The Uncanny Evolution of the Croes Bros: From Viral Laughs to Horror Icons

In an era dominated by fleeting trends and viral sensations, the Croes Bros are proof that lasting impact requires both reinvention and resilience. What began as lighthearted comedic skits on a small island in the Caribbean evolved into a multimedia sensation captivating millions around the world. Born and raised in Aruba, Jayden and Gilmher Croes—known to their massive fanbase as the Croes Bros—first found fame as content creators with goofy, energetic videos in their native Papiamento. However, a pivot into horror content would unlock new creative heights they never anticipated.

Through the unexpected success of their eerie “Uncanny Brothers” series, the brothers have built an empire of short-form horror storytelling. With over a billion views across platforms, they’ve turned their spooky experiments into an undeniable pop culture phenomenon. Yet, the Croes Bros are much more than viral stars—they are hands-on creators, family-oriented dreamers, and, perhaps most importantly, two brothers whose bond fuels everything they create. In this exclusive interview, they share insights into their creative journey, reveal how they stumbled upon their horror niche, and discuss their hopes of bringing their creepy characters to the big screen.

Featured in BELLO ROAR issue.

CroesBros @croesbros
Photography Alex Rosenkreuz @alexrosenkreuzphotography
Creative Direction + Styling Ambika Sanjana @styledbyambika
Styling Assistant Vanessa De Jesus @n3ssalee
Grooming Kyumin Sonia Lee @thesonialee
Production + Location Isabela Costa @isa.chromatic for @bellomediagroup X @maisonpriveepr_la

How did you get your start as content creators?

We were very young when we started making content. Jay was 11 years old, and I was 16. We were living on our small island of Aruba, making funny videos in our native language, Papiamento. A few years later, newer social video platforms like Musical.ly and TikTok took oS… and that’s where we first found success. Today, our content reaches over 65 million people worldwide, which is still crazy for us to wrap our heads around.

What led you to start creating horror content?

We’ve always been known for comedic content, so expanding into horror was very new for us—it almost happened by accident. In late 2023, there was a social media trend called “Uncanny Valley,” and we decided to try it out. To our surprise, our take on the trend instantly went viral. Everywhere we posted—Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok—the video got 75 million views and over 5 million likes. We had never done anything creepy or scary before, so the response caught us oS guard. It forced us to reexamine our content, and once we leaned into it, it took us on this wild new ride!

How did you come up with the name Uncanny Brothers?

As we dove deeper into horror content, the popularity spiked fast. Each episode was bigger than the last, and the series has now been watched 1.4 billion times. Since it all happened so quickly, we didn’t initially have a name for the series. But when we launched our apparel line, Uncanny Collection (uncanny-collection.com), we realized it was time to solidify the name. Our fans had already linked the series with the Uncanny Valley trend, so we kept that connection and called it Uncanny Brothers—since we’re brothers in real life, and the series revolves around two villainous brothers.

Explain a bit about the process of creating one episode. How long does it take?

We want each episode to be better than the last, so there’s a lot of planning involved. Even though each episode is under a minute long, the entire process can take up to a month. We handle everything—from pre-production, storyboarding, and casting to filming and editing. It’s just us behind the scenes; we don’t have a big team. Our family plays a huge role too. On filming days, our dad helps shoot scenes, our mom does makeup, and our cousin stands in and assists with the camera when we both appear on-screen. A 30- second clip can take up to eight hours to film. On average, each episode requires two weeks of pre-production, one or two days of filming, and one to three days of editing.

Will you ever turn these shorts and characters into a feature film?

That’s our dream! We’ve received hundreds of thousands of comments from fans asking us to turn Uncanny Brothersinto a feature film. The demand is definitely there, and we’re incredibly passionate about the idea. We’ve also caught the attention of some executives in the film industry, so it’s something we’re actively pursuing.

What is your favorite scary movie?

There are so many! Our top picks are Halloween, Psycho, and Scream. We’re also big fans of Terrifier—we love how the latest release is shaking up the horror genre. Their success story is super inspiring for us.

Who is your favorite horror villain and why?

Michael Myers and Jason. We love the calm, eerie coldness of Michael Myers. It’s terrifying how he doesn’t run, but somehow, he’ll always find you. With Jason, it’s all about his size, strength, and aggression—it makes him really menacing.

Who are a few of your favorite horror directors?

Our top three are Alfred Hitchcock, Sam Raimi, and Wes Craven.

We’ve heard you dealt with some social media bullying early on. What advice do you have for people facing bullying?

People who bully others are often unhappy with themselves. Do you think a happy person would spend their time taunting others and making them feel bad? Their opinions are more a reflection of who they are, not who you are. Don’t listen to them. Instead, focus on the people who care about you—your family and true friends. They’re the ones who deserve your energy, not the bullies.

What’s next for the Croes Bros?