Film
Queer Vision: Freak Show
- Director
- Trudie Styler
- Certificate
- 12A
- Running Time
- 91 mins
What could be more now than an empowerment tale in which a flamboyant, out-and-proud misfit teenager shakes up his new ultra-conservative school by challenging the ultra-bee-yatch reigning Mean Girl in the Homecoming Queen contest? Brit Alex Lawther (who played the young Alan Turing in The Imitation Game) stars as camp, Wilde-quoting Billy, while Abigail Breslin assumes Trumpy, Bible-thumping duties as his bitter rival. Bette Midler is cast as Billy’s mum. Behind the camera, making her directorial debut, is Trudie Styler. Yes, Mrs Sting!
Lawther’s on fine form and it’s all good fun if rather superficial, though it’s fair to say that some US critics found Billy’s relentless fabulousness and narcissism hugely fucking annoying. Freak Show is screened as the centrepiece of Bristol Pride’s film festival – Queer Vision.
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