Bound by Flesh

Bound by Flesh (2012)

*** (out of 4)

Highly entertaining documentary taking a look at the lives of Daisy and Violet Hilton, the conjoined twins who are best remembered today for their role in Tod Browning's FREAKs. The documentary covers pretty much every aspect of their lives ranging from their mother giving them away at a very young age, their rise in the carnival circuit and their later years when they were basically living in poverty, unable to exploit themselves as times started to change.

BOUND BY FLESH is without question a well-meaning and entertaining documentary but I think where the film really works well is in its heart. Director-writer Leslie Zemeckis obviously has a passion for the subjects because there's so much heart in the picture and one can't help but really feel heartbroken for the sisters and especially at the end of their lives. In fact, hearing there entire story makes you wonder why Hollywood hasn't tried to tell it, although I'm sure the appeal might not be that wide.

The film's strongest points come in the history of the circus. It was very fascinating learning how the circus worked back in the day, how the "sideshow" was added and how much certain acts were making a week. It's certainly fascinating seeing how the sideshow world worked at one point in time and how popular it was. Hearing the Hilton sisters earning $5000 a week is pretty impressive and especially when you hear stories about how their "managers" were making good money on top of that. Of course, the documentary also covers other subjects including the personal lives of the two sisters and there's even an exploitation feel dealing with their sexual lives and the various men who were in and out of their lives.

We get several talking heads telling some wonderful stories and sharing their opinion on the sisters as well as what was going on during this period in history. It's hard to believe that this type of thing was once normal but at the same time it's easy to see why the trend really didn't stay around too long. As for the Hilton sisters, they've certainly always had their fans since FREAKS has become a cult favorite but you'll certainly see them in a different way after viewing this rather touching film.

They say that - "Within every black cloud there is a silver lining" - Well - After viewing "Bound By Flesh" - I, for one, don't believe that this flippant, little expression holds much water.

Through archival footage, countless stills, and informed interviews - "Bound By Flesh" is an intriguing, thought-provoking documentary that takes a close-up look at the highs and the lows of the lives of Daisy and Violet Hilton who were conjoined twins.

Born in Brighton Beach, England (1908) - Daisy and Violet were already being exploited because of their "abnormality", as freaks, at the super-young age of just 1 month.... And the worst was yet to come for these 2 very vulnerable, naive, and gullible girls.

Impressively directed by Leslie Zemeckis - "Bound By Flesh" is, without question, a sad, eye-opening, real-life human-experience that is guaranteed to stay with you long after the final credits have rolled by.

This often fascinating, 90-minute documentary faithfully chronicles the life and times of conjoined twins, Daisy and Violet Hilton who certainly had both their fair share of highs and lows (starting right from the very first month that they were born).

Daisy and Violet were ruthlessly exploited as freaks and, as such, put on display in carnival sideshows for the humiliating entertainment of countless curiosity seekers.

All-in-all - "Bound By Flesh" is certainly a one-of-a-kind documentary that leaves the viewer with quite a lasting impression regarding one very distracting aspect of the human experience.

This documentary is anything but a feel-good film! It's the story of a real set of conjoined twins--the Hiltons. And, unfortunately, their lives together were rather sad. When the film begins, it's near the beginning of the 20th century and a woman gives birth to the twins, Daisy and Violet. However, instead of caring for her girls, the mother essentially sells them and the new owner of the girls, 'Aunt Mary' begins exploiting the crap out of them--taking them to freak shows and the like throughout the UK and Australia. Eventually, they end up in America and by now are the property of the daughter of Aunt Mary and her husband. And, once again, they are abused and pushed into the freak show circuit. Eventually, the girls tire of the maltreatment and sue to gain their independence. You'd think things would get better for them--but it didn't. What follows is a long spiral into poverty and sadness.

Despite being an awfully depressing film, it is well made and engrossing. In many ways, it's like a train wreck--something you cannot help but stare at in wonder.

A documentary that explores the origins and heyday of the American sideshow.

Although most of this is the biography of the Hilton Sisters (who, it turns out, were not Hiltons at all), it also veers off into talking about the 1893 World's Fair, the evolution of the midway, vaudeville, and more. If you entered into this knowing nothing about sideshows and circus freaks, you will probably leave a little bit more aware.

The film runs a tad long at 90 minutes, as the story of the sisters is not quite as interesting as you might expect. The story is not boring, but it is quite limited, and keeps the viewer wondering why these women were connected. With no shared bones or organs, it seems at some point a surgeon would have come forward to liberate them. But no.