From Thursday 22nd August to Monday 26th August, Pigeon Shrine FrightFest will be celebrating its 25th year of scares in style at both of the Odeon Leicester Square cinemas. Over the course of the five day celebration, the festival will host around seventy feature films, all of which embrace the dark heart of cinema. One such film to have made the very special line-up is Elliott Léon’s The Freaks of Fancy.
Set in 1927, The Freaks of Fancy joins four medical graduates who are invited to spend the weekend at a beautiful island mansion, by their mentor, the experimental and controversial scientist, Dr. Reed Wakefield. However, it soon becomes apparent that their stay was not planned for fun and games, as Wakefield’s bold actions are about to unleash terrifying consequences. It is a psychological, gothic horror wrapped in a superbly constructed silent movie aesthetic. Just like the brilliant Guy Maddin before him, director Elliott Léon’s adult fairy tale blends absurdist satire, surreal gore, wrenching melodrama, and the Charleston, to fashion an eerie work of nostalgia and expressionist symbolism.
In addition to screening at FrightFest, Elliott Léon’s film has earned the approval of festival director, Alan Jones. This makes The Freaks of Fancy a must-watch for attendees whose taste aligns with the famed film critic. Ahead of the world premiere of Elliott Léon’s film, THN spoke to him as part of our annual ‘Road to FrightFest’ series. Find out more about The Freaks of Fancy’s origins, capturing the spirit of a bygone era of cinema, and just what FrightFest attendees can expect when they sign up to watch The Freaks of Fancy.
The Freaks of Fancy screens at Pigeon Shrine FrightFest on Friday 23rd August. More information on the film and tickets can be found on the FrightFest website.
