Mr. Crocket (2024) spoiler free review

Your kid’s best friend. Your worst nightmare. Mr. Crocket is a 2024 American horror film directed by Brandon Espy and written by Espy and Carl Reid. It’s an adaptation of the short of the same name by Espy that’s part of the Hulu series Bite Size Halloween. It was released on October 11, 2024 on Hulu.

A mother embarks on a perilous quest to rescue her son from a demonic children’s show host who is kidnapping kids.

Film synopsis

The cast includes Jerrika Hinton as Summer, Elvis Nolasco as Mr. Crocket, Ayden Gavin as Major, Kristolyn Lloyd as Rhonda, and Alex Akpobome as Eddie.

My Opinion

After losing her husband to an illness, Summer must now raise her son, Major, alone. Affected by his father’s sudden departure, Major becomes rebellious towards his mother, causing a fight between the two. At that moment, a mailbox with VHS tapes suddenly appears. Inside it’s a children’s program hosted by a man named Mr. Crocket. After he comes out of the television and kidnaps Major, Summer must do everything in her power to get her son back.

Feeling like a kid-friendly version of Freddy Krueger, Mr. Crocket brings an innovative concept that unfortunately falls short in its execution. Adapting the short of the same name, part of Hulu’s Bite Size Halloween tv series, director Brandon Espy expands on his creation that first premiered in 2022. Opening with a bloody and brutal scene, the film raises expectations that it fails to maintain. The use of practical effects and puppets is spot-on and in keeping with the story, giving it a terrifying touch.

Elvis Nolasco’s performance as Mr. Crocket saves this project from being forgotten. From his first appearance on screen Nolasco gives a disturbing performance but the lack of development in the script does not allow us to see the full potential. This also affects the performances of the rest of the cast who do their best with what they have. Even with a concept that feels fresh, the plot falls into the trap of reusing tropes already seen in too many horror movies making it predictable and generic. The production design does not completely fit with the time in which the story takes place, the 90s, making it feel modern taking away from its credibility.

This is a production that can be enjoyed even with its flaws. Mr Crocket is now available on Hulu.