Hulu has been celebrating the Halloween season like none other with their biggest “Huluween” yet. With a specially curated programming block, the coolest “treat” delivers all the tricks – a mini film festival with several short films. The kicker…they’re all equally impressive.
The first-ever Huluween Film Fest gives eight up-and-coming filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their horror-themed short films on Hulu throughout the month. As previously announced, the filmmaker with the highest levels of viewer engagement and the highest scores from a panel of expert judges – including Friday the 13th’s “Jason Voorhees” actor Kane Hodder, season four winner of RuPaul’s “Drag Race” Sharon Needles and Bloody Disgusting co-founder and Editor Brad Miska (yours truly) – will win $10,000 towards production of their feature length film.
Here, Kane Hodder, Sharon Needles and I discuss the second batch of the eight films with the winner to be announced soon.
THE HUG
Directed, Written & Produced by: Jack Bishop and Justin Nijm
“An animatronic panda at a rundown pizza place seems to be out of order… until little Aden gives it a hug.”
My thoughts: ShowBiz Pizza was and always will be my jam. As a horror fan, animatronics are creepy as hell, especially because they have an otherworldly quality to them. This short took a classic ShowBiz character and turned him evil. While the short doesn’t really have a story, it’s fun nostalgia that is really, really dark. Horror and kids always work well together.
Kane Hodder: A really fun film. Has all of the staples for a classic horror film. A familiar setting, and weird creepy character that you want to love, but you really don’t. A sudden, surprise ending with a fade to black that had me smiling at the end.
Sharon Needles: Refreshing and “cheesy.” A campfire tale come to life. Hugs, not drugs! Kooky!
URN
Directed & Written by: Ben Steiner
Produced by: Dan Dixon
“A woman scatters her mother’s ashes into a lake, but finds it’s not so easy to throw away her past.”
My thoughts: There’s an insane amount of emotion and story packed into this short. The set piece from within the car is both beautiful and haunting. It’s easily one of the most cinematic of the bunch.
Kane Hodder: This was also one of my favorites. I thoroughly enjoy when a film makes you think. This film did exactly that… superbly. When it ended, I was a little confused. I had questions about what the story was really about. I can imagine people debating over the story they had just seen. I watched it a second time, and then it became clearer. It was frightening, disturbing and quite simply, brilliant. I loved it.
Sharon Needles: Arty intense! It surely urn’d its spot on Huluween. Moody!
THE GILLYMUCK
Directed & Written by: Dan Samiljan
Produced by: Noelle Hubbell
“The cute cuddly Gillymuck has pretty teeth dear, but it keeps them out of sight.”
My thoughts: I love a good campfire story and this one takes a fun turn with a weird puppet.
Kane Hodder: The familiar scary campfire story setting made fun by a cute little creature that seems to have a bad temper when provoked. The story was well told and the desired payoff at the end was gratifying. Fun film.
Sharon Needles: Beware the cute and cuddly! Adorably weird! Happy camping!
LIPPY
Directed & Written by: Lucy Campbell
Produced by: Garry Paton
“Two teenage friends caught shoplifting must face the wrath of an unforgiving security guard.”
My thoughts: I love how this seemingly normal story takes a horrific and weird turn. It opens the doors to so many possibilities and leaves your mind wondering what happens next. Who are these people? What is the motive? Just how far does this insanity go? It’s also grounded, which makes it even more creepy. Could you squeeze the handles?
Kane Hodder: This film had what I feel was the most original story concept of all the films. A much different take on the premise that if you do bad things, then bad things will happen to you. Great sound made a disturbing story even creepier.
Sharon Needles: With gore and lipstick, this film’s a steal! These filmmakers weren’t clowning around! Weirdoes!
To view all of the Huluween short films, visit www.youtube.com/hulu.