MR. CROCKET
Starring: Jerrika Hinton, Alex Akpobome, Ayden Gavin, Kristolyn Lloyd, and Elvis Nolasco
Director: Brandon Espy
NICK
As a huge fan of Channel Zero's Candle Cove season, I love the idea of children's television turning sinister. Mr. Crocket is the latest film to attempt this idea, and it succeeds for what it is. The practical effects are fun and (mostly) make up for a seemingly low budget, but its performances - which sit firmly at "adequate" - aren’t truly able to elevate the material. A couple stand-out showings could have taken Mr. Crocket to new heights, but as is, it’s just a good/not great horror film that has a chance at a small cult following.
QUENTIN
Given that Mr. Crocket is a six-minute short expanded to nearly 90 minutes, it’s understandable that the story is a bit thin. That said, director Brandon Espy has created a sure-to-be cult classic in his feature debut, as well as an initial calling card for, hopefully, a long career behind the horror camera. His enthusiastic use of practical effects, 80s-inspired puppetry, and fun gore are a refreshing change of pace from the dispassionate schlock typically peddled by studios like Blumhouse. On top of that, an unrecognizable Elvis Nolasco is delightfully sinister as an amalgamation of Mr. Rogers and Freddy Krueger. It’s a nice Halloween surprise.
PAIGE
Mr. Crocket is a kooky horror movie that honestly feels like Mr. Rogers met Freddy Krueger in an alleyway and became friends. While there’s a lot to appreciate here, such as the impressive practical effects, its gnarly gore, and Elvis Nolasco's eerie, yet playful performance as the titular character, the story needed stronger writing to feel more fleshed out. Additionally, even though its runtime is only about 90 minutes long, it becomes less engaging as it goes on. Overall, though, it’s a decent flick to check out this Halloween season.
This film was reviewed by Nick as part of Bitesize Breakdown's coverage of the 2024 Fantastic Film Festival.