For those screaming for more unique and original films, directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck serve it up on a silver platter with Freaky Tales. A movie which, not for nothing, is one of the most aptly named I’ve seen in a while. Told in a series of four intricately interwoven stories, these tales are freaky as heck. That’s not to say it’s not a fun flick. It certainly is, with its charm outweighed only by a surprising amount of gore. It’s a Quentin Tarantino-coded ode to the 1980s, complete with a jam-packed cast and one shocking A-list cameo.

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Weaving in actual historic events of California circa 1987 with a fantastical, psychedelic backdrop, the movie opens with a bloody confrontation between a group of free-thinking young people and a group of neo-Nazis. Across town there’s a different battle taking place – a rap battle between two young women named Entice (Normani) and Barbie (Dominique Thorne). It’s a nice low-stakes reprieve from the preceding tale’s violence, and it’s a ton of fun to watch.

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From there we take a 180 degree turn from silly to serious with the introduction of Clint (Pedro Pascal), a “collector” whose stop into a video rental store reveals some violent and disturbing secrets within its walls. Clint is forced to reckon with his past actions and, in true ‘80s action-flick style, is presented with a redemption arc worthy of a classic comic book. As a die-hard Pedro fan, this is one of my favorite roles he’s ever done. I completely bought into the conflicted nature of his circumstances, with the pain and regret written all over his face.

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The finale is wild, but by this time you’re so into the movie’s strangeness that you’re fine being taken along for the ride. Freaky Tales knows exactly what it wants to be. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that silliness makes it surprisingly watchable and fun. Freaky Tales is a twisted, retro fever dream you won’t want to wake up from.