Freaks of Nature

A colossally, aggressively tedious piece of work, Freaks of Nature follows several characters, including Nicholas Braun’s Dag and Mackenzie Davis’ Petra, as they’re forced to put aside their differences and battle invading aliens. Filmmaker Robbie Pickering, armed with a screenplay by Oren Uziel, admittedly does a decent job of initially luring the viewer into the increasingly unwatchable proceedings, as Freaks of Nature, which kicks off with an action-packed in-media-res opening, boasts a first act that effectively establishes an off-kilter landscape wherein humans live in relative harmony with vampires and zombies – with the total lack of exposition for this universe certainly enhancing the intriguing, promising atmosphere. It’s disappointing to note, then, that Freaks of Nature segues into a pervasively underwhelming midsection overflowing with irritating, grating elements, including an ongoing emphasis on desperately unfunny jokes and gags, with the ensuing arms-length feel preventing the viewer from working up the slightest bit of interest in or enthusiasm for the thinly-drawn heroes’ exploits. By the time the larger-than-life yet completely interminable (and exhausting) climax rolls around, Freaks of Nature has cemented its place as a thoroughly abhorrent endeavor that squanders its appealing setup and roster of talented performers.

1/2* out of ****