Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

She Freak Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 4, 2021

1967’s “She Freak” opens with a declaration that the production is strictly a fictional story, with no connection to the reality of carnival life. It’s a suspicious note of legal panic to add to the start of the feature, which is essentially a remake of Tod Browning’s “Freaks,” only with a lot more footage of everyday life with a traveling carnival. In fact, most of the movie focuses on the loading and unloading of rides and stages, and director Byron Mabe frequently steps away from the plot to simply walk the property, soaking up the atmosphere (and beef up his run time). It’s a simplistic tale of manipulation, but “She Freak” offers a time capsule viewing experience for those interested in the way carnivals were during unregulated times, keeping it compelling, even when nothing of note is happening on-screen.

Jade (Claire Brennen) is a bored, cynical woman stuck in a diner job, dreaming of a better life. She gets a chance to change things when a carnival comes to a nearby town, opting to leave her greasy employer and try her luck with big show, making friends with Moon (Lynn Courtney), a stripper working the sideshow stages. Jade likes the atmosphere and the people, soon zeroing in on opportunity when carnival owner Steve (Bill McKinney) arrives. Hoping to win his heart and spend his money, Jade puts on a show for the easily tamed businessman, with the pair embarking on a relationship that puts the carnival crew on edge. Refusing to respect boundaries, Ferris wheel operator Blackie (Lee Raymond) starts to make moves on Jade, and she reciprocates, commencing a secret affair that threatens to destroy the long game nature of her sugar daddy scam.

Jade is a prickly person living a dead-end life in “She Freak.” She’s stuck in the middle of nowhere, working as a waitress in a dingy diner run by a creep trying to work around his marital vows and sleep with his employee, who’s already hit on by every customer. It makes sense that she would view life as a traveling carnival employee as an improvement, taking a chance when such an event rolls into a nearby empty lot. “She Freak” doesn’t create a sympathetic character out of Jade, but her motivations are understood, working to make more money and meet new people, hoping to crawl out of the dire situation she’s in now.

“She Freak” follows Jade into the weirdness of the lifestyle, where she works with the food staff to feed the employees and sideshow performers. The picture isn’t shy about showcasing the labor involved with putting on a carnival, as a good chunk of the movie is devoted to montages concerning the inner workings of the business. Atmosphere is also prioritized, finding cameras sent into the crowds and on the rides to offer a sense of excitement as distractions are enjoyed by all. This includes sideshow acts, which present a sword swallower and a heavily made-up woman who deals with snakes, periodically putting their heads inside her mouth. “She Freak” doesn’t go full-tilt-geek, with Mabe more attentive to Moon’s act, adding some burlesque to the feature, which is surprisingly tame when it comes to sexploitation opportunities.

Jade’s ambition secures the plot of “She Freak,” watching the calculating character make her way to Steve, a carnival owner who’s easily won over by her attention, spending time with the waitress as she basically throws herself at a man with money, hoping to get out of poverty. Standing in the way of her mission is Blackie, who’s presented as a sex machine with working knowledge of Ferris wheel operations, and he’s out to grab a piece of the new hire. Their affair doesn’t inspire much heat, but it does have a witness in Shorty (Felix Silla), a little person who knows what’s going on, and doesn’t like it.

“She Freak” has technical limitations common to low-budget features, and it goes without dialogue for long stretches of time. It’s almost as though there wasn’t a working microphone on set, forcing Mabe to rethink his storytelling approach, turning the picture into a silent movie at times, delivering a distinctly visual experience. Montages are frequent, which turn the endeavor into a commercial for the carnival, but dramatic moments break through, including an encounter between Jade and fortune teller Olga (Marsha Drake), who doesn’t like what she sees during a palm reading. A few blips of conflict are present, but the majority of “She Freak” is exploratory, which isn’t entirely unwelcome, especially when traveling around the carnival lifestyle, taking in the specifics of the business and the special language (a.k.a. “crackin’ carny”) shared by employees, offering a code for this subculture.

She Freak Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Listed as a "4K restoration from the original 35mm camera negative," "She Freak" looks spectacular during the AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation. Print damage is present, including mild scratches and rough reel changes, but nothing distracts. Fine detail is fantastic, showcasing sharp facial particulars, fine hairs, and fibrous costuming. Carnival tours are distinct, offering depth and textures on rides and food vendor areas. Colors are crisp, embracing the lively palette "She Freak" offers, exploring the bright primaries of the carnival. Clothing is also varied, and skintones are natural. Delineation is precise. Grain is heavy and film-like.

She Freak Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 1.0 DTS-HD MA mix isn't meant to do much, keeping dialogue exchanges reasonably clear, hitting the limitations of the recording equipment at times. Music is the driving force behind "She Freak," with frequent montages offering a sharper jazzy mood. Carnival atmospherics are inherently limited, but present.

She Freak Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet (14 pages) offers an essay by Lisa Petrucci.

• Commentary features film historian Mike Vraney and producer David F. Friedman.

• "Asylum of the Insane" (8:34, HD) is listed as "Bootleg 'She Freak' Inserts Filmed by Donn Davison," but what's here are 3- D clips (requiring "blood shield" glasses) and dancing girl footage, presented as an offering of "HorrorScope." It's not clear what all of this has to do with "She Freak."

• Vintage Sideshow Short and Newsreel (8:29, SD) returns viewers to an undated time (possibly the 1930s), visiting an active carnival and meeting a few sideshow entertainers.

• Photo Gallery (4:14) collects makeup application pictures, film stills, and publicity shots.

• David F. Friedman Trailers (97:20, HD and SD) is a lengthy collection of vintage marketing materials from the producer (including "She Freak"), which largely favors X-rated offerings.

She Freak Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Comparing "She Freak" to "Freaks" is perhaps unfair to Mabe's feature, as the director is simply trying to survive the production experience, creating something easily digestible for drive-in audiences. There's a scene where carnies beat each other up, a tale of slippery morals, and a long drive to a conclusion that's meant to end the move with shock value. These are simple creative goals for "She Freak," which tries to come up with something unexpected for viewers. However, instead of being rattled by sudden horrific events, the true surprise arriving after the viewing experience is working knowledge of traveling carnival labor demands.