‘Freaky Tales’ Directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck Dive Into the Punk Rock Roots of Their Wild New Film

Freaky Tales could become a franchise, say directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck.

Freaky Tales, the latest film from Captain Marvel‘s Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden, takes viewers on a pulse-pounding ride through 1987 Oakland—and it’s as gritty, raw, and electric as the era itself.

The film, written and directed by Fleck and Boden, premiered to strong buzz thanks to its star-studded ensemble and bold, genre-blending story. Featuring Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn, Jay Ellis, Normani, Dominique Thorne, Jack Champion, Ji-young Yoo, Angus Cloud, and Tom Hanks, it is executive produced by Bay Area rap legend Too $hort and delivers what Fleck describes as “a mixtape of mayhem.”

In a recent interview with Nerdtropolis, Boden and Fleck shared how their personal roots and cinematic influences shaped the multi-narrative feature.

“For me, growing up in Oakland in the ’80s, a lot of it was about getting the feel of that time and place right,” Fleck said. “One of the biggest elements we had to research deeply was the punk rock scene at Gilman Street. That wasn’t something I was personally part of, but it’s such an important piece of the story — and we had to make sure we nailed it, or the punks would come after us.”

Boden added that true events inspired the storyline.

“There really were these nonviolent punks standing up against racism, sexism and homophobia,” she said. “They were creating safe spaces but being harassed by neo-Nazis. At one point, they voted to fight back. We definitely took that to the extreme in the film, but the core of it is real.”

Freaky Tales follows an ensemble of characters — including a corrupt cop, an NBA star, a teenage punk crew and a rap duo — whose paths cross in increasingly wild ways. The film blends explosive action, street-level satire, stylized violence and retro music, creating what Boden describes as “a cinematic time capsule.”

The film also pays homage to classic cult cinema, with the directors citing influences ranging from Repo Man and Hollywood Shuffle to Enter the Dragon and The Outsiders.

Boden was enthusiastic when asked if Freaky Tales could evolve into an ongoing series of stories.

“One hundred percent,” she said. “We’d love to explore other cities, other time periods — as long as people show up for this one.” Fleck agreed, saying, “There’s so much more we can do if the audience is along for the ride.”

With its nostalgic aesthetic, real-world grit, and high-concept flair, Freaky Tales might start a new cinematic universe — one mixtape at a time. Catch Freaky Tales, now in theaters.

Read more News on Nerdtropolis. Subscribe to our YouTube.