Freaky Tales
Written and directed by Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden (the duo behind Captain Marvel), Freaky Tales is a microcosm of 80s subculture that chronicles a series of strange, interconnected events in Oakland, California. There are punks, rap battles, a Lovecraftian green glow, a star-studded cast, and a lot of pulpy violence. This feature has all the ingredients it needs to be a riotous modern cult classic. However, the filmmakers are unable to stick the landing, making this an anthology of diminishing returns.
After a brief narration to set the scene, Freaky Tales gets off to a solid start as the action picks up outside a busy movie theatre. The camera pans in on a pair of punks (played by Ji-young Yoo and Jack Champion). They’re on their way to a gig at a grungy underground venue, but when a group of Neo-Nazis crash the party, they decide that it’s time to fight back. With strong chemistry between Yoo and Champion, a playful angsty spirit, and a healthy dose of gore, the opening chapter makes a good first impression before the action jumps back to the movie theatre and another pair of characters.
This time, the plot centres on an aspiring rap duo played by Normani and Dominique Thorne, who are gearing up for a rap battle. While this section is a tonal shift from the punk street fighting, Normani and Thorne’s high energy maintains the entertainment while the filmmakers start to connect events together. The following segment sees Pedro Pascal as a debt collector with one last job. Pascal gives the best performance of the film, but it’s at this point where the narrative begins to lose its momentum.
Everything has been moving towards an NBA star (Jay Ellis) who’s been mentioned throughout the flick and appears to have something to do with the mysterious cosmic light. Although the finale goes all out on its schlocky violence while tying back into previous scenes, there’s no compelling narrative throughline or any satisfying answers given to the underlying mysteries. With no reason to get behind the basketball player’s personal vendetta, the ending feels disappointingly underwhelming.
Although Fleck and Bodem don’t fully deliver on the freakiness that was promised, there are enough good ideas and standout performances to make Freaky Tales an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon.
Andrew Murray
Freaky Tales is released nationwide on 18th April 2025.
Watch the trailer for Freaky Tales here:
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