Episode 137. One of Us: Freaks (1932)
Join us as we delve into the lineage and legacy of Tod Browning’s pre-code horror classic. From the morality police to representation of disability to community building through murder, we discuss why Freaks remains a unique and unrepeatable entry in the horror canon. More content over on our Patreon ! REQUIRED READING Freaks . Dir. Tod Browning, 1932. EXTRA CREDIT Spurs . Tod Robbins short story on which Freaks is based. What’s so Scary about Disability? Laura Elliott’s piece on the legacy of fearing some bodies. Disfigured: On Fairy Tales, Disability, and Making Space . Amanda Leduc’s exploration of how society has stigmatized disabilities for centuries. Code of the Freaks . A 2020 documentary covering portrayals of disability in film. A Brief Timeline of the History of Disabilities: The Shameful Treatment of People with Disabilities. An overview covering how perceptions of disabilities have shifted over human history. LISTEN Right click or option-click here and choose “Save Target As”