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Plot Summary

Some Freaks (2017) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 97 min · English
Echo score 58
JustWatch #2,250 10
Directed by
Ian MacAllister McDonald
Starring
Marin Ireland, Thomas Mann, Devon Caraway, Adam Carbone, Cynthia Harrington, Elise Hudson

A high school senior with a physical difference finds an unexpected connection with a young woman, leading to a whirlwind romance. As they navigate their relationship, a significant change in her appearance tests the strength of their bond. He must then confront his own perceptions, while she questions whether his love is conditional, based on how she once looked. The film explores themes of acceptance, beauty, and the challenges of maintaining love through changing circumstances.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Some Freaks
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Some Freaks (2017)

Where can you watch Some Freaks? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Fandor and Philo: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Some Freaks: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Some Freaks (2017) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

At Benjamin Franklin High School in Rhode Island, an unexpected friendship flourishes among three distinct individuals: Jill, a punk rock enthusiast weighing 250 pounds; Matt, a one-eyed classmate navigating life with a skin-toned eyepatch; and Elmo, a quiet and unassuming soul who harbors a significant secret about his sexuality. As graduation approaches, the bond between Matt and Jill grows stronger, leaving Elmo feeling increasingly isolated. Following their high school graduation, Jill relocates to California, where she dedicates six months to losing 50 pounds in private. Meanwhile, Matt finds himself back in their hometown, working as a dishwasher and saving up to buy a prosthetic eye to transform his appearance for good.

When Matt unexpectedly visits Jill on her West Coast campus, he is taken aback by her stunning transformation, while Jill is equally surprised by the change in Matt's looks. However, as Matt spends the week with her, it becomes clear that he struggles to embrace her new, healthier lifestyle. This tension finally erupts into a fierce argument, leading to a painful breakup. In that moment, Jill warns him adamantly, > "Never contact me again."

In the wake of her separation from Matt, Patrick, the school's charismatic golden boy, approaches Jill with an invitation to dinner. Initially, she turns him down, but after some persuasion from friends, she decides to reconsider. As they prepare for a fraternity party known as the "Cattle Call," Jill feels anxious about the expectations of being weighed publicly and participating in the night's wild activities. Fortunately, Patrick proves to be a supportive ally, standing up for her when she refuses to undergo the humiliating weighing ritual.

As the evening progresses, Patrick's older brother makes an appearance, whispering mysterious instructions that leave Jill feeling uncomfortable. As they move to an upstairs room, she senses that something is off. When Patrick struggles in an intimate moment and backs out, Jill retreats, only to accidentally discover Patrick's older brother in a compromising situation, which leaves her feeling even more distressed and out of place.

Last updated: November 22, 2024 at 18:24

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Plot questions answered

Some Freaks Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Some Freaks (2017): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why did Jill lose weight after moving to California?

Jill moved to California after high school graduation specifically to transform herself. She spent six months losing 50 pounds privately, focusing on personal growth and a healthier lifestyle. This transformation was her way of reinventing herself away from her old friends and high school environment.

Foreshadowing: The summary hints at Jill's desire for change early in the friendship when she bonds with Matt over being outsiders.

  • jill weight loss
  • california
  • transformation
  • personal growth
Q2

Why did Matt suddenly visit Jill at college?

Matt visited Jill on her West Coast campus to reconnect after their separation following high school graduation. He was stunned by her physical transformation and likely hoped their relationship could continue now that they were both changed. The visit appears to be spontaneous, showing he still had feelings for her.

Foreshadowing: During high school, Matt and Jill's bond grew stronger as they connected over their shared outsider status.

  • matt visits jill
  • college reunion
  • unexpected visit
Q3

Why did Matt struggle to accept Jill's transformation?

Matt had known Jill when she was heavier and had built a connection with her during that time. When he saw her new, healthier lifestyle, he couldn't embrace it because his perception of her was tied to who she was before. This reveals his struggle with conditional acceptance, he loved her appearance as it was, not who she became.

Foreshadowing: Matt's own desire for a prosthetic eye shows he also wanted to change his appearance, suggesting he projects his own insecurities onto others.

  • matt acceptance
  • jill transformation
  • conditional love
  • appearance
Q4

Why did Jill break up with Matt after his visit?

During Matt's stay, the lifestyle disparity became unbearable. Matt criticized or struggled with her new healthy habits, leading to a fierce argument. Jill gave him a painful ultimatum: "Never contact me again." She recognized that his inability to accept her growth meant he didn't truly love her for who she was becoming.

Foreshadowing: Jill's warning reflects her earlier experiences as an outsider who was judged for her appearance.

  • jill matt breakup
  • ultimatum
  • relationship end
Q5

Why was Jill anxious about the Cattle Call fraternity party?

The Cattle Call was a fraternity party where participants were weighed publicly as part of the event. For Jill, who had been 250 pounds and had worked hard to transform herself, the idea of being publicly weighed triggered deep insecurities about her body image and past experiences with judgment.

Foreshadowing: Jill's anxiety stems from her high school experiences as an overweight student facing societal pressure.

  • cattle call party
  • weighing ritual
  • fraternity
  • body image
Q6

Why did Patrick stand up for Jill at the party?

Patrick defended Jill when she refused the weighing ritual because he genuinely liked her and wanted to support her. His actions showed he respected her boundaries and cared about her comfort, contrasting with Matt's inability to accept her true self.

Foreshadowing: Patrick's interest in Jill began after her breakup with Matt, suggesting he saw value in her beyond appearance.

  • patrick defends jill
  • fraternity party
  • support
  • respect
Q7

Why did Patrick hesitate during the intimate moment with Jill?

During their intimate encounter, Patrick struggled and backed out, leaving Jill feeling rejected and confused. This hesitation suggests Patrick may have had his own insecurities, fears about commitment, or was not ready for a serious relationship despite his earlier interest in Jill.

Foreshadowing: Patrick's earlier supportive behavior indicated he cared, but his hesitation revealed underlying emotional barriers.

  • patrick hesitation
  • intimate moment
  • emotional barrier
  • rejection
Q8

What did Jill discover about Patrick's older brother at the party?

After Patrick's awkward retreat, Jill inadvertently discovered Patrick's older brother in a compromising situation at the fraternity house. This disturbing revelation added to Jill's already heightened distress and reinforced her feeling of being out of place at the party.

Foreshadowing: Patrick's older brother had earlier given Jill cryptic instructions that already made her uneasy.

  • patrick brother
  • compromising situation
  • discovery
  • distress
Q9

Why did Elmo feel isolated from Jill and Matt?

As graduation approached, the bond between Jill and Matt grew stronger, leaving Elmo feeling increasingly left out. Elmo, who was quiet and harbored a secret about his sexuality, couldn't connect with their deepening relationship and became the third wheel in their friendship.

Foreshadowing: Elmo's secret sexuality likely made it harder for him to relate to the growing romance between Jill and Matt.

  • elmo isolation
  • friendship dynamics
  • left out
  • sexuality
Q10

Why did Matt want to get a prosthetic eye?

Matt worked as a dishwasher saving money for a prosthetic eye to transform his appearance. As a one-eyed student who wore a skin-toned eyepatch, he struggled with self-acceptance and wanted to change how people perceived him, mirroring Jill's own desire for transformation.

Foreshadowing: Matt's fixation on changing his appearance foreshadows his inability to accept Jill's transformation.

  • prosthetic eye
  • matt appearance
  • self-acceptance
  • transformation
Q11

Why did Patrick approach Jill after her breakup with Matt?

After Jill's painful breakup with Matt, Patrick, the school's charismatic golden boy, approached her with a dinner invitation. Despite initially turning him down, his interest in her became apparent, suggesting he saw something in her beyond her appearance or popularity status.

Foreshadowing: Patrick's interest developed after witnessing Jill's transformation and breakup, indicating genuine attraction.

  • patrick interest
  • after breakup
  • dinner invitation
  • popular boy

Movie threads

More Movies Like Some Freaks, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Some Freaks tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Bittersweet Coming-of-Age Romances like Some Freaks

First loves that bloom and fade, leaving marks of growth and heartache. If you liked the raw and hopeful yet painful romance in Some Freaks, you'll find similar stories here. These movies capture the specific feeling of teenage love stories that are beautifully bittersweet, focusing on character growth through relationships that shape but don't always last.

  • bittersweet
  • hopeful
  • painful
  • reflective
  • raw
  • intimate
  • Tone: bittersweet, hopeful, painful
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread follow young characters as they discover love, often with fellow outsiders. The narrative arc typically involves a hopeful beginning, a deep connection that challenges their worldviews, and a climax where changing circumstances or personal growth lead to a separation that is sad yet meaningful, emphasizing the journey over the destination.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their shared focus on the emotional realism of young love. They blend the hopefulness of new romance with the melancholy of its eventual end, creating a specific bittersweet tone. The pacing is character-driven, allowing the emotional weight of the relationship's evolution to resonate.

Uncomfortable Journeys of Self-Acceptance like Some Freaks

Stories where confronting your identity leads to painful but necessary growth. Movies like Some Freaks that explore the raw and challenging path to self-love. If you appreciated its honest look at body image, bullying, and transformation, you'll find similar films here about characters facing societal norms to find their own worth.

  • uncomfortable
  • raw
  • reflective
  • hopeful
  • tense
  • painful
  • Tone: raw, reflective, tense
  • Pacing: steady, intimate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern follows an outsider protagonist who endures judgment or hardship related to their identity. A catalyst—often a relationship or event—forces them to confront how they are perceived versus who they are. The conflict is internal and external, leading to a climax where they must choose between conformity and authenticity, resulting in a complex, earned sense of self.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their intimate, often uncomfortable examination of identity and acceptance. They share a raw, reflective mood and a steady pace that allows for deep character study. The emotional core is the tension between the pain of being different and the hope of finding belonging, either with others or within oneself.

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Every angle

Some Freaks (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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