Hulu's June 5, 2026 release of Osgood Perkins' Keeper is a curious move, given the film's mixed-to-negative critical reception. The movie, starring Tatiana Maslany, a Marvel star, premiered in theaters in November 2025 to underwhelming box office results and a generally unfavorable critical response. With a 45% critical rating and a 40% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, a 54 Metascore, and a 5.1 user score on Metacritic, it's clear that Keeper didn't quite hit the mark. Critics like Nadira Goffe from Slate and Allison Rose from FlickDirect were particularly harsh, criticizing the story and characterization while praising Maslany's performance and visuals. Goffe described it as "a movie that starts with immense promise but squanders it minute by minute," while Rose found the film's flaws to be "ruining the film." Even ComingSoon's Jonathan Sim, who usually has a more positive outlook, deemed it a "major step down" compared to Perkins' previous work. However, not all reviews were negative. Maria Lattila of Film Stories praised Perkins as "one of the most original voices in horror and Hollywood." The story, centered around a couple's weekend getaway to a secluded cabin, takes a turn when they encounter strange, haunting situations, leading them to uncover the property's dark history. Directed by Perkins and written by Nick Lepard, the film features a talented cast including Rossif Sutherland, Birkett Turton, Eden Weiss, Cassandra Ebner, Tess Degenstein, Erin Boyes, Gina Vultaggio, and Claire Friesen. Despite the mixed reviews, Hulu's decision to release Keeper on their platform suggests they believe in its potential for a niche audience. However, the question remains: can Hulu's release date and platform shift salvage the film's reputation and attract a wider audience? Only time will tell, but it's an intriguing move that highlights the complex relationship between critical reception, audience engagement, and the ever-evolving landscape of streaming releases.
