Freaky Tales 4K 2024

Plot and atmosphere:

1987, Oakland — a city where punks beat up Nazis, female rappers break stereotypes, and a basketball player avenges his family with a sword in his hands. Four stories intertwined with a green mystical glow — this is a hymn to protest, music, and people who “don't fit in.” Directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck (Captain Marvel) film Oakland as a living organism: here, dialogues whip like guitar riffs, and the streets breathe neon steam.

Why it works:

- Subcultures as characters. Punk rebellion with spiked bracelets, rap battles with feminist verses, blues despair, and rock 'n' roll retribution — each story strikes its own chord. Have you seen an NBA star (Jay Ellis) slaying villains with a sword? Now you have.

- Strange vs. familiar. “Have you ever chased a stranger?” the film asks. And yes, its characters are us, only with green flashes in their eyes. Even the absurdity here is recognizable: for example, a snobbish video rental clerk (a cameo bomb!) argues about movies with a mercenary (Pedro Pascal).

- Visual fireworks. The footage looks like it was shot on film found in a basement in the 80s: grainy, acid colors, animated inserts. And then there are the action scenes, where sound and movement are synchronized like in a music video — when a bottle flies, you hear the air whistling between the shards.

Actors and music:

- Pedro Pascal — the highlight of the role. His character, a dreamer gangster, balances between cruelty and tenderness.

- Normanie and Dominique Thorne — the rap duo Danger Zone. Their battle with Too $hort is like 8 Mile on steroids, with feminist undertones.

- The soundtrack is a character in its own right. Punk, hip-hop, blues — every note is part of the film's DNA. Tip: watch only the original version, otherwise you'll lose half the magic.

What's not perfect:

- The green glow remains a mystery. Does it symbolize the spirit of Oakland? The energy of protest? There is no answer, but maybe that's for the best.