Freaky Tales
2025 · Directed by Ryan Fleck, Anna Boden
Original language: English
- action
- crime
- comedy
The story
In 1987 Oakland, a mysterious force guides The Town's underdogs in four interconnected tales: teen punks defend their turf against Nazi skinheads, a rap duo battles for hip-hop immortality, a weary henchman gets a shot at redemption, and an NBA All-Star settles the score.
What it’s like
Gritty, saturated 1980s Oakland rendered in sun-bleached street light, sweaty night interiors, and the sticky red-and-chrome glow of a diner, with a fizzing, anarchic energy that shifts gear from one story to the next. Each vignette gets its own palette and texture: punk basements lit by harsh bare bulbs, a rap battle staged under flat daylight and bold graphic framing, a more shadowy, rain-streaked noir mood for the henchman's tale, and a hazy, heightened tone for the sports-hero segment. Music does heavy lifting, with a mix of hardcore punk, hip-hop and synth-era cues that keep the rhythm brisk and cheeky. Violence is frequent and sharp, including brawls, assault and skinhead menace, with bloody moments that land as impact rather than lingering gore; sexual content is minimal. The mood is playful, surreal and loud, with a warm streak of loyalty and underdog pride running through its crooked, criminal-past characters. Suited to viewers who enjoy genre-hopping crime comedy, tongue-in-cheek action, and a rowdy, stylised time capsule of 80s subculture, but not to anyone seeking something gentle or calm.
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