Movie Review: ‘Freaky Tales’

by | Apr 3, 2025 | Featured Post, Movie Reviews, Movies | 0 comments


Greetings again from the darkness. While I’m unsure whether this qualifies as a tetraology, this oddball and zany film consists of four separate yet interrelated stories with crossover characters. Previous collaborations from the film’s co-writers and co-directors, Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, include CAPTAIN MARVEL (2019), the underrated IT’S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY (2010), and SUGAR (2008).

It’s 1987 and the audience for a just-ended movie is making its way outside the Grand Lake Theater in “hella wild” Oakland, California. A truck full of neo-Nazis spew vile at the patrons as they cruise by. Best friends Lucid (Jack Champion, RETRIBUTION) and Tina (Ji-young Yoo, “ExPats”) make their way to The Gilman for some live music. There is an unrequited love connection between the two friends as the jam, but things turn violent when the neo-Nazis show up. Punks vs Nazi bullies goes full bore.

In Chapter Two, Dominique Thorne and Nomani make up the group Danger Zone, and as they leave the previously mentioned movie, they are verbally abused by the Nazis and recognized by someone who invites them to Rap Battle the great Too $hort. It’s in this segment where Ben Mendelsohn identifies himself as a cop … and the Rap Battle features some blistering lyrics.

The next chapter finds Pedro Pascal’s Clint as the collections muscle behind a crime lord, and as his pregnant wife waits in the car, Clint has a hilarious interaction with Hank, a video store manager played by Oscar winner Tom Hanks. Hank peppers Clint with movie trivia questions, despite Pascal being there for a completely different reason.

Throughout the story, there are references to the local NBA team, the Warriors, and their playoff series against the hated Lakers. Local legend “Sleepy” Floyd is mentioned, and the final chapter pretty much belongs to Sleepy (played by Jay Ellis) and Ben Mendelsohn. Angus Cloud (“Euphoria”) passed away in 2023 and he excels in his scenes with Mendelsohn. Sleepy Floyd goes off on a mystical rampage of revenge and it’s a visually volent treat.

If you are the type of movie goer seeking nuance … this ain’t the place. The filmmakers play homage to 1980’s genre films like REPO MAN (replete with neon green eye glow), while PULP FICTION is another obvious influence (Chapter 4 resembles KILL BILL a few times). Raphael Saddiq’s score is a nice complement, and you’ll note cameos from Keir Gilchrist, Marshawn Lynch (driving a bus), Too $hort, and the real Sleepy Floyd. Unfortunately we are never given instructions on how to register for “Sleepy’s Mind Wide Awake” seminar. A grain of salt is included.

Opens April 4, 2025

David Ferguson
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