In Mr Crocket, the year is 1993 and a young boy sits down to watch a VHS tape of Mr. Crocket’s World, a colourful and cheery children’s television show. The live-action series is led by the eponymous Crocket, features various puppet companions, and is both fun and educational for young minds.
But while Mr. Crocket’s World appears to be filled with rainbows and sunshine, there is a sinister side to the show. Mr. Crocket is a demonic force with the ability to leave the confines of the video tape.
Once out into the real world, Mr. Crocket reveals his true nature. He kills the young boy’s father, in a brutal and twisted way, then kidnaps the boy.
A year later, recently widowed mother, Summer receives a VHS tape of Mr. Crocket’s World in the mail. She passes it on to her son, Major, then quickly comes to regret it when Mr. Crocket begins to turn her life upside down.
Directed and co-written by Brandon Espy, Mr Crocket is a supernatural horror movie starring Elvis Nolasco, Jerrika Hinton, and Ayden Gavin. Based on the 2022 short of the same name, the film is now streaming on Hulu in the US, Disney+ in the UK, and is a so-so little horror which isn’t bad, but it’s not quite what it could be.
Mr Crocket is one of those films which has bags of potential, and you can see what it is aiming to do, but for one reason or another it never quite makes it. Some parts of it work, others don’t, and the end result is a mixed offering which passes the time but never truly feels all that engaging.
The parts of the movie which work best include the mysterious VHS tape and all of the scenes with Mr. Crocket. The big C himself is suitably creepy, and occasionally nightmare-inducing, with actor Elvis Nolasco finding the perfect balance between trusted friend (children’s television personality) and unhinged killer (children’s television personality who has spent too much time around children).
Whenever Nolasco is on screen the film is worth watching. The actor makes Mr. Crocket a captivating presence and a genuine threat.
Where the film is less successful is in every scene without Mr. Crocket. All of the material with Summer and Major is not as effective and far less interesting.
There are times where it also feels like there is a bit too much being thrown at the screen. Mr Crocket is a simple film, with a simple premise, yet it tries to over complicate matters or perhaps has too many ideas.
While Mr Crocket isn’t bad, the film is a bumpy ride at best. The premise is fine, even if it has been done before (Channel Zero, The X-Files, Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared, etc), and the title villain is good, but the rest is less appealing.
Ultimately it’s one of those movies that will hold the attention at times, but lose it here and there. If you’re easily distracted or you are watching while doom scrolling, you’ll pay attention to the best bits and probably ignore the rest.
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