Hulu Carved (2024) a Middling Killer Pumpkin Story for Halloween

Title: Carved

First Non-Festival Release: October 21, 2024 (Digital/Streaming Platforms)

Director: Justin Harding

Writer: Justin Harding, Cheryl Meyer

Runtime: 95 Minutes

Starring: Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Corey Fogelmanis, Carla Jimenez

Where to Watch: Check out where to find it here

Two years after a particularly nasty nuclear spill contaminates the fields of their farms, a small town holds a pumpkin carving contest on Halloween night. All is going well for the attendees until the pumpkins set to be sliced open decide to fight back against their oppressors. A small set of survivors from the initial massacre must work together to find a way out of their impossible situation.

Carved is a sickly sweet straight-to-streaming Halloween film that lacks the punch needed to carry out its admittedly fun premise.

After the inspired initial massacre sequence, Carved loses steam as it runs out of ideas to pad its runtime. The promising setup showcases just how deadly, and hilarious, a movie about vengeful pumpkins can be, featuring some pretty inspired kills for a monster of such limited means. Unfortunately, the momentum dies once the survivors take refuge in a nearby barn. Poorly paced, the action comes to a screeching halt as the characters argue as to who is to blame and how to escape. Their feeble attempts at making a run or fighting the creature are countered rather quickly, making for a rather dull and uninspiring second half.

Taking every chance to make the most obvious choice, Carved takes a generic approach to creature mayhem. Much of the action of Carved transpires thanks to the poor decisions of Trevor, making full use of the insufferable kid trope that draws ire from seasoned horror fans. The repetitiveness kills the momentum at every step of the way. The lack of variety in its big baddie’s kill skillset also makes the experience feel interminable. When every chase, attack, and kill sequence feels the same, the gimmick loses its luster quickly. The little things add up throughout its runtime. Little quirks like its 90s setting but noticeable lack of 90s aesthetic or its convenient ability to walk back character’s deaths makes Carved a frustrating watch.

Packed with a glut of interesting yet flat characters, Carved takes advantage of its cast enough to eke out a few laughs here and there. Plagued by Disney channel acting and rough dialogue, Carved is a tough pill to swallow as it meanders through its initially fun premise. Barely interacting outside of snide remarks and flimsy strategizing, the action of Carved is stymied by its annoying interludes between pumpkin attacks. Much of the laughs come at the expense of the film’s easier targets, particularly its stock stoner bro and jealous aspiring actor characters. Thus, the humor is as sparse and dry as the crops decaying in the chill of the irradiated October fields.

While it immensely lacks in terms of plot, pacing, and character development, Carved is bolstered by its incredible special effects and creepy set design. The pumpkin monsters are a delight to see onscreen whenever they appear. Utilizing majority practical effects, the mutant pumpkins come to life with enough personality to make up for the repetitive kills. The set of Carved also evokes feelings of fall and small-town living. Perfect for a sleepy town’s time-honored tradition, the farm fits the aesthetics of the film perfectly even if it doesn’t looked lived in. It makes for some creepy moments too, as the cast make their hurried escape from the predatory plant creature stalking their every move.

Far from the worst streaming offering, Carved is more disappointing than awful due to having all the elements needed for success. Although its roughly stitched together story fails to excite, it falls apart more from the dodgy pacing than its sequencing. Solid practical effects and set design distract from the less savory elements making it a completely watchable flick. It’s not the pick of the patch but Carved is far from the worst Autumnal film to get in the mood for the best season of the year. 

Overall Score? 5/10