A Pumpkin’s Revenge

Read Time:3 Minute, 47 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Carved
–

Genre: Horror, Comedy
Year Released: 2024
Runtime: 1h 34m
Director(s): Justin Harding
Writer(s): Justin Harding, Cheryl Meyer
Cast: Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Corey Fogelmanis, Wyatt Lindner, Carla Jimenez, Sasha Mason, Jonah Lees, DJ Qualls, Marc-Sully Saint-Fleur, Elvis Nolasco, Matty Cardarople, Jackson Kelly, Chris Elliott
Where To Watch: showing at the 2024 Vancouver Horror Show Film Festival on October 18, and premieres on Hulu on October 21, 2024

RAVING REVIEW: This Halloween, CARVED invites viewers to a night where the ordinary becomes deadly, entwining the tangled roots of a pumpkin patch together with the festive spirit of a chilling twist. Directed by Justin Harding, this Hulu original takes a quaint town and transforms it into the backdrop for a survival horror, complete with an evil pumpkin hell-bent on revenge. If this title sounds familiar, it’s because this is a feature-length “remake” of Harding’s 2018 short film by the same name.

In CARVED, Harding takes on the horror-comedy genre and offers a fresh spin with its tale of an evil pumpkin terrorizing a group trapped in this village on Halloween night. The film blends campy terror with humor, providing an engaging experience that pushes the boundaries of traditional horror movies. Harding, who previously captivated audiences with the short film at Hulu's Huluween Film Fest, expands his vision in this feature. The ensemble cast, including Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Corey Fogelmanis, and others, balances the eerie atmosphere with comedic elements, ensuring CARVED is a thrill ride from start to finish.

Expanding on the film's dynamic, CARVED delights with its premise and uses its setting to enhance the tension and horror elements. The historical village, an ideal backdrop for Halloween mischief, serves dual purposes. It amplifies the ambiance crucial for a horror film while providing a rich ground for comical mishaps and situations arising from the characters interacting with the environment. This layering of setting and narrative allows CARVED to offer a more textured experience that appeals to fans of both horror and comedy genres.

Harding's film breathes new life into Halloween traditions by embodying the holiday's darkest fantasies as a vengeful pumpkin. With the more in-depth format, we journey into the story; CARVED allows its characters to explore the fine line between laughter and fear, elevating this film above typical genre expectations.

The production, enriched by a backstory involving an unexpected incident, casts a gothic shadow over the film’s old-world setting, adding intrigue and relevance to its encounters. Sevdije Kastrati’s cinematography is meticulously crafted to balance suspense, ensuring the pacing remains brisk and engaging.

Yet, CARVED only partially escapes the pitfalls of its genre. The film occasionally leans on conventional horror motifs, which, while effective, sometimes verge on becoming predictable. Deviating further from these standards could have allowed the film to redefine genre limitations. Nevertheless, CARVED remains a welcome addition for its innovative blending of scares with humor, offering a fresh perspective on the horror-comedy hybrid.

CARVED will captivate horror buffs and those just in for a few laughs, making it a must-watch part of this year's Halloween viewing. It mixes genuine frights with chuckles in a uniquely entertaining package. If you liked the original short, you’ll enjoy this expanded take. The film stays true to its original roots while expanding on the story's potential.

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[photo courtesy of HULU, WORTHENBROOKS]

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