Freaky Tales Review
Pedro Pascal as Clint in Freaky Tales. Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate
Films that feature interconnected storylines can be hit-and-miss, to say the least. A fine line needs to be walked so that the individual stories work well enough on their own, yet also come together as a cohesive whole by the end. Plus, the fact that this storytelling approach has been used a lot by this point means that filmmakers need to bring something inventive to the table to stand out. This is what Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden hope to achieve with their newest project, Freaky Tales.
The film follows a variety of colourful characters in 1987 Oakland, including the likes of an NBA star, a corrupt cop, a female rap duo, teen punks, neo-Nazis, and a debt collector, whose tales all converge in a series of bizarre, funny and occasionally violent events.
Coming roughly six years after their venture into the MCU with Captain Marvel, Fleck and Boden present something of a stylistic shift with this new film of theirs. Veering away from the typical drama fair that they started their careers with and opting for an over-the-top, hyper-violent string of stories with topical themes is not what most people had in mind as their next project, but thankfully, it doesn’t disappoint.
Freaky Tales is a film that wears its inspirations firmly on its chest, from pulpy 80s/late 70s films that basked in the punk subculture of the time to classic sci-fi body horror flicks from filmmakers such as David Cronenberg. The film always finds the perfect balance between paying homage to this era of film whilst being creative in its own right.
The film is divided into four chapters, each with its own style, themes, and tone. These chapters are presented in different film formats and aspect ratios, giving each section a specific personality that fits the 80s aesthetic in fun and unique ways. One of the pitfalls of these multi-narrative style films is that, due to their very nature, some of the stories can lack the same impact as others do. Thankfully, through its creative filmmaking, Freaky Tales never feels dull during any of its four chapters.
Chapter one, which sees a bunch of teen punks fighting off neo-Nazis who want to deface their bar, is a perfect introduction to what the film is trying to achieve. It’s an oddly uplifting story that blends elements of coming-of-age and stylised violence in a very effective and thoroughly entertaining manner. The gritty look of this section is nostalgic, and it really plays up to the punk aesthetic by including some playful animated elements during moments of downtime. It’s a story that visually and narratively feels reminiscent of 1979’s The Warriors and sets up the tone of the film seamlessly.
The second chapter focuses on two female rappers, Barbie and Entice, who work together to win over a crowd at a rap battle. This story is less showy than the first but is still just as engaging. It’s a funny and rewarding section that relies heavily on Normani and Dominique Thorne’s chemistry as these two characters, but also subtly lays the groundwork for things to come, mostly in the form of Ben Mendelsohn’s slimy, corrupt cop simply named The Guy.
Chapter three, which is more downplayed than the previous two stories, sees a debt collector by the name of Clint attempting to retire but is asked to come back for one last job. This is arguably the most emotionally driven chapter in the film, and a lot of that comes from Pedro Pascal’s rather subdued performance. This section also segues perfectly into the fourth and final chapter, which sees NBA star Sleepy Floyd, played superbly by Jay Ellis, seeking his revenge on a house full of neo-Nazis. This final story goes out in a blaze of gory glory and is a great showcase of what Fleck and Boden can do with blood-soaked action setpieces.
Freaky Tales is an absolute blast of a film. It’s fun, subversive, and never takes itself seriously at any point. The cast all understand the assignment and effortlessly bring these stories to life. It’s also a film that has something to say and isn’t afraid to shout it from the rooftops whilst leaving a bloody 80s-themed trail of destruction behind in the process.
★★★★
In UK cinemas April 18th / Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn, Jay Ellis, Normani, Dominique Thorne, Jack Champion, Angus Cloud / Dir: Ryan Fleck, Anna Boden / Lionsgate / 15
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