What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedTale of Tales
Matteo Garrone · Film · 2015
If you loved Tale of Tales, start with Stories from the Pentamerone (Giambattista Basile, 2022) — a book on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Tale of Tales across media.
You were drawn to Tale of Tales by how it weaves grotesque, visceral folklore into the dangerous, messy realities of power.
Books on the same thread
The Tell-Tale Heart
Edgar Allan Poe · Book · 2015
Shares a thread with Tale of Tales: Obsession.
Just as Tale of Tales examines the destructive nature of obsession, this classic explores the psychological unraveling that occurs when a singular, consuming fixation overtakes a human mind.
The Handmaid's Tale
Margaret Atwood · Book · 2017
Explores: Totalitarianism, Religious Extremism, Gender Inequality.
While Tale of Tales uses fantasy to explore royal dysfunction, this novel grounds its critique of authority in a chilling, systemic oppression that strips away personal agency and identity.
Stories from the Pentamerone
Giambattista Basile · Book · 2022
Explores: Magic, Transformation, Social Hierarchy.
If the surreal, dark atmosphere of Tale of Tales captivated you, these original literary fairy tales provide the direct, unsettling source material that inspired the film's unique aesthetic.
The Phantom of the Opera
Gaston Leroux · Book · 1977
Shares a thread with Tale of Tales: obsession.
The obsession and tragic beauty found in Tale of Tales are mirrored here, as this story examines the dangerous intersection of artistic madness, unrequited love, and physical deformity.
Series on the same thread
The Handmaid's Tale
Bruce Miller · Series · 2017
Explores: Oppression, Totalitarianism, Religious Extremism.
Tale of Tales highlights the brutal consequences of desire within hierarchies; similarly, this series depicts the harrowing cost of survival under a regime that exerts total control over bodies.
Tales from the Darkside
George A. Romero · Series · 1984
Shares a thread with Tale of Tales: Dark Fantasy.
Fans of the dark, interconnected moral fables in Tale of Tales will appreciate how this anthology uses irony and twist endings to explore the grim consequences of human choices.
The Storyteller
Jim Henson · Series · 1988
Shares a thread with Tale of Tales: Fairy Tale.
This series captures the essence of the oral tradition found in Tale of Tales, presenting folklore as a medium for exploring the darker, more complex lessons of human existence.
Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia
Guillermo del Toro · Series · 2016
Explores: Chosen One, Secret World, Coming of Age.
While lighter in tone than Tale of Tales, this narrative shares the film's fascination with secret worlds and the heavy, transformative burdens that come with assuming an unlikely destiny.
Podcasts on the same thread
MALIKMATA
Podcast
Explores: Philippine Folklore, Filipino Culture, Mythical Creatures.
The visceral, folk-horror elements that define Tale of Tales resonate in these stories, which utilize traditional cultural myths to explore the supernatural and the unsettling nature of reality.
Noble Blood
iHeartPodcasts and Grim & Mild · Podcast
Explores: dynastic tragedy, power dynamics, fatal ambition.
The royal dysfunction and fatal ambition depicted in Tale of Tales find their historical parallel in these accounts of monarchs whose pursuit of power leads to inevitable, bloody consequences.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the premise of Tale of Tales?
Tale of Tales follows three distinct narratives: the Queen of Selvascura who risks everything to become a mother, the King of Roccaforte who falls for a mysterious girl's voice, and the King of Altomonte who becomes obsessed with a flea while neglecting his daughter.
Who directed Tale of Tales?
Tale of Tales was directed by Matteo Garrone and released in 2015. The film explores dark fairy tale themes through the intertwined stories of the Queen of Selvascura, the King of Roccaforte, and the King of Altomonte.
Does Tale of Tales feature the King of Altomonte?
Yes, the King of Altomonte is a central figure in Tale of Tales. His segment of the film focuses on his dangerous obsession with a flea, which leads him to neglect his own daughter.
Is the Queen of Selvascura a character in Tale of Tales?
The Queen of Selvascura is one of the primary characters in Tale of Tales. Her storyline centers on her desperate willingness to risk everything in her pursuit of becoming a mother.