Mr. Crocket is a fun, new villain, but...

What do you do when your child's television best friend becomes your worst nightmare? This is the reality for many parents, as watching the same thing repeatedly can drive anyone crazy. But when television becomes your child's babysitter, things can go wrong.

That's what happens in the new Hulu original Mr. Crocket, based on a short film from their Bite-Sized Halloween series. The short film was well done, and they expanded it into a full-length movie. I'll share why that works, why it doesn't, and whether you should check it out.
Mr. Crocket stars Elvis Nolasco and Jerrika Hinton. While you might not recognize Nolasco, you’ll probably know Hinton from her role as Dr. Stephanie Edwards on Grey’s Anatomy. It was a relief to see her here because her acting helps ground the movie during key moments.

The story follows a young mom, Summer, who recently lost her husband and is raising her hyperactive son, Major, on her own. When she finds a mysterious tape of Mr. Crocket’s World, her son is instantly mesmerized, giving her a much-needed break. But things take a dark turn when Major becomes too engrossed in Mr. Crocket, who isn’t just on the screen—he’s in the screen.
The premise is great, and the cold open features some creative and inventive kills. The puppetry fits the theme well, and Mr. Crocket is an interesting character who could spawn a franchise. He may not reach the level of icons like Freddy Krueger, but there’s potential if they refine the mystery, gore, and world-building.

There are some standout elements, like the kills, which are unique and play up the demented Mr. Rogers vibe. However, we don't spend enough time in Mr. Crocket’s television world, and it would’ve been nice to explore more of the connection between the TV world and the real one.
Jerrika Hinton does a great job as Summer, balancing the challenges of her overactive son, Major, who is clearly dealing with trauma after his father’s death. Therapy would have been important for him, but, like many things, it didn’t happen, leading to a strange fixation on Mr. Crocket.
Mr. Crocket has puppet friends, like Boogaloo Blue, but we don’t see much of them, and they never cross into the real world. A spinoff could explore this further, which would be interesting.

The child actors are competent, and Mr. Crocket is certainly a menacing character. There are eerie and suspenseful moments, but some of his appearances feel cartoonish in a way that detracts from the horror. Building up more suspense and holding off on revealing some of the kills earlier in the movie could have heightened the tension.

The movie’s tone leans into horror comedy, and while it's not too heavy, it has a creative and inventive feel. I’d love to see a sequel that delves deeper into Mr. Crocket’s world. It’s always great to see more Black characters, villains, and final girls in horror, which we need more of.
If you enjoy horror comedies, you’ll likely enjoy Mr. Crocket. The dialogue is solid, and the script feels more substantial than in some horror comedies. Hopefully, we’ll see more of Mr. Crocket in the future.
If you’ve already seen the movie, let me know what you thought in the comments. And if you decide to watch it, come back and share your thoughts—was it a good recommendation? I hope I don’t steer you wrong!