As we continue through October, we’re continuing to get a flurry of new releases, including plenty of streaming options befitting the Spooky Season. Below is a look at the new movies I saw this week. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734.

Caddo Lake (Max)
Starring: Dylan O’Brien, Eliza Scanlan, Lauren Ambrose, and Eric Lange
Synopsis: A mysterious lake. An eight-year-old girl who has gone missing, prompting her step-sister’s frantic search. A man who can’t move forward because he’s haunted by the death of his mother. All these things come together in surprising and emotional ways in Caddo Lake, a new original film now streaming on Max. The film is produced by M. Night Shymalan and produces a twist that is worthy of the filmmaker. It was written and directed by Logan George and Celine Held, who worked on Shymalan’s series Servant for Apple TV+. The film is a slow build. The stories feel completely disconnected for a while, which may lead to some frustration. But this film ends up being worth the patience. The second part of the film, including a breathtaking Third Act, brings everything together in a beautiful and emotionally resonant way. O’Brien is solid, but it’s Scanlan that carries this film and the emotional heft of the last act. The final sequence of the film is beautifully crafted. This was a fun surprise—a film marketed as a Spooky Season offering that is really something more of a drama.
Rating: Rated PG-13 for some disturbing/bloody images, thematic elements and brief strong language.

Mr. Crocket (Hulu)
Starring: Jerrika Hinton and Elvis Nolasco
Synopsis: At its best, children’s programming can be a mixed bag. But generally, you’re hoping for a little entertainment and maybe a little education. But what happens if the programming comes to life with dire consequences? That’s the premise of this new horror film dropped on Hulu just in time for the Spooky Season. This one is set in 1993 as a woman (Hinton) grieves the loss of her husband while trying to rein in an unruly child. She finds a video of a children’s program starring Mr. Crocket (Nolasco) that, at first, seems to be a godsend. Her son is hooked. But when Mr. Crocket comes out of the TV to steal her son, she’s forced to fight to get him back. That leads to a chaotic battle with some serious stakes. We’re in the season where we’re getting these kind of horror films. You’re typically looking for a simple story and some good scares or gore. You get that here, so it will likely be a success for some. I wasn’t taken with the story and I wasn’t particularly drawn into the plot. It felt like something of a miss for me despite some potential.
Rating: NA

Piece By Piece (Theaters)
Starring: Pharell Williams, Morgan Neville, and Kendrick Lamar
Synopsis: We’ve seen biopics, we’ve seen documentaries, and we’ve seen Lego movies. But we’ve never seen them fused together like this. In Piece By Piece, filmmaker Neville tells the story of Williams, his life and career using Legos. The film chronicles the ups and downs, moving from childhood through the present, and showcasing the world as Williams’ sees it. There’s music and brightly colored sequences. Some of it is incredibly emotional as we dive into his story and perspective. It’s an incredibly creative approach to a biopic and documentary, and Neville does a great job as both director and interviewer. I enjoyed the ride here and learning more about Williams’ music and passion. This is worth seeking out.
Rating: Rated PG for language, some suggestive material and thematic elements.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.