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”