Freaky Tales – Movie Review (4/5)

FREAKY TALES is a new gory action movie placed in the 80s and made with a sci-fi twist. It comes from the directors of Captain Marvel and is an anthology movie full of familiar faces. A real genre treat that entertains wonderfully. Read our full Freaky Tales movie review here!

FREAKY TALES is a gory action movie with a sci-fi anthology story that entertains wildly. From the actual plot of each little story to the casting of this genre movie, there is just so much to like.

Also, it takes place in Oakland in 1987 over a very short time period, so the pop culture references are wonderful. One real-life person has been made into an alternative version of himself, but still with real facts to hang the plot on. The runtime of 107 minutes is ideal.

Continue reading our Freaky Tales movie review below. Find it in US theaters now and UK theaters from April 18, 2025.

Delicious retro vibe

While Freaky Tales has a sci-fi element and takes place in 1987’s Oakland, it all feels eerily current. The sci-fi element has to do with green lights from outer space that just might give special powers. Or rather, powers that can be harnessed by us humans.

Overall, however, the sci-fi element of the stories in the anthology is just a backdrop for some much more familiar stories. The kind about standing up to bullies or karma coming back to hurt you, just when you’ve decided to no longer hurt others.

Oh yeah, this movie is full of highly relevant stories. It may be placed in a very specific time and place (again, it’s just a few days in 1987 in Oakland), but the story is universal.

A virtually time-traveling Tom Hanks

Okay, that headline deserves a disclaimer because, no, Tom Hanks is not time-traveling in Freaky Tales. Instead, there are many references to the movies and roles of Tom Hanks in 1987. Actually, also from the years just before. Then, suddenly, he is there in the movie.

Not as Tom Hanks, but rather as a man with many opinions and knowledge of movies; He works in a video rental store. As a huge fan of Tom Hanks, I said his name out loud every time he was referenced, but not named. Then I practically giggled when he showed up on screen.

Don’t worry, I was watching a screener from home. I wasn’t being a loudmouth in a theater.

Pedro Pascal in a key role

Tom Hanks is just in one scene of this movie, but several other actors play bigger roles. Most notably, we have Pedro Pascal (also back on TV with season 2 of The Last of Us) and Ben Mendelsohn (To Catch a Killer).

Also in the cast are Jay Ellis, Normani, Dominique Thorne, Jack Champion, Ji-young Yoo, and Angus Cloud.

I loved both the cast and the completely bonkers story of Freaky Tales. In my opinion, you should just sit back and enjoy. You won’t know what happens from one moment to the next, but that’s a wonderful thing in this case.

Watch Freaky Tales in theaters now!

The co-directors and co-writers of Freaky Tales are Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck. They were also the filmmaker duo behind Captain Marvel, which, of course, had Ben Mendelsohn in the cast. Be warned, though, he plays a very different character in this movie. Yikes!

This extremely creative, violent, and gory action movie with a sci-fi tale has been described as a “multi-track mixtape of colorful characters”, which makes perfect sense to me. From the NBA star, teen punks, neo-Nazis, a female rap duo, a corrupt cop, and a debt collector.

All of them are part of the same story in some way, as they are on a wild collision course in this movie. The movie is executive produced by hip-hop pioneer Too $hort, and the all-star ensemble cast is sure to draw in crowds. As it should. Enjoy!

Freaky Tales is in select UK cinemas from April 18 and on digital platforms from April 28, 2025. It was released in US theaters on April 4, 2025.

Details

Directors: Ryan Fleck, Anna Boden
Writers: Ryan Fleck, Anna Boden
Cast: Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn, Jay Ellis, Normani, Dominique Thorne, Jack Champion, Ji-young Yoo, Angus Cloud, and Tom Hanks