Every so often, a horror film emerges that taps into the primal anxieties of both childhood and parenthood. Mr. Crocket (2024) is one such film, reimagining the comforting nostalgia of children’s television as a portal to terror. Blending the innocence of Mister Rogers with the nightmarish surrealism of Freddy Krueger, director Brandon Espy crafts a chilling tale about broken families, supernatural vengeance, and the dark side of TV culture.
Plot and Premise
Set in the early 1990s, Mr. Crocket opens with a seemingly innocuous children’s show VHS tape—Mr. Crocket’s World—appearing in a free library outside young Darren Harper’s home. The show’s host, Mr. Crocket, is a cheerful, puppet-wielding entertainer whose true nature is quickly revealed. When Darren’s abusive stepfather pushes him too far, Mr. Crocket emerges from the television, dispatches the abuser in gruesome fashion, and whisks Darren away into his own nightmarish dimension, leaving Darren’s mother, Rhonda, traumatized and alone.
A year later, the story shifts to Summer Beverly, a grieving widow struggling to connect with her troubled son, Major. When the same mysterious tape appears, Major becomes obsessed with the show. After a heated argument, Mr. Crocket returns—this time, abducting Major through a magical TV portal. Summer’s desperate quest to save her son leads her into a supernatural underworld, aided by Rhonda (now homeless and haunted by her own loss) and Eddie, a man whose own daughter has vanished into Crocket’s clutches.
A New Kind of Boogeyman
What sets Mr. Crocket apart from standard horror fare is its antagonist. Mr. Crocket isn’t just a monster—he’s a twisted guardian, targeting children from abusive or neglectful homes. The film’s backstory reveals that Emanuel Crocket, once a real children’s show host, was killed by police after a misunderstood attempt to save an abused child. In death, he strikes a Faustian bargain: deliver the souls of abusive parents in exchange for supernatural powers to “protect” children. This complex motivation makes him more than a simple villain; he’s both avenger and abductor, blurring the line between savior and monster.
The film’s horror is amplified by practical effects—Crocket’s puppet sidekicks, Boogaloo Blue and Squawky Bird, become grotesque enforcers, and the violence is both shocking and purposeful. Yet, the filmmakers avoid exploitative territory, carefully navigating the sensitive subject of child abuse without veering into gratuitousnes.
Themes and Emotional Depth
At its core, Mr. Crocket is about the messy, painful realities of parenting. Summer’s journey is as much about confronting her own failures and regrets as it is about battling a supernatural foe. The film resists easy answers—Major is neither wholly innocent nor irredeemably bad, and Summer’s love is tested by grief, anger, and guilt. The script gives both mother and son moments of raw honesty, elevating the film above mere genre thrills.
Atmosphere and Style
Visually, the film leans into its ’90s setting with analog static, VHS fuzz, and a palette that shifts from domestic drabness to surreal, neon-lit horror as the action moves into Crocket’s world. The set design for the nightmarish TV studio is a highlight, echoing the warped logic of childhood dreams and fears.
Performances
Jerrika Hinton delivers a compelling performance as Summer, capturing both the desperation and resilience of a mother on the edge. Ayden Gavin’s Major is believably troubled, while Kristolyn Lloyd’s Rhonda adds depth as a parent broken by loss yet driven by hope. The supporting cast, especially Alex Akpobome as Eddie/Anthony, brings emotional weight to the film’s central themes of trauma and redemption.
Strengths
- Inventive Premise: The fusion of children’s TV nostalgia and supernatural horror is fresh and unsettling.
- Complex Villain: Mr. Crocket’s backstory and motivations add layers of ambiguity, making him memorable and disturbing.
- Emotional Resonance: The film’s depiction of flawed parent-child relationships grounds the horror in real-world pain.
- Practical Effects: The puppets and gore are effectively creepy, enhancing the film’s tactile, analog feel.
Weaknesses
- Expositional Asides: Some viewers may find the film’s backstory-heavy segments slow the pacing6.
- Formulaic Elements: While the premise is unique, the structure follows familiar horror beats—a parent’s quest, a final showdown, a lingering threat.
- Ambiguous Ending: The film’s conclusion—hinting at Mr. Crocket’s continued influence—may frustrate those seeking closure.
Final Verdict
Mr. Crocket is a standout in the 2020s horror revival, offering both scares and substance. It’s a film that lingers, not just for its inventive frights but for its willingness to explore the wounds of family life and the dangers lurking in the media we trust. For fans of The Babadook, Poltergeist, or I Saw the TV Glow, this is a must-see—a new horror icon for the VHS generation.
Rating: 2/5