AllMovie

Sideshow: Alive on the Inside delves into the lives of former "freaks" who populated the sideshows of carnivals for years, until their treatment was deemed inhumane. This production, however, takes a somewhat different perspective. Rather than a scathing exposé, it offers insight into what happened in the performers' lives off-stage rather than on. There's Jeanie Tomaini, who, born with nothing below her waist, was known as the "Half-Woman," and Percilla, or "Monkey Girl," whose entire body is covered in hair. Both of these women married their co-workers -- human giants -- and led relatively normal lives outside of their profession. Also included is a wide variety of archival footage, which features old-time sideshow attractions such as Zip the Pinheaded Man, Siamese twins, the Human Pincushion, bearded ladies, and many more.