Hulu's "Control Freak" is a creepy psychological thriller
- The Real Perspectives
- Mar 14
- 2 min read
Updated: May 4
The Real Perspectives
March 14, 2025
"Control Freak" is the newest psychological thriller from Hulu, which debuted on the streamer on March 13. It stars Kelly Marie Tran as Val Nguyen, a successful influencer and motivational speaker on the cusp of an international word tour who is plagued by an uncontrollable itch on her head. When the itch becomes something more sinister, she realizes she has become infected with a parasitic demon from her homeland in Vietnam.
Written and directed by Shal Ngo, this taut thriller is highly entertaining and incredibly creepy, in a good way. There is something to be said when a motivational speaker who offers sage advice and beckons individuals to be champions of their own destiny is being terrorized by a monster due to her own trauma. Tran, best known for The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, gives a fantastic performance as Val, tormented by her inner demons that have gone unchecked, dissolving into horrific parasitic visions and nightmares. That excruciating itch at the back of her head won't let up to the point that Val has dug a bloody hole that oozes nothing nice, and we get to the heart of the traumatic experiences that have gripped Val since childhood.
Also starring in supporting roles are Callie Johnson as Crystal, Miles Robbins as Robbie, Kieu Chinh as Thuy, Zack Gold as Mason, Scott Takeda as Dr. Chen, and Toan Le as Sang. They respectively flesh out the movie's narrative, revealing hidden truths that come rushing to the surface. Robbins, in particular, who plays Robbie, Val's husband, gets the brunt of Val's wrath when she becomes desperate, searching for answers, and realizes something supernatural is happening to the point that she does something that seems irreversible. Tran shines here, showcasing Val's terror into sheer madness and desperation to finally be free as we gasp at the lengths she is willing to take.
"Control Freak" is a film that stands out with several literal and metaphorical analogies which would have been better served given more focus, however it's Tran's performance that truly steals the show, showcasing her versatility as an actress. If you suddenly get an urge to scratch an itch (no pun intended), you should definitely watch "Control Freak." Just be wary of any supernatural demons that might be lurking.
Control Freak is streaming now on Hulu.
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