🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Ian McDonald
- Genre: Drama, Romance, Comedy
- Release year: 2017
- Runtime (length): 1h 37min
- IMDb rating: 6.2/10 (2,228 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: Audience Score: 69%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
A one-eyed guy and an overweight girl fall in love, then she gets skinny and he gets a fake eye, proving that the universe hates happy endings and prefers everyone to be miserable and beaten with bats.
🍿 Some Freaks: Detailed Plot Synopsis
An Unconventional Connection
The film introduces us to a unique high school romance between Matt, a boy with one eye, and Jill, an overweight girl. Their relationship blossoms from a shared sense of being outsiders, finding comfort and genuine affection in each other’s company. They navigate the typical challenges of adolescent love, compounded by their individual insecurities and the societal judgments they face. Their bond is portrayed as deeply sincere, built on mutual understanding and acceptance. Matt sees beyond Jill’s weight, and Jill embraces Matt’s physical difference, creating a safe space where they can be their authentic selves away from external pressures. This initial period highlights the beauty of finding love in unexpected places and overcoming superficial barriers.

Life After High School
As high school ends, Matt and Jill face the prospect of a long-distance relationship when Jill moves to college in California. This transition introduces new dynamics and pressures into their lives. Jill, motivated by personal desires or new social influences, undergoes a significant physical transformation, losing a considerable amount of weight. Her change, while initially seen as positive by some, begins to strain her relationship with Matt. The film explores how this external transformation impacts their internal connection, challenging the very foundation of acceptance and identity that their relationship was built upon. Matt struggles to reconcile the ‘new’ Jill with the girl he fell in love with, leading to growing emotional distance and confusion.

The Evolution of Identity
The central conflict revolves around whether their love can endure these significant changes, particularly Jill’s shifting identity and Matt’s struggle with it. The narrative delves into themes of self-perception, societal expectations, and the complexities of growing up. Both characters are forced to confront who they are and who they want to be, both individually and as a couple. The film meticulously examines the emotional toll of transformation and how it ripples through relationships. It questions whether true love transcends physical appearance and societal norms, or if personal growth can sometimes lead to unforeseen incompatibilities.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Matt Ledbetter (Thomas Mann): A high school senior with one eye who struggles to accept his girlfriend Jill’s physical transformation and new identity after she loses weight in college.
- Jill Delisle (Lily Mae Harrington): An overweight and punk high school girl who transforms physically and questions her relationship after moving cross-country for college.
- Elmo Moss (Ely Henry): Matt and Jill’s gay best friend who experiences isolation and a violent homophobic attack after confessing his secret crush.
- Patrick Keever (Lachlan Buchanan): A popular former high school peer who pursues Jill after her weight loss, drawing her into a superficial and demeaning fraternity culture.
- Justin Lynski (John Thorsen): A former high school basketball player and Elmo’s secret crush, whose homophobic reaction leads to a brutal attack.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Matt: “I spend my entire day just trying to make it through.” – Matt reflects on his challenging experience in high school, where he feels like an outcast due to his eye patch.
- Jill: “This is my body, Matt. You don’t get to decide what I eat.” – Jill defiantly tells Matt off when he attempts to force-feed her carb-loaded food, asserting her autonomy over her new, healthier lifestyle.
- Matt: “Is this weird enough for you now? Am I pathetic enough?” – A desperate Matt removes his prosthetic eye at a party, questioning his identity and seeking validation after Jill’s transformation leaves him feeling ‘too normal’.
- Elmo: “We’re the freaks, Matt. That’s who we are.” – Elmo reminds Matt of their shared identity as outsiders, emphasizing their bond and how society perceives them.
- Jill: “Don’t speak to me.” – Jill’s initial terse response to Matt in the hospital waiting room after Elmo’s brutal attack, conveying her deep hurt and anger following their painful breakup.
💰Box Office
- Budget: Unknown
- Domestic Gross: Unknown
- Worldwide Gross: Unknown
💥 Some Freaks Reviews
Personal Review
Wow, this movie really hit me! I went in expecting a standard indie romance, but ‘Some Freaks’ goes so much deeper into the messy reality of growing up and changing. I loved the initial connection between Matt and Jill; it felt so authentic and sweet, two outcasts finding each other. But then, when Jill loses weight and Matt gets his prosthetic eye, it perfectly captures how confusing self-transformation can be, not just for yourself but for those around you. The scene where Matt tries to force-feed Jill was absolutely gut-wrenching and truly showed the ugly side of his insecurity. And the ending, while frustratingly open, really made me think about how some stories don’t have neat bows, just raw, unresolved emotions.
- Who would enjoy:
- “Fans of indie dramas and coming-of-age stories”
- “Viewers interested in character-driven narratives”
- “Audiences who appreciate films exploring themes of body image, acceptance, and identity”
- “Those looking for a realistic, less conventional romance film”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Mature thematic elements (body image issues, identity struggles)”
- “Some strong language”
- “Potentially sensitive topics for viewers dealing with self-esteem or appearance-related anxieties”
- “Implied sexual content (brief, non-graphic)”
Professional Reviews
- Indie Film Quarterly: “‘Some Freaks’ navigates the thorny landscape of young love with a raw, unflinching gaze. While the central performances are undeniably strong, especially Lily Mae Harrington’s nuanced portrayal, the film sometimes leans heavily on high school clichés. It dares to explore uncomfortable truths about self-perception and how external changes can fracture internal connections, though its narrative choices can feel both bold and frustratingly abrupt at times.
- The Daily Cinephile: “Despite a compelling premise, ‘Some Freaks’ unfortunately succumbs to a sense of aimlessness in its latter half. The characters, initially intriguing and sympathetic, make increasingly baffling and unlikable choices, leading to a truly unsatisfying conclusion. What starts as a promising exploration of identity quickly devolves into a series of depressing, unrelatable events that leave the audience feeling emotionally drained without meaningful insight.
Audience Reactions
The raw, honest portrayal of how changing your body can impact relationships and self-worth resonated deeply with many viewers.: Audiences frequently praised the lead actors, Thomas Mann and Lily Mae Harrington, for their authentic and powerful performances, particularly in conveying complex emotional shifts.
The film’s willingness to show the unglamorous, sometimes ugly, side of young love and transformation was seen as a refreshing departure from typical rom-coms.: Many found the movie to be a thought-provoking, albeit at times difficult, look at identity, acceptance, and the challenges of fitting in, or not fitting in.
Overall Consensus: ‘Some Freaks’ is a polarizing yet compelling indie drama lauded for its authentic performances and bold exploration of identity, love, and personal transformation, though its raw, often unresolved narrative can be challenging for some viewers.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “The film won both Best Feature and Best Actress (for Lily Mae Harrington) at the Princeton Independent Film Festival.”
- “Lily Mae Harrington, who plays Jill, also contributed by writing a song for the movie’s soundtrack.”
- “For Jill’s significant weight loss in the second half of the film, the production utilized the expertise of crew members who had previously worked on the reality show ‘The Biggest Loser’ to guide the transformation.”
- “The director, Ian McDonald, also solely wrote the screenplay for ‘Some Freaks’, making it a deeply personal project.”
- “The movie was primarily filmed in Providence, Rhode Island, contributing to its authentic New England setting.”
🖥️ How to Watch Some Freaks?
Finding ‘Some Freaks’ (2016) is relatively straightforward for a captivating indie drama. It is typically available for rent or purchase on major digital platforms such as Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, and Vudu. Pricing for rental usually ranges from $2.99 to $4.99, while purchasing the movie might cost between $7.99 and $12.99, though prices can vary by platform and region. It’s always recommended to check your preferred streaming service for the most current availability and pricing, as subscription access is less common for independent films of this nature compared to blockbusters.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed Some Freaks, you might like these similar films:
- The Spectacular Now (2013): Features similar themes of young love, self-discovery, and navigating difficult life transitions, also starring Thomas Mann in a central role.
- Juno (2007): Explores themes of unconventional relationships and finding self-acceptance through quirky, offbeat characters, much like the leads in ‘Some Freaks’.
- Lady Bird (2017): A critically acclaimed coming-of-age film from the same era, focusing on a young woman’s struggles with identity, family, and friendships during her senior year.
- Cha Cha Real Smooth (2022): A contemporary indie romance that delves into an unlikely connection between two individuals, touching on themes of self-doubt and personal growth amidst societal expectations.
- Harold and Maude (1971): An iconic dark comedy/romance about an unusual pair finding connection, celebrating individuality and defying societal norms, which fans of ‘Some Freaks” ‘outsider’ theme would appreciate.
🛒 Some Freaks Related Products
- The Body Is Not An Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love: A revolutionary guide to body liberation and radical self-love, challenging conventional beauty standards and promoting unconditional acceptance of all bodies.
- Indie Film Showcase: Coming-of-Age Collection: A curated collection of critically acclaimed independent films exploring the complexities of adolescence, self-discovery, and first loves.
- Rebel Heart Aesthetic: Distressed Denim Jacket: A vintage-inspired, distressed denim jacket with customizable patches, perfect for channeling a unique, independent style.
- Mindfulness & Self-Reflection Journal: ‘Who Am I Now?’: A guided journal designed to help individuals explore their evolving identity, process emotions, and document their personal growth journey.
🎧 Soundtrack
Some Freaks features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
While ‘Some Freaks’ is not explicitly stated to be based on a true story, its themes of self-acceptance, body image, and navigating relationships in adolescence are deeply relatable and draw from universal human experiences. The film’s authentic portrayal of these struggles gives it a sense of realism.
The film stars Thomas Mann as Matt and Lily Mae Harrington as Jill. Their performances were critically noted for bringing depth and authenticity to the complex characters, anchoring the emotional narrative of the film.
‘Some Freaks’ delivers a powerful message about the complexities of self-acceptance, the impact of societal beauty standards, and how personal transformations can test the foundation of even the deepest relationships. It explores whether love can truly transcend physical appearance and the challenges of growing into one’s own identity.
‘Some Freaks’ is primarily a drama with strong romantic elements. While it may have moments of lightheartedness, its core focus is on serious themes of identity, insecurity, and the difficulties of navigating a relationship amidst personal change.
🔥 Bonus Content
Everyone was made fool in this zoo 😱 #shorts
Ever wondered what kind of wild twists can happen in a place like a zoo? This quick movie recap dives into a story where everyone gets a surprising reality check, and I think it’s fascinating how the tables turn!
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