Freaky Tales Trailer: Pedro Pascal and Ben Mendelsohn Engage in ’80s Chaos

      Debuting over a year ago on the opening night of the Sundance Film Festival, *Freaky Tales* represented a hopeful return to authentic filmmaking after Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck became absorbed by the Marvel franchise. Unfortunately, despite a talented cast including Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn, Jay Ellis, Normani, Dominique Thorne, Jack Champion, Ji-young Yoo, Angus Cloud, and a brief appearance by Tom Hanks, the disjointed anthology set in 1980s Oakland failed to fully capture the essence of a midnight movie. After holding on to it for a while, Lionsgate will now release the film widely on April 4, and the first trailer has been unveiled.

      The synopsis reads: “Taking place in 1987 Oakland, *Freaky Tales* is a multifaceted mixtape of vibrant characters—an NBA player, a corrupt cop, a female rap duo, teenage punks, neo-Nazis, and a debt collector—who are on a collision course in a surreal series of confrontations and conflicts. Executive produced by hip-hop legend Too $hort and featuring an impressive ensemble cast including Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn, Jay Ellis, Normani, Dominique Thorne, Jack Champion, Ji-young Yoo, Angus Cloud, and Tom Hanks, this thrilling mix of explosive action, sharp humor, bloody violence, and clever plot twists promises to be a wild adventure.”

      Jake Kring-Schreifels remarked in his review, “What does *Freaky Tales* offer? Unfortunately, it presents something that is clever, self-satisfied, and significantly more subdued than its anticipated adrenaline rush. The filmmakers first gained attention at Sundance with *Half Nelson* in 2006, subsequently building their indie success through poignant (*It’s Kind of a Funny Story*) and intelligent (*Mississippi Grind*) films that highlighted their writing talents and casting choices. Their mainstream venture *Captain Marvel* likely encouraged their return to a more agile approach to filmmaking, but *Freaky Tales* appears to be a poorly developed misfire. In this tapestry of four interlocking narratives, Boden and Fleck throw numerous ideas against the wall, hoping something coherent will emerge. With its incorporation of sci-fi elements and animation alongside a soundtrack influenced by hip-hop, punk, and classic rock, *Freaky Tales* aims for the vibrancy of *Pulp Fiction* but feels as though it has been reverse-engineered from its structural framework.”

      Watch the trailer below.