Live Freaky! Die Freaky!

2006
4.8| 1h15m| NR| en
Details

In a distant future, a cult forms around the Manson Family, when Charles Manson is mistaken for the messiah. Meanwhile, in 1969, Manson convinces his followers to murder Sharon Tate.

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Reviews

KnotMissPriceless Why so much hype?
Clevercell Very disappointing...
Listonixio Fresh and Exciting
Caryl It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.
D_Burke Could anyone make the story of Charles Manson, his followers, and their crimes funny by way of parody? Maybe, but not the people at Hellcat Pictures, the movie studio that released the first class junk that is "Live Freaky! Die Freaky!".A film that is mostly stop-motion animated and features voice talent from some notable modern punk rock icons (Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, Tim Armstrong of Rancid) packs a lot of promise. Unfortunately, the filmmakers do every conceivable thing wrong in this movie's delivery and execution.The end result is a shoddy film that is highly vulgar but mean-spirited and consequently unfunny. Additionally, the film's pacing is mind-numbingly slow when it tries desperately to be funny, the animation is terrible, and the material that is supposed to pass as acceptable in the realm of storytelling is so appallingly bad.In one of the worst framing devices ever put on film, we're taken to the year 3069 (I'm guessing the filmmakers put "69" at the end of that year as a joke they were sure would get a laugh), when Earth is depleted of its natural resources and therefore deserted. A lone man wandering in the desert spontaneously comes across a copy of the book "Healter Skelter" (sic). Desperate for a messiah in this post-apocalyptic world, he begins reading it.Every fan of true crime stories probably knows that "Helter Skelter" was a groundbreaking true crime novel (after it was a Beatles song) written by prosecuting attorney Vincent Bugliosi. The book strongly condemns the Manson family and their crimes, and understandably so considering Bugliosi was responsible for putting Manson and his savage minions behind bars.However, as you find throughout this movie, the desert wanderer either misinterprets the book, or the parts where the Manson family's crimes are condemned are torn out of this ragged, aged copy. Another possibility is that a Manson devotee wrote this copy of the book, which would explain why "Helter" is misspelled "Healter" as you see on the cover. No explanation is ever given.Regardless, the Manson family story, as read by this nomad, is shown through stop-motion animation, which should be the film's saving grace. Instead, the animation is so bad that if you look closely, hands can be seen moving the figures in some shots. A six-year-old playing with his action figures can produce better animation than this movie.Even worse, rather than the remainder of the movie parodying the Manson family murders, it actually seems to condone and fully support their actions. Interrogating cops have the heads of pigs, and Sharon Tate and her doomed friends are depicted as shallow, wasteful, and stupid celebutantes.To even suggest that Manson's victims had it coming is so disrespectful that it doesn't merit words. Sadly, that is precisely what this film intends us to believe.Even worse, a later courtroom scene has a character that is supposed to be Bugliosi revealing to a reporter how he will write a book about the trial while donating no proceeds to the victims' families. For writer and director John Roecker to have the audacity to suggest Bugliosi's bestselling novel was made solely for profit makes me wonder just how much of the profits from this movie were intended to be donated to any good cause, let alone victims of savage murders.Everything about this movie doesn't work. You can tell when the movie is trying to be funny, and it's painful to just listen to every attempt at humor. Every joke in this movie is poorly timed, and is often mean and shallow.There are also repellent scenes where the stop-motion figures have sex, and they're not funny either. The notorious puppet sex scenes in "Team America: World Police" (2004) were funny because they were so over the top and outrageous, similar to the Michael Bay-like action movies the filmmakers were parodying. In "Live Freaky! Die Freaky!", the sex scenes are about as clever as a real porn film, with money shots and all.I don't think I have ever hated a movie as much as I hate "Live Freaky! Die Freaky!". The potential in its promise, and its failing on all cylinders, just adds to the disappointment. The filmmakers may be skilled at making great punk rock music, but when it comes to making movies, they are true rebels without a clue.
BJAfan I liked this movie. I agree with the above comment that it could have been a lot better and it definitely wasn't quite as "freaky" as it could have been; however, I still enjoyed it. Actually, 'enjoyed it' makes ME sound like a freak. I guess it's better to say that it was exactly what I expected it to be and although I wasn't offended by it I was definitely shocked by some of the scenes. Who knew puppets could be so obscene! Although, the only thing that I was really disappointed with was the soundtrack. For a movie with a roster full of talented punk artists...I thought they could have put out a really killer soundtrack. Big salute though, to Charlie Hanson's song "Mechanical Man". I couldn't get it out of my head for days. Other than that though...not worth the time.
no_cash i think these people should stick to playing music......well maybe they should quit that too. id say that tim armstrong sounds like a retard in this movie but at least retards can read. i understand these people aren't actors but were talking about voice overs for stop motion characters...... and they can't even read the dialogue without sounding like they belong in special ed. the animation was awful and the characters where poorly crafted. i understand that this thing didn't have much of a budget but i don't think saying that they maxed out at about the $20 mark is a bad guestimate. i think I've made better movies on VHS when i was 10. all in all, it's an all-star cast of non reading, non acting wannabe punks.....and asia argento is as lame as ever. i cant believe this thing was ever released much less now getting reviews. i already thought that tim armstrong should stop producing crap music and now i think he should stop producing crap movies.
jefeparigi Before I begin my review, I would just like to point out that I am quite the purveyor of underground, campy, and tastless entertainment. Even though I just turned 30, I still have an adolescent sense of humor: I loved Team America and I watch South Park religiously. Based on the clips from the website, I didn't have very high expectations of Live Freaky Die Freaky, but was hoping at least for something along the lines of Meet The Feebles: some trashy obscene fun in a medium typically reserved for children's entertainment.My main problem with this movie is just how low budget and amateur it is. This movie should be a lesson to not attempt stop motion animation unless you actually have the money and talent to back it up. As mentioned in the title of this review, the animation is about as bad as the Late Night with Conan O'Brien special that was done in claymation form. They put no effort whatsoever into sculpting the characters' bodies. It basically looked like a second grader rolled clay really fast in his hands to form arms and legs. Perhaps I would have found the pornographic scenes to be more shocking and offensive if they hired real artists to do the job. Instead it was just kinda silly and immature, like the "naked lady" bodies I'd make out of clay when I was 7. I think in any given scene there is never more than one thing moving on the screen, this includes eyes blinking and mouths moving. And in some scenes NOTHING is moving. You're just looking at still pieces of clay.I'll admit, I did laugh a couple of times, but for the most part the scenes were way too drawn out. It was kind of like a high school play where everyone involved is more concerned about getting through their lines vs. actually making the scenes work. After the 50th time Sharon Tate's gay friend makes a "c*ck joke", it gets really tiresome.Other random complaints: -The music is not very good at all. I like musicals, but only when they put real time and effort into making good songs. -This movie was not filmed, it was made with a videocamera. The theater just screened it on a projection TV. This always kinda bugs me when I pay $10 to see a movie. -What's the deal with this being in black and white? The trailers on the website were in color. Kind of misleading. -Why did they decided to start and end the movie "in the future" (the future is basically a man in a robe wandering the desert for a couple of minutes). It seemed like another pointless plot element.I think anyone who has written a good review about Live Freaky Die Freaky is either an employee of Hellcat Records (who otherwise produce some fine bands) or in someway connected to the production of this film. Either that or they are too young to have seen enough bizarre cinema that is actually good. This is the type of movie that at the most will be watched by stoners in the background of their college dorms....for about 5 minutes before they say, "This sucks, let's watch Dead Alive". Meet the Feebles was very low budget and very trashy and I wouldn't say it's a great movie, but at least you can see a certain level of talent in Peter Jackson's directing.Instead of watching Live Freaky Die Freaky, I recommend finding the bootleg video of Davey and Goliath episodes in which someone redubbed the audio to have more vulgar content. That is probably 10 times funnier and has better animation.