THE MUTATIONS (1974) - 1970s remake of FREAKS - Who's seen it?

[Rev. Powell]

I saw the trailer for this last night, it looks kind of cool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RaVEPIznZo

It's a FREAKS remake with Donald Pleasance!  This can't possibly be any good (bad), or I would have heard of it, right??  Can anyone give a report?

[Andrew]

This movie has been on my "you need to see these films" list for a long time under its alternate title "The Freakmaker."  Now it's out on DVD!  My wish list just got one title longer...

[Mr. DS]

I reviewed this one a few years back.  Its actually not a bad film at all.   I wouldn't say its a "remake" of Freaks although it has been hailed as it.  There is a brief freak show with real life freaks.  That kind of plays backstory to an evil botonist.  I would say check it out. 

[KYGOTC]

I NEED to see this and Tourist Trap.

[Raffine]

It's a FREAKS remake with Donald Pleasance! 

THE MUTATIONS aka THE FREAKMAKER is a terrific and highly watchable film, and features Tom (Doctor Who) Baker as a big-headed freak/hit man. It was directed by Jack Cardiff, the cinematographer of such classics as BLACK NARCISSUS, THE RED SHOES, and THE AFRICAN QUEEN! Cardiff is still around, and was awarded an honorary Oscar a couple of years ago. Shockingly, I don't think they mentioned THE FREAKMAKER at all during the presentation ceremony.  Bastards!

However, it's not so much a remake of FREAKS (that would be SHE-FREAK) but a (subconcious?) remake of the incredible Edward D. Wood-scripted Venus flytrap monster film THE REVENGE OF DR. X. I think it's even worse than his more famous Hollywood movies.

Here's a clip!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0tPdNqHD2o

Or, if you've got the guts, you can watch the whole thing here:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5074520914321662305

Note the title and credits belong to a different film; one of Eddie Romero's Blood Island epics. So John Ashley fans, don't get your hopes up. When this was originally released somebody put the wrong titles on it and nobody seemed to notice or care to correct it.