I'm embarrassed to say that I'm not 100% clear on the date the film I'm going to review was released! The back cover states 1972, IMDb gives the year of release as 1973 and the book; Fragments of Fear: An Illustrated History of British Horror Films gives the me the year 1974! Needless to say, this was an early 70s film and has all the look and feel of such. The year of release isn't really important, it's the film that is the main importance, here, but if anyone can supply me with a correct date, I'll be sure to make the needed corrections. Now, on with this very entertaining film!

To anyone who may have never seen this film, but has seen, Freaks, you're bound to see some similarities, but enough of a difference to keep you interested in seeing more. Much like the 1932 Tod Browning film, The Freakmaker employed actual side-show people to work along side the main cast which consisted of; Donald Pleasence (Professor Nolter), Tom Baker (Lynch), Brad Harris (Brian), Julie Ege (Heidi), Scott Antony (Tony), Jill Haworth (Lauren), Olga Anthony (Bridget) and Michael Dunn, the most famous of the side-show group as Burns. Jack Cardiff, a past Academy-award winner directs this film

Professor Nolter teaches biology at the University and he's teaching his students his theory on man's future survival depending on man evolving into a man/plant mutation. The good Dr/Professor naturally wants to test this theory out and gains his supply of unwilling co-eds from Lynch, a man with some serious facial deformities. and an attitude to match! Lynch and Burns run a 'freak' show and the unfortunate victims of Dr/Professor Nolter's experiments find their way to the 'freak' show. Lynch supplies the healthy bodies because Nolter has promised him a 'cure' for his deformities. Much like the film, Freaks, the side-show performers are a family and very much care for each other and the well-being of each other...that is with the big exception of, Lynch. he despises himself and all those around him and makes the lives of his performers a living-hell. he's abusive to all around him and Baker does a nice job of making the audience feel nothing but disdain for his character.

Heidi and Lauren find Professor Nolter to be fascinating, but Tony is less impressed by the good Professor's ideas and when biologist Brian flies in from the States, Tony places his faith in what Brian might think about the ideas of the Professor. Lauren later comes up missing and one evening, Brian, Heidi, Tony and Bridget all attend the side-show and Tony is certain he recognizes a necklace/medallion belonging to Lauren around the neck of Burns. Certain something is amiss with the side-show and one of the 'freaks' on display, Tony later sneaks back to the side-show to find the facts out for himself. Tony soon finds himself in the laboratory of Professor Nolter and things really move along at a nice clip from here on out.

I hate to divulge much more and perhaps to some, the outcome is obvious, but I hope what little I have said piques your interest, at least enough to check this film out, it really is one worth watching and has a few unsettling scenes, I think and the ending is really well done!

Now, the disc is released by Subversive Cinema and they did an amazing job with this film! The disc has been released in it's original aspect ration (1.85:1) and is enhanced for widescreen TVs. It includes a commentary track with Jack Cardiff (Director), Robert Weinbach (Writer) and Brad Harris (Producer), a very informative featurette, stills gallery, Freakmaker trailers, Subversive Cinema trailers and a mini reproduction of the original film poster as well as three mini reproduced lobby cards from the film! If you have a taste for the bizarre and enjoy 70s British cult films, you'll want to add this disc to your collection. If you've not seen the film and aren't sure that it's a film you will revisit often, I'd still recommend this for a rental.