Freaky Farley (2007)

This is another independent movie from filmmakers Charles Roxburgh (director/writer) and Matt Farley (actor/writer).  The movie is told thru a series of flashbacks, since the lead character starts off in a mental asylum.  Farley plays, appropriately enough, a character named Freaky Farley.  He is a strange guy that lurks around town peeping into the windows of lovely ladies all while ignoring his father’s efforts to dominate his life by getting him a “good” job.  Farley eventually meets a girl who not only doesn’t think he is odd, but shares many of his same ideas about having fun.  Throw in a haunted forest, the death of his mother when he was a child, and the mysterious Trog monsters for a good time! 

This is the 2nd movie from Roxburgh and Farley that I’ve reviewed with Monsters, Marriage, and Murder in Manchvegas being the first.  As I said in that review it is finding movies like this that makes running a website like Gutmunchers worth all the effort.  While I didn’t like Freaky Farley as much as I did Manchvegas I still had a lot of fun with it.  This is a very strange story with oddball characters and silly twists and turns that come together to make an entertaining movie.  I guarantee you that if nothing else you will remember this movie long after you have seen it.  In addition to the Farley character you have a town ninja running around and a forest full of monsters called Trogs!  Also lets not forget Air Force Ricky who is dispatched by Farley who delivers the line, “Recruitment Day,” as he does the deed! 

Matt Farley does a great job carrying the movie as the titular Freaky Farley.  He has a charisma in front of the camera, great comedic timing, and makes all of the scenes he is in much better.  I also think that Sharon Scalzo is great as Scarlett.  But this is where I think that Manchvegas is a bit stronger movie because the rest of the cast is a noticeable drop off from the two actors that I mentioned.  There are some performances here that definitely remind you that you are watching an independent movie.  There are some awkward pauses in delivery and there are some wooden performances. 

Freaky Farley is a well-made movie.  The sound is solid and professional.  These guys also shoot on actual film!  I know that I made a big deal about this in the Manchvegas review, but it really does make a difference.  As much as I can appreciate movies shot on digital there is nothing like a movie on actual film.  Not only that but these guys now how to shoot on film, which only makes things look that much better.  This is an effects light movie.  The kills are mostly off screen and are accomplished more with sound effects than anything on screen.  Though they do this very well.  The Trogs look very silly and are basically just simple costumes, but again this works nicely with the story and the mood of the rest of the movie. 

Bottom line is that these guys (Roxburgh and Farley) know how to make a movie.  The stories they try to tell are different and are populated with interesting characters.  I’ve seen 2 movies from them and they are both memorable and fun.  I can’t wait to see what they do next.  For more information on where to get copies of their movies head over to the Film Baby website and do a search for Freaky Farley.  They also have a MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/freakyfarleymovie

3 out of 4

reviewed by John Shatzer

© Copyright 2009 John Shatzer