Carved

It's 1993 Halloween. Cedar Creek Pioneer Village is a historical re-enactment theme park in Maine. The locals have already survived a nuclear accident. Now they have to battle a rampaging mutant pumpkin.

This is Hulu doing a bit of horror camp. The camp isn't actually funny. It's the kind of movie that has Chris Elliott doing a weird character that doesn't generate any laughs. There are a couple of moments where one can see the attempt at comedy. None of them pan out. Also, it's a weak horror with a CGI pumpkin monster that don't always look good. The escape from the barn is almost thrilling. It's the best section until the kid loses the keys into the vent. The annoying kid is one of my least favorite horror tropes. This one kills any chance for enjoyment.

A group of people find themselves trapped at the Cedar Park historical reenactment village on Halloween after a mutant pumpkin springs to life and goes on a bloody rampage.

Had I noticed that D. J. Qualls was in Carved, I might have passed on it, but I'm glad I didn't: after a rather bumpy start, the film eventually kicks into gear when the killer squash goes on the hunt, making people pay for taking a knife to its fellow pumpkins - and the rest of the film is a delightfully daft and surprisingly gory treat. Hell, there's even a reasonable amount of tension as the handful of survivors put into action an ingenious plan involving walkie talkies.

The acting is passable for this kind of nonsense (even Qualls), writer director Justin Harding injects just the right amount of humour, and the special effects - a mix of CGI and practical - are fairly impressive, the pumpkin scuttling along on its tendrils, which it also uses to impale and dismember its victims.

I rate Carved 6.5/10, rounded up to 7 for IMDb.

Carved is an ultra cheesy attempt to exploit our love for any type of holiday related horror.

But it's kind of mid.

It has it's moments.

And a certain charm.

With filmmaker Justin Harding at least taking a stab at making a cool monster, using traditional effects (though CGI is used at parts).

It's got some good laughs.

And a few instances of sweet gore.

But you can tell it's been tailored toward teenagers, with it's childish humour.

The crux of the plot revolves around a chemical spill in a small town, that has saturated the local farmland, and caused pumpkins to mutate into sentient, spider-like beasts.

Though, they aren't exactly malevolent creatures, per se.

Just loving parents that will resort to murder when they feel their family and friends are threatened.

They say two wrongs don't make a right.

But here, it seems one massacre makes up for another.

In the end, it's entertaining enough to keep you engaged.

Just not in a way that is particularly memorable.

4 out of 10.

This is definitely a movie aimed at the 18-22 age range I'd say. Goofy, kinda tries to identify as a stoner movie but doesn't go all the way in that regard. If you got nothing to watch one night and might not want to take a real serious watch. It's good enough for that. This is going to be no ones favorite movie and I highly doubt anyone watches it twice. I give it a passing grade though...

Look, this isn't the best movie out there obviously. However, if you're like me and basically watch anything horror related you can find under the sun. Then you've surely seen MUCH worse films than this. This is a pure B film straight up. Hm, maybe C? No? I would watch as sequel if one was made.

This is a mostly comedy film as the horror is very childlike. Even the scenes that should seem serious are not filed with tension due to the comedy. I wouldn't go as far to say it's kid friendly as in under 10 but its close. The shotgun scene might be a bit much for young kids just because of the subject matter not really the gore or anything.

I do think the 2nd half was much better. This film did have potential though. I like atmosphere in films especially horror films. I can never put my finger on what exactly it is but this movie also had a strange atmosphere to it.

Matty Cardaropole I think carried the comedy aspect of the film. I think it was a mistake to have him play a lesser role in the first half. Even if they did have a somewhat funny reason for it.

Corey fogelmanis (cheekbones). Everytime that guy turned his head I am reminded of Aaron Carter lol.

To finish. Not the best film in the world. Not the worst. I struggled to decide a 5 or 6. I've seen some TERRIBLE films so anything that didn't bore me to death I tend to feel deserves a 5 or better.

Dont recommend. Skip this, do michael myers stuff, this is not a silly haha but kind of a off brand horror halloween night and meaningless killing. I wasnt attached to anyone, they gave us 15 mins of etting to know people then them being chased for the rest with everyone being weak, a druggy corn seller guy with a weak brain. A main character cool girl with her little brother. Kind of gross tentacles from the pumpkin in moments.. This would be fine as a backround movie, and maybe that is why it still has a slightly slow pace feeling. Interesting villain not sure how you would get a strong tentacle monster, other than how they attempted.