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Freaky Farley
Directed By Charles Roxburgh
Released: 2007
Starring: Matt Farley, Kevin McGee, Sharon Scalzo, and Steff Deschenes
Running Time: 83 minutes
DVD Studio: Modern Media
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Ever since the death of his mother, “Freaky” Farley
Wilder (played by Matt Farley) has been constantly punished and repressed
by his father, radio personality Rick Wilder (Kevin McGee). The small
amounts of time that Farley can sneak away, he spends spying on girls and
tubing on the river. This all changes when he meets and falls in love with
Scarlett Carter (Sharon Scalzo), a young lady with ambitions to write a
novel about the bizarre characters in their town. When his father forbids
Farley from seeing Scarlett and reveals a terrible family secret, Farley
goes on a bloody rampage. Now, locked in an insane asylum and recounting
his life story to a psychologist, Farley reveals that there is something
even more monstrous behind his killing spree.
It is extremely rare that I feel the need to return to a film within 24
hours of my first viewing. Yet somehow, the first thing I did the morning
after I watched Freaky Farley,
was watch it all over again. Independent horror films rarely get to me
like this. The guys behind the Shockmarathons books have created a film
influenced by the 70s and 80s VHS horrors they endured during their movie
marathons. Yet this is not a wannabe demonic possession rip-off, or a
slasher clone (though it fools you in thinking it is in the beginning), or
even another dull zombie flesh-munching festival. No, this is something
very, very different.
The combination of 16mm film, kitschy organ soundtrack, and the gorgeous
New Hampshire (in autumn) locations, is a perfect concoction for grabbing
and holding my attention. So the corny script with banal dialogue and
silly characters should have instantly put me off, right? Not with
delivery like this. The lead actors in this film take eccentric and quirky
to a new level. Everyone in this film is either as stiff as a board or
going so over the top that it is breathtaking.
Matt Farley practically steals the show as “Freaky” Farley with his
bizarre sincerity, nervous energy, and odd intonation. It is impossible
not to find humor in his delivery. The post-dubbing of his voice also adds
an otherworldly quality to his performance. His role is complimented by
the other oddballs around him. Sharon Scalzo is vivacious, endearing, and
quite entertaining as Scarlett, the girl who steals “Freaky” Farley’s
heart. I also really like Katie Reidy as Katie, the annoying “girl next
door” who Rick, Farley’s father, is always trying to set him up with. The
rest of the cast is even more awkward and strange but they all seem to fit
in perfectly.
Shortly after the hour mark, Freaky
Farley goes bat-shit crazy as the
deadpan humor is abandoned for an even zanier tone. I was hoping the film
would stay in a comfortable place forever but it does veer off into some
wacky business. Yet, it didn’t lose me along the way. The grand surprise
(which I won’t ruin here) is that the rules the film establishes are
thrown away and things get even stranger. Thankfully there's no winking at
the camera or subterfuge of any kind. Freaky Farley never lies.
Freaky Farley
is a sincere masterpiece of low budget eclecticism which resists the
crassness which most horror comedies suffer from and the Kevin Smith-isms
that so many indie films rely on. This isn’t the horror movie version of
Clerks
in Morgantown, New Hampshire. Freaky
Farley takes its cue from the low
budget horror pioneers of the 70s and 80s yet somehow stays innocent and
barely even hints at their exploitative tendencies. I can’t wait to see
what this crew does next.
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DVD Stuff:
Freaky Farley
is presented in 1.78:1 Anamorphic Widescreen and it looks terrific. The
wear and tear of the 16mm film stock is captured perfectly. Some
scratches, lines, and other imperfections are visible but are totally
appropriate for the material. The audio is kind of a mixed bag with
over-dubbed and live sound fighting for supremecy. Thankfully, there is
only one scene where I had to struggle to hear what folks were saying.
Extras include a “Making Of Freaky Farley” featurette, the film’s trailer,
and info on the Shockmarathons books. The “Making Of” featurette gives
insight into the fact that Freaky Farley was a labor of love for its cast
and crew. Though it runs a little long for my tastes, this extra captures
the spirit of the production perfectly.
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Links:
Check out the
Freaky Farley page or the
Shockmarathons site.
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Quotes:
“Heh, silly ninja.”
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