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Review: Hulu's Mr. Crocket is unspectacular but fun

Mr. Crocket might not win any awards, but it’s an enjoyable watch for Halloween.

ByKeith Langston|
MR. CROCKET - In 1993, a mysterious children's show host, Mr. Crocket, magically emerges from television sets to kidnap young children, brutally slaying their parents in the process. After Mr. Crocket snatches her son, one determined mother embarks on a perilous quest to track down the demonic entertainer and rescue her boy. ELVIS NOLASCO
MR. CROCKET - In 1993, a mysterious children's show host, Mr. Crocket, magically emerges from television sets to kidnap young children, brutally slaying their parents in the process. After Mr. Crocket snatches her son, one determined mother embarks on a perilous quest to track down the demonic entertainer and rescue her boy. ELVIS NOLASCO

Hulu’s newest horror movie Mr. Crocket centers around a mom who loses her son to a deranged and ghoulish host of an old kid’s show – the titular Mr. Crocket. To get her son back, she must face off against Crocket and his band of monstrous abominations. 

Released on Oct. 11 as part of Hulu’s annual “Huluween” celebration, the film is the kind of straight-to-streaming horror movie you’d expect during the spooky season. It’s largely unspectacular but is certainly a fun watch. FlickSided was able to attend the film's premiere at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas. Here's what we thought.

Mr. Crocket
MR. CROCKET - In 1993, a mysterious children's show host, Mr. Crocket, magically emerges from television sets to kidnap young children, brutally slaying their parents in the process. After Mr. Crocket snatches her son, one determined mother embarks on a perilous quest to track down the demonic entertainer and rescue her boy. JERRIKA HINTON

Mr. Crocket has some fantastic horror imagery

The highlight of Mr. Crocket is its great imagery. The film is inspired by retro children’s shows, with Mr. Crocket looking like some demented character from Pee-wee’s Playhouse or H.R. Pufnstuf. And just as with classic kids shows, Mr. Crocket has a team of costumed friends. But instead of being fun, wacky, and wonderful sidekicks like Chairry or Globey, Mr. Crocket’s “friends” are bloodthirsty, unholy atrocities. 

The film uses practical effects to create the monsters, giving it not just a great throwback feel to kids' shows, but also providing some great terror…because let’s be real here, there was always something off about those costumed characters in children’s shows. Just like Five Nights at Freddy’s preyed upon our deep-seated unease with the animatronics at Chuck-E-Cheese, Mr. Crocket utilizes the inherent creepiness of those bulky, clunky characters on kids' shows that we all secretly knew were disturbing. 

Mr. Crocket is your worst nightmare...
MR. CROCKET - In 1993, a mysterious children's show host, Mr. Crocket, magically emerges from television sets to kidnap young children, brutally slaying their parents in the process. After Mr. Crocket snatches her son, one determined mother embarks on a perilous quest to track down the demonic entertainer and rescue her boy.

Mr. Crocket isn’t an outstanding horror movie, but it’s an enjoyable watch during the spooky season

I doubt any of us will be talking about Mr. Crocket for years to come, but for a first-time watch, it’s definitely enjoyable. I can’t sit here and praise the movie for having wildly outstanding performances or great writing (and the denouement is definitely a slog), but as a whole, Mr. Crocket will keep you entertained from start to finish. 

The premise is interesting enough, the splatterfest kills are gooey enough, and the unsettling creepy vibe solidly puts Mr. Crocket in the horror category. Not every movie can be an instant classic, and that’s totally fine. Mr. Crocket is a straight-to-streaming horror movie and that does its job. Don’t go in with crazy high expectations and you’ll absolutely have a good time. 

The Verdict: 7/10

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