Freaky Tales

If the threads connecting their segments are strong & inter-woven enough, anthologies CAN work... like "Freaky Tales" whose four segments (based in 1987's Oakland, California) see: punks Ji-young Woo & Jack Champion fight Dan Marotte's nazis; rappers Dominique Thorne & Normani catch a break (in an unnecessary segment); reluctant tough guy Pedro Pascal reaching his end (crossing a delightful Tom Hanks cameo and corrupt cop Ben Mendelsohn (terrific)); and baskeball star Jay Ellis going "Kill Bill". With its deliberately dated, cartoonish style co-writers / co-directors Ryan Fleck & Anna Boden's fun tribute to popular '80s cinema is a treat. Props to them & it.

This movie is basically what you would get if you asked an A. I. social media algorithm to make a movie about 1987.

Nothing makes sense. There's no plot, obviously no research was done into any of the content, character development is non existent, its initial vehicle seems to be racial rage bait disguised as some elementary form of political commentary that comes off like a teenager being interviewed at a pot rally.

But seriously though, how old were the people who came up with this nonsense? It's pretty apparent they were never around in 1987, never mind California.

This could have been a 20 second Tik Tok video.

Presented in a 4:3 aspect ratio, this film in its presentation emulates an old videotape. Cut-off titles and all. Clearly shot on digital video, I still appreciated the Betamax (not VHS) artifacts. But it finds Inspiration from many direct to VHS (mostly horror) films from the 80's. The "tales" (as in Tales from the Crypt, etc.) in the title promises multiple story segments and this promise is kept. But rarely did period pieces overlap so perfectly with their segments. Worst case: 3 or more short films added together by a narrator. Not here however.

At the same time, it's impossible to view this and not see this as being inspired by the Grindhouse format from Quintin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez. Both in "retro pulp" and violence terms.

Any criticism? Yep. For non-Americans the second segment is not that interesting. We found ourselves "sitting it out" this part on the strength of the first (imperfect) segment. Only to be rewarded by the third segment. International audiences will be unlikely to make it to the third segment. Thus my "Hizzle for Zhizzle" in the title of this comment. We are Dutch, so associate this subject matter at best with "Do The Right Thing" (and at worst with "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air".

Pedro Pascal "did some acting" and the other well known actor... from Forrest Gump... Tom Hanks... they are in this. Pascal did a descent job. A good one in fact.

This is a film you should see if you remember 1987. And like violence and stuff. Or if you enjoy well made pulp-films.

I can see why the reviews on this movie are mixed. It is a bit disjointed and has some gaps in the story. As an East Bay native who got into the punk scene around when the first chapter is set, I know this is based on real life events. The punk rockers running the nazi skinheads away from their club/community space, 100% happened. Creepy cops harassing young POC women, that happened (undoubtedly still does). I got a cassette tape of Too $hort's 'Freaky Tales' when I was 12 years old, and when my mom heard half a verse in that song she destroyed that cassette. This is a fictional version of Bay Area realness. Nothing but love for the Bay.

"Freaky Tales" is one of those anthology films that feels like it's almost onto something - but never quite gets there. It's visually engaging and has a certain nostalgic flair, and I did find myself enjoying a few segments, but overall, most of the stories rely heavily on well-worn tropes without offering much that feels fresh.

The third tale, featuring Pedro Pascal, stands out as the one with the most potential. There's some emotional weight and intriguing character dynamics, but just as it starts to build momentum, it's over - underdeveloped and leaving more questions than satisfaction.

While "Freaky Tales" has energy and style, the majority of the narratives feel like sketches rather than fully realized stories. They're loud, flashy, sometimes fun, but ultimately forgettable. It's not a bad watch, but it's also not particularly memorable. A 6/10 feels fair: some fun to be had, but not enough depth to leave a lasting impression.