As we approach Halloween, streamers are kicking off their October scarefests, whether it’s bringing back old favorites for audiences to rewatch or introducing new ones into the fray. Hulu is taking a chance on the latter with their upcoming horror comedy Carved, which FANGORIA is excited to premiere the first images from, as well as the new film’s release date.
Disney darling Peyton Elizabeth Lee takes her first steps into the horror realm in Carved, where she stars alongside Corey Fogelmanis, DJ Qualls, and Chris Elliott as a group of teens trapped in a historical reenactment village on Halloween night. When things go awry (because they always do on Halloween), the teens must band together to save themselves from — what else — a sentient and vengeful pumpkin.
The first images give us a great look at the practical effects magic that goes into the film, including plenty of jack-o’-lantern guts, because what is Halloween without something a little gross? But don’t worry, there’s also plenty of blood, too. (And screams. We can’t forget those either.)
Carved is yet another movie based on a short film of the same name that debuted under the streamer’s Huluween Film Fest banner, only to be adapted into a full feature after its success on the platform. It follows up last year’s Appendage, a similarly absurdist film about a young fashion designer whose stress manifests as a sentient growth on her body.
“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 also spoke a bit more about the story of the film, and what he hopes audiences take away from his practical effects splatterfest:
“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 images below:
