After exhausting the 1980s, modern horror has slowly but surely started to move on to the next decade for inspiration and settings. And a great source of incidental discomfort for many adults back during the actual ’90s was the TV trend of saccharine and repetitive kids entertainment. From Barney to the Teletubbies, there was just something unsettling about these costumed TV characters known for their relentless upbeat nature and childish naivety. Brandon Espy‘s feature debut Mr. Crocket taps into both the ’80s and ’90s strain of this type of character — there is a lot of Mister Rogers’ DNA in the movie’s title character — while also pulling from Freddy Krueger of the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise. This first movie from the up-and-coming filmmaker shows promise even when it succumbs to the familiar formula of its contemporaries.
Based on Espy’s short film of the same name, the extended version of Mr. Crocket explores its namesake’s origins and M.O. The villain’s backstory is delayed so the audience can be shocked and disgusted by his devilry before then feeling sympathetic. There is no waiting for Mr. Crocket’s wickedness either; the opening sequence succinctly displays the grotesque and barbarous lengths this character (played by Elvis Nolasco) will go to to not only snatch a child but also punish his or her abusive parent. One rotten dad’s design as well as his maltreatment of his son is more PSA-coded than realistic, so be prepared for further caricatures of this caliber.
Once the opening victims are dealt with in grisly fashion, the movie moves on to its actual main characters: a new widow (Jerrika Hinton) and her young son (Ayden Gavin) are Mr. Crocket’s next targets once one of his cursed videocassettes magically appears on their front yard. As the movie’s working mythology dictates, the child becomes obsessed with the video and its host, and the parent grows irritated. This mother has some unpleasant words for her unruly son, but remember, she just buried her husband a few days ago. This and the opener’s situation are like apples and oranges. Nevertheless, Mr. Crocket disregards nuance as he spirits away yet another maltreated child.
Whether or not it was Espy’s intention, Mr. Crocket often behaves like a Elm Street rehash. At least at first. This movie indeed pinches parts of Krueger’s approach, however, once past the formalities of most contemporary horror — that obligatory search for answers followed by the final standoff between good and evil — Mr. Crocket goes in a somewhat different direction that humanizes this sort-of guardian for victimized and neglected children. Of course, this may or may not work for everyone. Sometimes evil being evil is fine and should be more acceptable in storytelling, whereas others might prefer the compassionate handling. The latter makes sense when recognizing Mr. Crocket was born from cloying kids entertainment that emphasized kindness.
Mr. Crocket walks a familiar path, through and through. Even when slowing down to reveal what motivates the title character, the movie offers no new ideas or spins. What actually stands out here is the production. The demented and striking effects and props are a testament to the talents behind the camera. On the narrative front, Mr. Crocket is unremarkable, but it shows potential for the director as a budding creator of pulpy visual horror.
Mr. Crocket premiered at Fantastic Fest 2024, and it was be available on Hulu starting on October 11.
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