Hulu’s back and better than ever with its upcoming Halloween lineup, and alongside titles like Mr. Crocket, which recently premiered at Fantastic Fest, the streamer’s got some stranger films lined up too. One of them is Carved, the campy splatterfest that hits the streamer on October 21, and just dropped its first trailer.
The film stars Peyton Elizabeth Lee as one of a handful of teenagers trapped in a historical reenactment village on — when else — Halloween night, when suddenly things take a turn for the supernatural. But it’s not ghosts that the teens have to be worried about, it’s something far worse, and far stranger: a sentient pumpkin. The trailer gives us a great look at the practical effects that go into bringing a monster piece of produce to life, as well as a sneak peek at the rest of the film’s cast, including Corey Fogelmanis, DJ Qualls, and Chris Elliott.
Carved is based on the short film of the same name that originally premiered as part of Hulu’s Bite Size Halloween lineup, picked up for a full feature after its success on the program. It’s not the first time Hulu has commissioned full films from its seasonal shorts: the same happened with last year’s Appendage, about a young woman whose anxiety manifests as a living growth on her body that has it out for her in more ways than one.
“Carved is a love letter to the horror-comedies that first sparked my passion for filmmaking,” says director Justin Harding, who co-wrote the film with Cheryl Meyer. “Films like Tremors, Gremlins, and Evil Dead 2 always amazed me with their creativity. With Carved, I set out to capture that perfect blend of outrageous kills, dark humor, heart-pounding suspense, and in-camera practical effects that give those classics their staying power.”
He says that Carved is about survival, as most slasher films are, but that he hopes it becomes as much of a staple in viewers’ Halloween watchlists as films like Friday the 13th or Trick or Treat:
“At its core, Carved is about survival, where unexpected heroes rise up against unstoppable terror. We aimed to create something that’s not just a thrill-ride but a Halloween tradition — a film you’ll revisit year after year, always discovering something new. Peyton Elizabeth Lee leads the charge like we’ve never seen her before, backed by an ensemble cast that went all-in. And with Allan Cooke (Dune, Pacific Rim, IT) bringing his practical effects magic, Carved will make you think twice before ever carving another jack-o’-lantern.”
Carved hits Hulu on October 21. Check out the new trailer below:
