“Freaky Tales” follows an NBA star, corrupt cop, female rap duo, teenage punks, neo-Nazis and debt collector who embark on a collision course in 1987 Oakland, California.
Anthology movies are often a mixed bag. Many feel like tonally inconsistent collections of shorts. Others, however, manage to weave separate stories into something greater. “Freaky Tales“ firmly lands in the latter.
At its core, “Freaky Tales“ is a celebration of community. It’s about the people who rise up together to combat the hatred threatening to tear them down.
A City with Soul
Oakland becomes the thread that ties it all together. Though the stories vary wildly, the city’s personality and cultural richness provide a consistent tone and grounding presence. It’s a trick many anthologies miss – but this one gets right.
From an outside perspective, “Freaky Tales” looks chaotic. A punk rock crew fights Nazis, two female rappers chase stardom, a hitman reckons with his past and Sleepy Floyd becomes a hometown hero.
It’s wild. But even with a bewildering structure, the film finds cohesion in meaningful, bloody and often hilarious ways.
There’s also a deep love for old-school cinema baked in. Homages to many classics mixed with grainy visuals lend the film a nostalgic vibe that’s hard to shake. It doesn’t just depict a time and place — it throws you into it.
A Beautiful Mess
“Freaky Tales” really is all over the place. It tackles social commentary, slapstick comedy, surrealism and gore — sometimes within the same five minutes. But somehow, it works. What should feel like a mess instead becomes a heartfelt ode to cinema and a city that’s bursting with soul.
Performances are key to keeping things from spinning off the rails. Jack Champion (Lucid), Michelle Farrah Huang (Tina), Normani (Entice), and Dominique Thorne (Barbie) all shine. Pedro Pascal, as Clint, adds emotional depth to one of the more complex storylines.
Power in the People
Despite the chaos, the film circles back to one simple truth: it’s about people. Whether through resistance, dreams or redemption, “Freaky Tales” honors the communities that shape us and the stories that bind them together.
Rating: 4 out of 5
