Freaky Tales is a comic-book mixtape brought to life in a fun, hilarious, and action-packed love letter to 1980s Oakland.
Set against the backdrop of Oakland, CA, in 1987, Freaky Tales follows four inter-connected stories. The first, “The Gilman Strikes Back,” focuses on a group of teenage punks Lucid (Jack Champion, Avatar: The Way of Water) and Tina (Ji-young Yoo, Expats) along with others facing off against a group of Neo-Nazis. After that, “Don’t Fight the Feeling,” follows rap duo Barbie (Dominque Throne, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) and Entice (Normani) as they compete in a rap battle.
The third, “Born to Mack,” centers on Clint (Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us), a debt collector who, after retiring, winds down a path of vengeance. Lastly, “The Legend of Sleepy Floyd” sets Golden State Warrior Sleepy Floyd (Jay Ellis, Running Point) on the night of the championship game as all the stories collide.
Welcome to Oakland in Freaky Tales
With Freaky Tales, writer-director duo Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck (Captain Marvel) craft a fun, fabulous, and exciting comic-book mixtape. Action, humor, and a love for 1980s Oakland fill the film. Furthermore, Boden and Fleck make all four feel unique and exciting. The duo also makes each of the stories feel distinct yet notable. Equally, they make the characters feel lived in and dynamic. In addition, the two weave in and out of multiple genres successfully. All the while maintaining general consistency between stories.
From there, cinematographer Jac Fitzgerald (Masters of the Air) lights each scene with a grainy grit that matches the period. Additionally, each story has a different aspect ratio, changing from 1.33:1 to 1.85:1. This makes the action feel up close and personal. Specifically, this shows up in an action sequence in the front half of the film and one near the end.
Music, Costumes, and Production Design
Moreover, production designer Patti Podesta’s (Dark Harvest) sets feel authentic to the film’s period. As a result, Podesta managed to compliment it at the same time. Furthermore, it allows costume designer Neishea Lemle (White Men Can’t Jump) to use the brightness of the clothes of that era. On top of that, the score and the soundtrack capture the film’s essence.
Plus, music supervisor Yancey Robinson (61st Street) compiles various songs, bridging genres ranging from rap to rock. For the score, composer Raphael Saadiq (Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur) uses an electronic melody. So it backs up the selected songs on the soundtrack. Finally, editor Robert Komantu (Paper Girls) brings the film in at an hour and forty-six minutes, balancing each story and never letting any story overwhelm the other.
Performances in Freaky Tales
Regarding the cast, all of them delivered superb performances. Starting with Pedro Pascal (Gladiator II) as Clint, who plays a character similar to a weary professional. Which, in turn, gives him a general likability. Meanwhile, Dominque Throne (Judas and the Black Messiah) and Normani have great chemistry as Barbie and Entice. Also, this extends to Jack Champion (Scream VII) and Ji-young Yoo (Expats)’s Lucid and Tina, respectively. But, the standouts are easily Jay Ellis (Insecure) as Sleepy Floyd and Ben Mendelsohn (Faraway Downs). Ellis manages to make an impression, balancing simple charisma with total assertiveness. This especially shows in the action sequences. As for Mendelsohn, he retains a fun but villainous persona throughout as The Guy.
Final Thoughts
Through Freaky Tales, writer-director team Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck form a hilarious, insane love letter to 1980s Oakland. Simultaneously, it feels like a comic book brought to vibrant life. Complete with action and humor, the film balances all these elements with ease and poise. Additionally, the cast led by Pedro Pascal delivered superb performances, with Jay Ellis and Ben Mendelsohn being the standouts. Overall, Freaky Tales is a fun, humorous, and action-packed thrill ride from beginning to end. One that will leave you quite freaked out by the end. But in a good way.
