendergast and actor Michael Wood.

• "Monsters from the Cutting Room Floor" (3:12, SD) takes a short look at technical challenges involving masks and movement. Text commentary on the footage is provided.

• Deleted Scenes (4:20, SD) are offered.

• And a Trailer (2:03, SD) is included.

Flesh Freaks Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Flesh Freaks" isn't in a hurry to deliver scares. Pendergast doesn't amplify any threat until the final act, which explores zombie activity in more detail, giving the production an opportunity to display its gooey effects and puppetry. For a no-budget offering, gory encounters are passable, and the helmer sets aside time to study them, and this level of concentration may be of value for genre fans hunting for something to cling to in the endeavor. The rest of "Flesh Freaks" encounters all kinds of pacing and style issues, and acting isn't exactly commanding, though Mercer-James does an adequate job communicating a level of panic as her character is turned into a warrior with a nail gun, out to clear the halls of zombies. Pendergast doesn't value speed in the effort, giving viewers a chance to tune out of this feeble tale of spreading evil, moviegoing, and Belize tourism.