Just imagine… you're a vegetarian middle school student whose classmates pelt you with meat. You swear that one day you will return and wreak revenge on those who wronged you. Then, the day arrives when you make your escape from the mental institution… the time has come for you to hurt those who hurt you… it’s all you could think about for years… then at the very moment you arrive…. You find that the school has been torn down. What's a hapless Looney to do? Well, in the case of "Freak Out", you come under the care of two high school slackers whose free time (all 24 hours a day of it) is spent filling their minds with all things horror. Merv (James Heathcote) is especially knowledgeable when it comes to horror films and when he is given the opportunity to 'train' his very own serial killer, he jumps into it with relish. His best friend Onkey (Dan Palmer) works at the local bowling alley / video game arcade… well… work might be a little too strong of a term… its more like he blows time there.

Together the two do everything the can think of to turn the namby-pamby Looney into a well-oiled machine of a serial killer. And it's all fun and games until someone loses an eye… and an arm… and a leg…

"Freak Out" is an exercise in gonzo filmmaking, made by a bunch of guys who had no money and knew next to nothing about filmmaking. As a matter of fact, it took them over four years to make the movie. They shot when and where they could, oftentimes throwing shots together on the fly. And while their lack of experience shows in that the movie looks extremely amateurish, there is a very strong comedic timing at work throughout. There are moments that are 'groan-inducingly' bad, but just as often you'll find scenes that elicit some very strong laughs. The dialogue and acting works in much the same way, but somehow director Christian James was able to bring it all together into one fairly enjoyable package.

The extremely independent movie has been making the film festival circuit for some time now and has been generating a lot of buzz due to its simple-minded comedy and approach. This month it's actually finding its way out onto DVD, and in a big way. Anchor Bay Entertainment, who has a reputation for releasing some of the most fully-loaded DVDs around, delivers an unbelievably packed 2-disc set. I say unbelievably only because it is such a little known film and so much work was put into the DVD.

Aside from the film, the first disc offers up two full commentary tracks. We hear from director Christian James, actor Dan Palmer and producer/actor Yazz Fetto (Yazz?), then you can start the film over to listen to Christian and Palmer again, only this time they are joined by actors James Heathcote, Nicola Connell and Chilli Gold (Chilli?), and BBC movie critic James King. Both commentaries are pretty funny to listen to, but the movie does run a little long so you may want to split them up over a few days.

Once you move on to the second disc you'll find a "Making of…" documentary that in many ways is put together a little better than the film itself. In goes into quite a bit of detail to chronicle the four year shoot and its premiere at the Fantasia Fest film festival. There is also a rather strange little featurette (well, actually, they are all a little strange…) where you can listen to some Internet critic's comments played over scenes from the movie (and why wasn't I approached, I ask?). You'll also find a short piece where actor Palmer is asked to teach viewers the fine art of turning your friends into 'bum-feelers.' (You'll understand when you've seen the film…) It's extremely silly, but falls right into line with the style of the film. Then, in the tradition of Robert Rodriguez's "10 Minute Film School" videos on the DVDs of his films, we are treated to a "5 Minute Film School", where we are taught some of the tricks of low budget filmmaking… by a sock puppet ass piranha (don’t ask…). Finally, there is a music video, several deleted scenes and a look at the how the big explosion in the film's final moments was shot. Again, I have to say, for a low budget independent film that very few people have ever heard of, Anchor Bay spared no expense to give it the royal treatment.

"Freak Out" is an extremely goofy little film that will probably not appeal to Mr. Average Moviegoer Guy, but fans of horror flicks will more than likely enjoy it's aforementioned simple-minded, 'made by a bunch of guys out having fun' style of humor.

Directed by: Christian James
Starring: James Heathcote, Dan Palmer, Nicola Connell
Extras: Audio Commentary with Director Christian James, Actor/Writer Dan Palmer, and Actor/Producer Yazz Fetto, Audio Commentary with Director Christian James, Actor/Writer Dan Palmer, and Actors James Heathcote, Nicola Connell and Chili Gold - Moderated by BBC Radio Critic 1 Movie Critic James King, Making Out - Behind the Scenes Featurette, Geek Out - Featuring Internet Movie Reviewers, Zaniac Music Video, Bum-Feeling 101, 5 Minute Film School, Honey I Blew Up the Looney, The Video Store, 17 Deleted Scenes
Specifications: Widescreen (1.78:1), Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Sound
Release Date: 11/7/2006
Region: 1
MPAA Rating: NR
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We'll give Freak Out a B-.