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As a child of the ‘80s, I definitely have a soft spot for all things ‘80s—from the classic movies and music to the quirky culture. And the outrageous action-comedy Freaky Tales takes some of the best elements of ‘80s culture and uses them as a backdrop for four interconnected stories.
Freaky Tales takes place in Oakland, California, in May of 1987. As the Golden State Warriors prepare to battle the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference semi-finals, others around the Bay Area are gearing up for battles of their own. A band of punk-rockers makes a plan to take on the Nazis who have been terrorizing their club. An up-and-coming rap duo is eagerly anticipating their first big performance. And a former enforcer is bracing for the fight of his life. And it all culminates in one wild night of music and basketball and extreme violence.
Told in four separate but interconnected parts, this wonderfully quirky retro-styled adventure is pure, over-the-top fun—a celebration of all things ‘80s, told in the most exceptionally violent and fake blood-soaked way possible. Every chapter of this story is loaded with pop culture references—whether the characters are rocking out to a local punk band or talking about movies at their neighborhood video store. And the filmmakers gave it retro touches to make it all seem authentic.
Admittedly, though, not all of the stories come together perfectly. The second part, featuring a female rap duo unexpectedly joining in a rap battle with a local legend, feels out of place. It doesn’t seem to fit with the overall tone of the rest of the film, though it does offer viewers a musical interlude to the violence of the film’s other parts. And it’s cleverly concocted—with small connections and brief appearances from one part to another building to a big, bizarre, bloody conclusion that ties (almost) everything together in the most outrageous of ways. It may not be a flawless film, but it’s definitely a fun one—a wild and crazy mashup of ‘80s music and culture and style that celebrates the general cheesiness of the decade.
With its ridiculously extreme violence, its non-stop ‘80s culture, and its quirky touches, Freaky Tales is about as wacky as they come—the kind of movie that you might have found on late-night TV, right before the station shut down for the night. It’s far from a serious action movie—but that’s what makes it fun to watch.
You can join in the fight when Freaky Tales arrives in theaters on April 4, 2025.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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