Want More Pedro Pascal After 'Fantastic Four'? Watch This New-to-HBO Max Dramedy From Two MCU Veterans

Pedro Pascal has been the undisputed celebrity of 2025, as it's hard to remember the last time in which one actor was involved in so many high profile projects. Between his Emmy-nominated role in the second season of The Last of Us, his acclaimed interpretation of Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, his critical supporting roles in the indies Materialistis and Eddington, and the upcoming buzz for his return to playing Din Djarin in The Mandalorian and Grogu next summer, Pascal has had more than a few opportunities to prove what a diverse and compelling screen presence can be. While some may have complained that he has now become overexposed, Pascal gave one of his best performances in the independent dark comedy Freaky Tales, which was sadly slept on by many audiences.

Freaky Tales was written and directed by the filmmaking duo Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, who have been in need of a critical reset after Captain Marvel proved to be one of the more disappointing installments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Boden and Fleck had announced themselves as talented voices thanks to compelling character dramas like Half Nelson, Sugar, and Mississippi Grind—and Freaky Tales was an opportunity to return to their independent roots without the pressure of accommodating an entire cinematic universe. Freaky Tales is an enjoyable, funny, and action-packed anthology film that gave Pascal the opportunity to give one of his most emotional performances.

Who Does Pedro Pascal Play in ‘Freaky Tales?'

Freaky Tales consists of four short segments set in Oakland, California, in 1987, and Pascal appears in the third and best section, “Born to Mack,” in which he plays the former criminal Clint. Although Clint had attempted to set aside his past in order to focus on raising a family, the death of his pregnant wife leads him down a dark path where he plans to execute a plot of revenge. Given that Clint feels that he has nothing left to lose, he shows no fear in taking down anyone that he feels was partially responsible for the monstrous crime, even if they are high-ranking members of law enforcement, the mafia, or local gambling rings. Although Clint blames himself for ruining the lives of his family, a surprising revelation forces him to reconsider what he wants to spend the rest of his life doing.

“Born to Mack” serves as a counterbalance to the previous two segments in Freaky Tales, which featured more humorous stories about young punk rockers and aspiring rap duos. Although both "Strength in Numbers: The Gilman Strikes Back" and “Don’t Fight the Feeling” have some darker moments that touch on the undercurrent of police corruption and racism that made Oakland such a challenging environment for minority groups during Ronald Reagan’s America, “Born to Mack” embraces the darkest aspects of the world and doesn’t give the audience much breathing room before it starts ramping up the ultra-violence. It’s typical that the tone of an anthology film will fluctuate between segments, and “Born to Mack” had to add a dose of reality in order to prevent Freaky Tales from being too idealistic or sentimental for its own good. Although it still may have felt abrupt to dive headfirst into an intense crime saga, Pascal is such an inherently charismatic actor that it's easy to become emotionally involved in his quest.

“Born to Mack” Is the Best Segment of ‘Freaky Tales'

Even though Freaky Tales is heavily inspired by independent films of the late ‘80s and ‘90s, “Born to Mack” doesn’t abide by the cliches that are common with revenge and exploitation stories. Clint is a surprisingly intelligent character who uses his analytical skills to infiltrate an underground gambling ring, expose corruption within the police force, and pull off a scheme related to a famous basketball game. Despite the fact that he has shielded himself from showing any emotions, the precision with which Clint performs his mission is emblematic of the values that he has and why he would have been a compassionate family man. Freaky Tales also avoids the issue that some revenge thrillers have when it comes to violence, as it is made clear that Clint is only harming those who have committed unforgivable crimes; as a result, the film is able to add some instances of dark comedy as Clint dispatches with criminals, drug dealers, and corrupt cops in increasingly violent ways. It’s also not an entirely silent role, as Pascal gets to share an amusing scene with a two-time Academy Award-winning actor who appears in a brief cameo role.

Freaky Tales offered Pascal to play a genuinely broken, intense character who is galvanized by trauma but not necessarily given the intentionally endearing qualities of Din Djarin or Joel Miller. Although he has earned a reputation for being one of the nicest actors in Hollywood, Pascal is capable of taking on intense roles, and Freaky Tales was a nice reminder that he had not forgotten his roots in independent cinema. It’s also a sign of generosity on Pascal’s part that he agreed to appear in an underdog film like Freaky Tales; if it even earns a fraction of the audience that tuned in to The Mandalorian or The Last of Us, then it is a major win for an independent arthouse film.