# Carved (2024 film)
**Carved** is a 2024 American horror comedy film directed by Justin Harding, in which a group of survivors trapped in a historical reenactment village on [Halloween](https://www.edgepedia.org/halloween) night must fight off a sentient, vengeful pumpkin. It was written by Harding and Cheryl Meyer, based on Harding's 2018 short film of the same name, and streamed on Hulu from October 21, 2024.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/carved_2024) • [2](https://thecinemaholic.com/carved-where-filmed/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Director / writers | Justin Harding; screenplay by Harding and Cheryl Meyer[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/carved_2024) |
| Origin | Expanded from Harding's five-minute 2018 short film of the same title, produced by 20th Century Studios for Hulu's "Huluween Film Festival"[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/carved_2024) • [3](https://www.screamfest.com/2024/film/carved) |
| Setting | Halloween 1993 at Cedar Creek, a historic pioneer village attraction[4](https://thehorrormovietracker.com/movie/1308546) • [5](https://dailydead.com/review-carved-is-a-hollow-halloween-decoration/) |
| Release | World premiere at Screamfest on October 15, 2024; streaming on Hulu from October 21, 2024[3](https://www.screamfest.com/2024/film/carved) • [1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/carved_2024) |
| Runtime / rating | 94 minutes; rated R[6](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/carved-2024) |
| Reception | 36% on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer (9 reviews); 4.4/10 on IMDb from about 3,400 votes[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/carved_2024) • [7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32743167/) |
| Production | WorthenBrooks; producers David Brooks, Deborah Liebling, Arbi Pedrossian, and Jenna Cavelle; distributed by Hulu[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/carved_2024) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
The story is set on Halloween 1993 at Cedar Creek, a historic pioneer village attraction whose staff and guests gather for a pumpkin carving contest.[4](https://thehorrormovietracker.com/movie/1308546) • [5](https://dailydead.com/review-carved-is-a-hollow-halloween-decoration/) While the group assembles in the barn to start carving, Kira ([Peyton Elizabeth Lee](https://www.edgepedia.org/peyton-elizabeth-lee)), a hopeful playwright, is still shaken by the word that Cody ([Corey Fogelmanis](https://www.edgepedia.org/corey-fogelmanis)), her boyfriend who acts, has won a part in a New York City production and will relocate after only a few weeks.[8](https://afpljournal.com/2024/10/23/movie-review-carved/) During the contest, the stoners Wes and Clint select a monstrous gourd that is swollen and discolored; the pumpkin comes to life, thick vines coiling around a would-be carver's wrist, and begins a murderous rampage.[9](https://gazettely.com/2024/10/entertainment/carved-2024-review/) • [2](https://thecinemaholic.com/carved-where-filmed/) The staff and visitors, a disparate group of survivors, must band together to survive the assault by the sentient and vengeful pumpkin.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/carved_2024)
## Cast
Peyton Elizabeth Lee plays Kira and Corey Fogelmanis plays Cody.[6](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/carved-2024) • [8](https://afpljournal.com/2024/10/23/movie-review-carved/) The ensemble includes [DJ Qualls](https://www.edgepedia.org/dj-qualls) as Bill, Chris Elliott as Earl (Clint's father), [Matty Cardarople](https://www.edgepedia.org/matty-cardarople) as Clint, Carla Jimenez as Barb, Jonah Lees as Shane, Elvis Nolasco as AJ, Jackson Kelly as Wes, and Sasha Mason as Maddie.[6](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/carved-2024)
## Production
Harding developed the feature from his own short film. He has said the idea for a killer pumpkin came to him during a pumpkin carving contest he took part in years earlier, and the short was made about six years before the feature.[10](https://eurweb.com/justin-harding-peyton-elizabeth-lee-talk-new-horror-carved/) The short "Carved" was produced by 20th Century Studios for Hulu's "Huluween Film Festival"; Harding's earlier credits include the TIFF-selected short "Latched", the SXSW-selected "Kookie", and the feature "Making Monsters" (2020), released by Samuel Goldwyn Films.[3](https://www.screamfest.com/2024/film/carved)
**Filming.** [Principal photography](https://www.edgepedia.org/principal-photography) took place in April 2024, at a location identified with Shakertown, whose antiquated buildings create the nostalgic atmosphere of classic 1980s and 1990s horror.[2](https://thecinemaholic.com/carved-where-filmed/) The pumpkin puppet was nicknamed Craig, a name that fit both the filming location and the way the puppet shook as if dancing when dangled from a cable; the crew developed a ritual of playing Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie" whenever the puppeteer brought Craig to the set.[2](https://thecinemaholic.com/carved-where-filmed/)
**The monster.** The creature combines practical effects work with CGI, and its tendrils were compared by the reviewer Tyler Doupe of Dread Central to the predatory vines of *Evil Dead*, with the overall monster described as feeling like it could be the brainchild of a young [Sam Raimi](https://www.edgepedia.org/sam-raimi).[11](https://www.dreadcentral.com/reviews/514510/carved-review-killer-pumpkin-film-recalls-the-insanity-of-early-sam-raimi/)
## Release
*Carved* had its world premiere at Screamfest on October 15, 2024, and also screened at the Vancouver Horror Show before landing on Hulu.[3](https://www.screamfest.com/2024/film/carved) • [11](https://www.dreadcentral.com/reviews/514510/carved-review-killer-pumpkin-film-recalls-the-insanity-of-early-sam-raimi/) It began streaming on Hulu on October 21, 2024, and is also available on Disney+.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/carved_2024) As of late 2026 it remains available on Hulu by subscription in the United States.[6](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/carved-2024)
## Reception
**Critical response.** On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds a Tomatometer score of 36% based on 9 reviews.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/carved_2024) Reviews were divided over how well the comedy and horror were balanced. Tyler Doupe of Dread Central called it "a glorious sendup of '80s horror" that works as both a genre picture and a slapstick comedy, praising Harding for making scenes that prompt jumps and laughter at the same time and for leaning into the TV-MA rating with decapitations and strong language.[11](https://www.dreadcentral.com/reviews/514510/carved-review-killer-pumpkin-film-recalls-the-insanity-of-early-sam-raimi/) Sean Farrell of AFPL Journal rated it three stars, writing that the script "leans into the silliness" and that Harding builds suspense effectively, with homages to cheesy monster flicks like *Deep Blue Sea* and *Tremors*.[8](https://afpljournal.com/2024/10/23/movie-review-carved/) Matt Donato of Daily Dead gave it 2 out of 5, calling it "a bite-sized idea in a king-sized wrapper" and criticizing the blend of stoner-comedy asides with [Chris Elliott](https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-elliott)'s Earl character.[5](https://dailydead.com/review-carved-is-a-hollow-halloween-decoration/) Jorge Loser of Espinof gave 3.5 out of 5, describing a supernatural slasher with a broad comedy tone, funny splatters, a high body count, and a relentless pace.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/carved_2024)
**Audience scores.** IMDb users rate the film 4.4/10 from about 3,400 votes, a figure that places it in the bottom 30% of the 5,680 horror films on one tracker with at least 1,000 IMDb votes.[7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32743167/) • [4](https://thehorrormovietracker.com/movie/1308546) The same tracker averages 44/100 across five sources: 4.4/10 on IMDb, 37% on the Rotten Tomatoes audience score, 2.1/5 on [Letterboxd](https://www.edgepedia.org/letterboxd), 4.8/10 on Trakt, and 4.8/10 on TMDb.[4](https://thehorrormovietracker.com/movie/1308546) Filmaffinity users give it 4.0 from 184 votes.[12](https://www.filmaffinity.com/us/film466214.html) Audience comments on Rotten Tomatoes frequently single out the practical effects and the film's humor, with several viewers recommending it as a Halloween-season comedy rather than a serious scare.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/carved_2024)
## References
1. [Carved (2024) | Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/carved_2024)
2. [Where Was Hulu's Carved Filmed? | The Cinemaholic](https://thecinemaholic.com/carved-where-filmed/)
3. [Carved | SCREAMFEST](https://www.screamfest.com/2024/film/carved)
4. [Carved (2024) — Horror Movie Tracker](https://thehorrormovietracker.com/movie/1308546)
5. [Review: CARVED is a Hollow Halloween Decoration – Daily Dead](https://dailydead.com/review-carved-is-a-hollow-halloween-decoration/)
6. [Carved streaming: where to watch movie online? | JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/carved-2024)
7. [Carved (2024) – IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32743167/)
8. [Movie Review: Carved – AFPL Journal](https://afpljournal.com/2024/10/23/movie-review-carved/)
9. [Carved Review: A Schlocky Snack for Halloween – Gazettely](https://gazettely.com/2024/10/entertainment/carved-2024-review/)
10. [Justin Harding & Peyton Elizabeth Lee Talk New Horror 'Carved' – EURweb](https://eurweb.com/justin-harding-peyton-elizabeth-lee-talk-new-horror-carved/)
11. ['Carved' Recalls the Insanity of Early Sam Raimi [VHS Review] – Dread Central](https://www.dreadcentral.com/reviews/514510/carved-review-killer-pumpkin-film-recalls-the-insanity-of-early-sam-raimi/)
12. [Carved (2024) – Filmaffinity](https://www.filmaffinity.com/us/film466214.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Horror films (individual works) › Comedy horror films › 2020s comedy horror films*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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