Stylish but Hollow - Like a Fake Memory of the '80s
I really wanted to like Freaky Tales. The concept sounded promising-four intersecting stories set in late '80s Oakland, with punk, hip-hop, and political themes. But the execution feels like a fever dream from a 25-year-old who read about the '80s on Tumblr and decided to stylize it rather than understand it.
There are cool elements: Operation Ivy makes an appearance, which immediately raised my hopes. But then they play "Bad Town" with a prominent sax part-despite no saxophone anywhere on stage. That's kind of indicative of the whole film. It tries to look and sound the part, but doesn't sweat the details that give a movie authenticity or soul.
Characters feel like caricatures, and the film leans into a revisionist vibe where everyone has a nose ring and calls Nazis "Nazis" (back then, they were skinheads-and not the Hot Topic variety). The vibe is more cosplay than cultural snapshot.
I gave it 3 stars because it's visually interesting, and I respect the ambition. But I turned it off halfway through. Just didn't feel honest.
There are cool elements: Operation Ivy makes an appearance, which immediately raised my hopes. But then they play "Bad Town" with a prominent sax part-despite no saxophone anywhere on stage. That's kind of indicative of the whole film. It tries to look and sound the part, but doesn't sweat the details that give a movie authenticity or soul.
Characters feel like caricatures, and the film leans into a revisionist vibe where everyone has a nose ring and calls Nazis "Nazis" (back then, they were skinheads-and not the Hot Topic variety). The vibe is more cosplay than cultural snapshot.
I gave it 3 stars because it's visually interesting, and I respect the ambition. But I turned it off halfway through. Just didn't feel honest.
- rcvbk
- 26 jul 2025