Freaky Tales (2025) – A Blood-Soaked Love Letter to 1987 Oakland

Freaky Tales (2025)

Freaky Tales is a bold, audacious film that thrives on chaos. Set in 1987 Oakland, it weaves four interconnected stories that build into a violent, fantastical crescendo—equal parts nostalgic and nightmarish. With echoes of Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood ending, the film blends quirky storytelling and gory swagger, all to the beat of Too $hort’s iconic Freaky Tales album.

The ensemble cast is electric. Pedro Pascal oozes cool, Ben Mendelsohn brings unhinged energy as a corrupt cop, and Normani proves she has real on-screen presence as an underestimated rapper. Jay Ellis, in particular, shines throughout and absolutely owns the film’s final chapter—an ending that’s both surprising and satisfying. I'd love to see him in more offbeat movies like this. Add in a surprise Tom Hanks cameo that somehow works in this wild cinematic stew, and you’ve got a movie that keeps you wondering how this all comes together in the end.

The film’s tone is unapologetically gory and outrageous, yet somehow grounded as a kooky period piece. There’s even a surreal subplot involving the Warriors’ Eric “Sleepy” Floyd's scoring spree that adds a gore-fest fantasy ending.

While the structure may throw off some viewers, for those who love chapter-based storytelling with intersecting plotlines, Freaky Tales is a gruesome gem. It’s chaotic, it’s weird—and it works.

3.5/5