Mr. Crocket review by Bobby Blakey
There has been a rash of horror films over the years that take on the world of kids programing to horrific levels like the Banana Splits and Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey. Over the years Hulu has been stepping up their horror film game as well and now they are bringing their own film to the genre with Mr. Crocket starring Elvis Nolasco, Ayden Gavin, Jerrika Hinton, and Kristolyn Lloyd from director Brandon Espy. Could this film bringing the child like terror or will it not be worth hitting play on the VCR?
Mr. Crocket follows a mysterious children's show host, Mr. Crocket, who magically emerges from television sets to kidnap young children, brutally slaying their parents in the process in 1993. After Mr. Crocket snatches her son, one determined mother embarks on a perilous quest to track down the demonic entertainer and rescue her boy.
I hadn’t seen much from this movie other than the poster but was already all in from that alone. I was hoping for something over the top and ridiculous with some weird characters I got just that. This has old school vibes to the horror element in the best way possible, fully embracing the nostalgia of not only the kids show and VHS, but the horror tone of the 80s and 90s.
It dives right into the fun setting the gritty and weird tone that it will follow throughout its run time. I was happy to see that it not only goes all in with the horror but wasn’t afraid to keep it weird and even comical at times. They take the material seriously with a mash up of things like the Ring and the slasher genre to create something both original and familiar in its execution. It’s not a scary movie really but offers up the trope’s fans have come to love while trying to be creative with the material.
The story is simple and is a by the numbers horror flick with it working more often than not thanks to the great performance of Elvis Nolasco as Mr. Crocket. He brings a charming and subtly evil performance to the role making you believe he could be both a children’s TV icon and a serial killer. He weaves in and out the film with that evil grin and eats up every scene he is in. He takes the material and is seemingly having a blast with it going all in with the fun and chaos of it all.
I had a blast with this film and loved the over-the-top silly creatures that pop up out of something like an even more demented Pee Wee’s Playhouse. It’s not breaking down the walls of horror, but it is a fun one worth checking out and hopefully not the last time we will get to play in Mr. Crocket’s World.
Check out Mr. Crocket streaming now on Hulu.