Carved

Hulu's latest horror offering, "Carved", presents a promising premise: a group of teens trapped in a historical village on Halloween night, forced to confront a monstrous, sentient pumpkin. Unfortunately, the film fails to deliver on its potential, falling short due to questionable casting choices and subpar special effects.

The film's biggest misstep is its casting. While the young actors, including Peyton Elizabeth Lee, try their best, their performances feel more suited to a Disney Channel original movie than a horror film.

The titular villain, the vengeful pumpkin, is a missed opportunity. While the concept is intriguing, the execution is underwhelming. The pumpkin's design, while somewhat creative, lacks the menacing presence necessary to truly terrify. The special effects, particularly during the pumpkin's more gruesome moments, are noticeably low-budget and often comical rather than horrifying.

If "Carved" leaned into being a family-friendly horror film, it could have been a fun, annual Halloween must watch movie. However, by attempting to go in the opposite direction, the film ends up missing what should have been its target audience.