Pooka!
A struggling actor gets a holiday season job as a Christmas character in a plush suit to promote the hottest toy of the year, Pooka; he slowly develops two personalities—one when he's in the suit and one that's outside it.
Why it matters
A psychological descent wrapped in holiday cheer, Pooka! delivers unsettling body horror beneath its seasonal veneer.
- Masterful use of practical effects and makeup create a grotesque, sweaty mask that feels like a second skin — a modern nod to Cronenberg’s body horror legacy.
- Explores identity fragmentation and toxic performance culture, tapping into late-capitalist anxieties through its fractured protagonist.
- Perfect for fans of slow-burn, character-driven horror that blends surrealism with visceral dread — think The Babadook meets American Psycho’s corporate malaise.
- Its claustrophobic atmosphere and off-kilter sound design make the Pooka suit itself a character as terrifying as any monster.
Director
3 horror films in catalog
Cast
Horror DNA
Gore
14
Slow Burn
83
Psychological
100
Supernatural
40
Creature
0
Disturbing
50
Fun Factor
33
Cerebral
99
Survival
17
