“It all began under the Frankenstein castle. It was my tenth year with this circus troupe, and we were passing through a bleak territory of vampires, will-o’-the-wisps and water sprites,” observes young orphan Max (Martin Hrebeň), just before he runs away and hides out in the ruins of the nearby castle. There he discovers a rogues’ gallery of lonely monsters who’ve made it their home: gruesome but loveable Alojz (Eddie Constantine, Lemmy Caution from Godard’s ALPHAVILLE); the marvelous Ferdinand Mayne (Polanski’s THE FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS) as Count Dracula; a wonderful, whiskey-voiced Viveca Lindfors (THE DAMNED, STARGATE) as the Countess Frankenstein; Gerhardt Karzel as the irresistibly goofy Frankenstein’s Monster named Albert; along with the ghostly white lady Elizabeth Bathory (Mercedes Sampietro) and other assorted phantoms.

A bittersweet, slapstick cross between MONSTER SQUAD, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN and the Island of Misfit Toys, FRECKLED MAX is a nostalgic Gothic fairytale about broken hearts and monsters who long to be loved for who they are – and a truly delightful discovery for genre fans. Acclaimed for his early role as one of the Czechoslovak New Wave directors (THE PRIME OF LIFE) and later films such as THE MILLENNIAL BEE and THE FEATHER FAIRY (starring Fellini’s muse Giulietta Masina), Slovak director Juraj Jakubisko (1938-2023) adapted his miniseries “Frankenstein’s Aunt” into the feature version FRECKLED MAX. Filled with Jakubisko’s trademark surrealism and haunted poetry – including eerie shots of a bat-winged Dracula flying over a mountain lake straight out of NOSFERATU – the film is also a joyous comic treat. What makes FRECKLED MAX so memorable and heart-tugging, though, are the unexpected moments of sadness with the orphaned monsters and their orphaned human friend: “When someone ends up alone, he turns into a ghost,” as Count Dracula sighs. Beautifully restored by the Slovak Film Institute for its first-ever Blu-ray release in the U.S. through Deaf Crocodile Films and Comeback Company.

For thoughts on Freckled Max & The Spooks, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

Video Quality

Freckled Max & The Spooks debuts on Blu-Ray in its original 1.37:1 aspect ratio with a 1080p master derived from a new restoration by the Slovak Film Institute. As is typical with a Deaf Crocodile release, the transfer is an unbelievable viewing experience. Colors are not artificially boosted, but they are purposefully in line with the intended aesthetic of the feature. Black levels are deep with no semblance of black crush or compression artifacts. The contrast is dialed into the perfect balance, and there is essentially no print damage to be found thanks to the diligent restoration efforts.

The creative photography which captures the gothic environments flourishes in high definition with natural grain intact and impeccably resolved. There is a glorious amount of detail present with prominent textures on the clothing, makeup effects, and the exceptional production design. The new transfer shows off a great amount of depth and enhanced detail even when the visuals are intended to be soft and dreamlike. Various elements of the makeup and production design look quite fetching in their clarity. Deaf Crocodile has lived up to the high expectations they have fostered for themselves.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with a grand DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio stereo track in the original Slovak (with optional English subtitles). This track presents everything idyllically with firm fidelity and without damage or other unwanted issues. Dialogue comes through crisp and clear without the whimsical sound effects or the score overpowering important information. The film deploys some unique sound effects that are given the appropriate presence to thrive within the mix. The film has many verbal exchanges, but the journey undertaken by the characters is filled with prominent sonic characteristics that emerge from the speakers. The score comes through well in relation to the competing sounds. Deaf Crocodile has treated this very well.

Special Features

The Deluxe Edition Blu-Ray of Freckled Max & The Spooks arrives in a hard slipcase package that is a beauty in person. The release also includes a 60-page bound book featuring new essays by screenwriter, playwright and film journalist Steven Peros and film critic and author Walter Chaw. All of this provides great insight into the film, the themes, the creatives, and the behind-the-scenes details in a thoughtfully written style. The on-disc special features are as follows:

Audio Commentary: Film historian Samm Deighan provides an engaging and informative commentary track in which she provides great context for international cinema and history of the time, how this compares to the television show of this story, the influences on the narrative, the production of the film, and much more.

New Interview with Rastislav Steranka: A new 17-minute interview with the Director of the National Cinematographic Centre of the Slovak Film Institute in which he discusses his background, the history of Slovak cinema, and the films of Juraj Jakubisko, and more.

New Interview with Petra Galková: A new 18-minute interview with the Assistant Director in which she discusses her background, memories of working on the feature, and more.

New Interview with Ján Ďuriš: A new 27-minute interview with the Director of Photography in which he discusses his childhood, how he got into filmmaking, the unique process of working with Juraj Jakubisko, and more.

Portrait of a Film Director – Filming On A Branch I Am Fine: A nearly 43-minute documentary from 1989 that takes a closer look at the filmmaker.

Three Encounters – Film About Film No. 1/86: A five-minute behind-the-scenes piece that showcases the production.

Frankenstein’s Faster – The Novel That Became Freckled Max: A 28-minute visual essay by journalist and physical media expert Ryan Verrill (The Disc Connected) and film professor Dr. Will Dodson that takes a closer look at the source material.

Final Thoughts

Freckled Max & The Spooks is another delightful discovery that would likely be more widely embraced if it were simply more available. The movie is very kooky with familiar archetypes invading the screen in a new and exciting way. The film carries a very dry sense of humor that works well with the slightly heightened reality of this universe. This is a very charming addition to any spooky viewing lineup. Deaf Crocodile has released a Blu-Ray which boasts a 5-star A/V presentation and a strong assortment of special features. If you are on the search for your next undiscovered gem, do not pass this one by. Highly Recommended

Freckled Max & The Spooks is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Deluxe Edition Slipcase exclusively through Deaf Crocodile and DiabolikDVD.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Deaf Crocodile has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.