Alex Winter and Tom Stern's 1993 black comedy cult classic Freaked is finally getting the 4K restoration it deserves thanks to Drafthouse Films.
Reporting the news exclusively earlier today, Collider reveal that Freaked is coming home this fall with a release on digital platforms as well as a special edition 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray physical release.
Starring Winter, Randy Quaid, John Hawkes and Brooke Shields, Freaked centers on former child star Ricky Coogan (Winter) who is hired become the new celebrity spokesperson of disgraced company Everything Except Shoes, who are facing rumors of a toxic substance used in their products. Tasked with debunking the reports, Coogan travels to South America only to be mutated into a grotesque being by mad scientist Elijah C. Skuggs's (Quaid) and thrown into his amusement park of mutants.
Created in partnership with Umbrella Entertainment, the new Dolby Vision release of Freaked comes with a ton of special features, including footage from the production, restored deleted scenes, and a ton of interviews with Stern, Winter and Stern's co-writer Tim Burns, lead guitarist of the punk band The Butthole Surfers, Paul Leary, production designer Catherine Hardwicke, cinematographer Jamie Thompson, and makeup FX's Bill Corso, among others.
Umbrella Entertainment General Manager Ari Harrison has this to say of the long-awaited restoration:
“Freaked is one of those truly singular cult films that defies genre – and that's exactly why we love it! We had a blast working with Alex and Drafthouse to unearth the beautiful chaos of this classic. From the meticulous restoration to the freakishly fun special features, we are thrilled to help give Freaked the deluxe release it has always deserved — for fans around the world.”
Drafthouse Films CEO Nick Savva adds:
“Freaked holds a special place in the hearts of the film nerds at Drafthouse Films. This 4K restoration gives this nostalgic gem the respect and visibility that it’s due. We’re thrilled, also, that younger generations will get to discover the film. Buckle up, it’s a wild ride.”
For a long time, Freaked has been unavailable to watch on streaming, with DVD and Blu-ray releases long going OOP. Needless to say, Drafthouse Films and Umbrella Entertainment have done the Lord's work here. Stay tuned for more updates as they roll in!
