An formidable motivational speaker is affected by an unrelenting itch behind her head in Hulu’s new horror movie, Management Freak, however that itch appears destined to by no means be glad. And it’s a 50/50 break up whether or not horror followers will probably be, both, on this Kelly Marie Tran-led outing written and directed by Shal Ngo (primarily based on his Hulu brief movie Management). Tran, identified for her work in Star Wars: The Final Jedi and Raya and the Final Dragon, is completely solid, nonetheless. Tran creates a plausible protagonist as a fast-rising motivational speaker named Valerie, who spirals down a psychological rabbit gap that results in bloody terror.
The movie is a part of a collaboration between Hulu and WorthenBrooks, which has doled out a slew of profitable horror motion pictures, together with The Mill, Appendage, and Carved. Right here, Val battles a mysterious parasitic demon from her homeland — which she believes is inside her, therefore that itch — and that artistic hook definitely raises our curiosity, however the movie does not fairly attain its full potential, changing into extra of a tease than a pay-off.
Management Freak additionally stars Miles Robbins as Val’s companion (in each mattress and enterprise) Robbie, together with Toan Le and Kieu Chinh. You might respect the methods through which the filmmaker arrives on the film’s climax, although that climax does not fairly land as dramatically as you’ll have hoped for. Alongside the way in which, count on countless metaphors.
Scratch if You Dare
Management Freak
- Launch Date
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March 13, 2025
- Director
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Shal Ngo
- Writers
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Shal Ngo
- Producers
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David Brooks, Jenna Cavelle
- Kelly Marie Tran is phenomenal.
- The ultimate act is fairly wild and may please most horror followers.
- The movie is considerably of a slog and takes some time to get actual.
- Whereas clever and trustworthy, the last word conclusion and message does not really feel earned.
Right here, Valerie has all of it. The self-help diva is about to embark on an epic tour, fittingly dubbed the “Unstoppable” tour. But one thing is halting her progress, and the extra Val scratches her scalp, the extra unnerving this horror caper turns into. And repetitive. Val’s new thriller is sufficient to set off concern, however she’s bought different issues happening, too. Mysterious totem animals and crawling ants occupy her desires, which suggests some parental or relationship concern that went unresolved. About these…
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Poor Val. Even her husband is pressuring her. He desires to begin a household and will not let up. The anniversary of Val’s mom’s dying can also be on her thoughts, which makes that itch appear all of the extra stress-related. It isn’t, in fact. As soon as we transfer by way of the movie’s preliminary build-up, and the batsh*t loopy stuff begins occurring, the movie exhibits some actual promise, and Tran is stellar, however she deserves higher than what this film permits her to do.
Blood, Gore, and Endurance
Some excellent news. Author/director Shai Ngo manages to make us intrigued about Val’s thriller. There’s some enjoyable available in watching Tran try to resolve her dilemma, giving the movie some thrust. We assume, too, that Val’s to be trusted, however that turns into questionable as issues transfer alongside. It’s executed to profitable ends and retains us invested in going alongside for the journey. If solely the ultimate journey felt higher.
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There is not a lot precise, bloody horror till the ultimate 20 minutes or so, aside from the foreboding sense of dread all through the movie. As an alternative, every part appears to be saved for the top of Management Freak, and the particular results are customary fare, although we do get a very grisly scene with a noticed. It isn’t as if the manufacturing went out of its solution to showcase something altogether groundbreaking, however not all horror movies have to be that distinctive. What they do have to be is passionate in regards to the methods through which they inform their tales. And Management Freak is. With Tran on the helm and the wild finale, the movie finds a spot subsequent to cinematic cousins like The Substance.
However The Substance moved alongside briskly whereas Management Freak tends to lag. It turns into more and more maddening to surprise if Val will ever confront a few of the psychological points the movie raises. Whereas clever and trustworthy, the conclusion the movie involves does not really feel authentically earned by Valerie. Backside line: it should fulfill a form of horror itch as an allegorical little monster, however it might go away you scratching your head when all is claimed and executed. Management Freak hits Hulu March 13. Watch it by way of the hyperlink under:
Watch Management Freak