Freaky Tales

This movie is basically what you would get if you asked an A. I. social media algorithm to make a movie about 1987.

Nothing makes sense. There's no plot, obviously no research was done into any of the content, character development is non existent, its initial vehicle seems to be racial rage bait disguised as some elementary form of political commentary that comes off like a teenager being interviewed at a pot rally.

But seriously though, how old were the people who came up with this nonsense? It's pretty apparent they were never around in 1987, never mind California.

This could have been a 20 second Tik Tok video.

Only first heard about the film a day or two before it opened in Toronto. Didn't have very high expectations, but honestly of everything playing right now, this was the only film that interested me. I couldn't have been more surprised.

"Freaky Tales" is part "Pulp Fiction" (1994), part "Heavy Metal" (1981), and at times reminiscent of another 80s-inspired film, "Mandy" (2018). Four wacky (freaky) tales set in Oakland California, weaving together a diverse and fun cast of characters.

Aspect ratio's are changed between segments, animated characters burst onto screen, blood is spilt, punk music blares through the speakers - there's just a lot of fun being had on screen, and I felt it. I can only imagine feeling the response from a large audience during certain moments of the film; unfortunately there were less than 10 people at my screening.

Without giving anything else away, if you want to have a fun time at the theatre go support this movie. It's rare to see a movie like this get a theatrical release anymore, but it was the best theatrical experience I've had so far this year.

There is a ton of 80's nostalgia in horror and film overall these days, some might even say to a point of over-saturation. That's fair, I mean it is a trend and I'm chill about it because I enjoy the aesthetic a lot, but there's a difference between cheaply aping an 80's vibe just for likes and actually earning it through authenticity, innovation and genuine enthusiasm. Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck actually *earn* that 80's flavour with Freaky Tales, an absolute blast of deftly written anthology that carefully straddles the line between action with just a touch of horror. It's 1987 in Oakland, a time and place that obviously means a great deal to these filmmakers as they tell several initially disparate tales that, in true anthology fashion, inevitably weave together like a mosaic in the final vignette. A gaggle of punk music friends battle some nasty Neo-Nazi skinheads who keep crashing their parties, a mob enforcer (Pedro Pascal) learns some moral lessons the hard way and a scummy, corrupt vice detective (Ben Mendelsohnn) runs afoul of a vengeful NBA player (Jay Ellis). These stories are interwoven pretty ingeniously and supported by some raucous soundtrack choices, super gory violence, hectic stylistics and great performances, especially from the lovably diabolical Mendelsohnn, who is chewing scenery like Smaug the Dragon here. Oh! There's also a cameo from Tom Hanks, of all people, who is only in it for about five minutes playing the motor mouthed owner of a boutique video store, but his reference heavy, snappy dialogue is the best work he's done in like a decade, or at least since Cloud Atlas. Great film.

These are the tales of four strangers whose lives were unknowingly intertwined and changed on a freaky night in Oakland in 1987 when NBA history was made.

This movie is hard to describe or even summarize without spoiling it. The story is told through four chapters, each from the perspective of one of the four individuals. The movie has violence, drama, cameos, and a smidge of history. The story becomes clearer over the one-hour and forty-six-minute runtime, but it is a wild ride throughout. It is an interesting and unique watch, especially when going blind. Stream it when available, if you are intrigued.

If the threads connecting their segments are strong & inter-woven enough, anthologies CAN work... like "Freaky Tales" whose four segments (based in 1987's Oakland, California) see: punks Ji-young Woo & Jack Champion fight Dan Marotte's nazis; rappers Dominique Thorne & Normani catch a break (in an unnecessary segment); reluctant tough guy Pedro Pascal reaching his end (crossing a delightful Tom Hanks cameo and corrupt cop Ben Mendelsohn (terrific)); and baskeball star Jay Ellis going "Kill Bill". With its deliberately dated, cartoonish style co-writers / co-directors Ryan Fleck & Anna Boden's fun tribute to popular '80s cinema is a treat. Props to them & it.