|
Pinocchio Unstrung
|
Director: Rhys Frake-Waterfield
Writer: Rhys Frake-Waterfield (based on the book by Carlo Collodi)
Cast: Jude Evan Lloyd, Richard Brake, Robert Englund
Story:
After losing his best friend, orphaned James finds an unlikely guardian in Pinocchio, a living wooden puppet built by his eccentric grandfather, Geppetto. Guided by a sinister cricket, played by Robert Englund, and driven by a warped survival instinct, Pinocchio begins a brutal killing spree against anyone who harms or bullies James.
The film features a practical Pinocchio doll, with Todd Masters of MastersFX—the creator of Chucky for the 2019 Child’s Play remake—responsible for the animatronics and puppetry. The Prosthetics Studio, is also known for its work on the Harry Potter and Star Wars franchises, handled much of the film’s practical gore.
The film is part of an expanding horror universe built around beloved children’s stories. Known as the “Poohniverse,” the franchise began with Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey and is intended to culminate in the Avengers-style crossover Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble. The film is easily the best entry in the franchise so far. The series has improved considerably and come a long way since the first Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey film.
I was intrigued by the story and characters, something I never expected to say about a horror film from this franchise. Much like the previous installment, Bambi: The Reckoning, this movie contains genuine emotion, helping it stand out from the earlier, more emotionless entries in the Poohniverse.
I had a smile on my face from beginning to end. The greatest weakness of the Twisted Childhood Universe has been its tendency to take itself far too seriously. With this installment, however, the franchise seems to embrace its inherent silliness. The film is genuinely funny, although it still becomes dark and serious at times. It does not completely abandon the franchise’s established tone; instead, it adds a welcome layer of comedy. In my opinion, that is what makes the movie so entertaining and watchable.
The film is also every bit as bloody as the other entries in the series. It may even be the nastiest installment yet. The practical gore effects are impressive, vile, and wonderfully gruesome. The level of bloodshed approaches Terrifier territory, and I enjoyed every second of it.
The blood and guts are not the film’s only practical effects. Pinocchio himself is brought to life as a practical puppet, and the result is fantastic. Characters such as Cricket still require CGI, however. The computer-generated effects are not especially strong, which is understandable for a low-budget production. Fortunately, they are far from the worst I have seen, and they never ruined the film for me. Overall, they are serviceable.
In the end, I had a great time at the theater with this movie. I recommend it to horror fans, and even viewers who have not enjoyed the Twisted Childhood Universe so far should consider giving it a chance. It is miles better than anything the franchise has previously produced. If you are already a fan of the Poohniverse, you will probably enjoy this film as well.
Writer: Rhys Frake-Waterfield (based on the book by Carlo Collodi)
Cast: Jude Evan Lloyd, Richard Brake, Robert Englund
Story:
After losing his best friend, orphaned James finds an unlikely guardian in Pinocchio, a living wooden puppet built by his eccentric grandfather, Geppetto. Guided by a sinister cricket, played by Robert Englund, and driven by a warped survival instinct, Pinocchio begins a brutal killing spree against anyone who harms or bullies James.
The film features a practical Pinocchio doll, with Todd Masters of MastersFX—the creator of Chucky for the 2019 Child’s Play remake—responsible for the animatronics and puppetry. The Prosthetics Studio, is also known for its work on the Harry Potter and Star Wars franchises, handled much of the film’s practical gore.
The film is part of an expanding horror universe built around beloved children’s stories. Known as the “Poohniverse,” the franchise began with Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey and is intended to culminate in the Avengers-style crossover Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble. The film is easily the best entry in the franchise so far. The series has improved considerably and come a long way since the first Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey film.
I was intrigued by the story and characters, something I never expected to say about a horror film from this franchise. Much like the previous installment, Bambi: The Reckoning, this movie contains genuine emotion, helping it stand out from the earlier, more emotionless entries in the Poohniverse.
I had a smile on my face from beginning to end. The greatest weakness of the Twisted Childhood Universe has been its tendency to take itself far too seriously. With this installment, however, the franchise seems to embrace its inherent silliness. The film is genuinely funny, although it still becomes dark and serious at times. It does not completely abandon the franchise’s established tone; instead, it adds a welcome layer of comedy. In my opinion, that is what makes the movie so entertaining and watchable.
The film is also every bit as bloody as the other entries in the series. It may even be the nastiest installment yet. The practical gore effects are impressive, vile, and wonderfully gruesome. The level of bloodshed approaches Terrifier territory, and I enjoyed every second of it.
The blood and guts are not the film’s only practical effects. Pinocchio himself is brought to life as a practical puppet, and the result is fantastic. Characters such as Cricket still require CGI, however. The computer-generated effects are not especially strong, which is understandable for a low-budget production. Fortunately, they are far from the worst I have seen, and they never ruined the film for me. Overall, they are serviceable.
In the end, I had a great time at the theater with this movie. I recommend it to horror fans, and even viewers who have not enjoyed the Twisted Childhood Universe so far should consider giving it a chance. It is miles better than anything the franchise has previously produced. If you are already a fan of the Poohniverse, you will probably enjoy this film as well.
Trivia
- The second horror film based on The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi since Pinocchio's Revenge (1996), released 30 years earlier.
- The fifth film in the Twisted Childhood Universe, following Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey (2023), Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2 (2024), Peter Pan's Neverland Nightmare (2025), and Bambi: The Reckoning (2025).
- The title card is a practical effect: the logo’s letters are suspended on strings and lowered into place.
- The movie is legally allowed to transform Carlo Collodi’s classic 1883 story into a bloody slasher because the original book is in the public domain.
|
|
|
|
This video clip is of the opening sequence of the movie. I loved the idea of using this style of animation to set up the movie.