Fans of dark fairy tale reimaginings have another nightmare to experience, as Pinocchio: Unstrung has officially arrived in UK cinemas. From the creative team behind Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, the latest instalment in the ever-expanding Twisted Childhood Universe (TCU) transforms Carlo Collodi’s beloved wooden puppet into a terrifying horror icon.
The film premiered at this year’s Raindance Film Festival, where it earned four award nominations, including Best UK Feature and Best Performance in a UK Feature for Richard Brake, before receiving its nationwide cinema release on 24 July.
Robert Englund Returns to Horror
One of the biggest draws for horror fans is the return of Robert Englund, best known for portraying Freddy Krueger in the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise. Englund lends his voice and presence to the sinister Cricket, guiding Pinocchio on a brutal mission to rid the world of everything he deems “bad.”
Joining Englund is Richard Brake (Barbarian), who plays Geppetto, while newcomer Cameron Bell makes his feature film debut as James.
What Is Pinocchio: Unstrung About?
Rather than retelling the classic children’s story, Pinocchio: Unstrung takes a much darker route.
The story follows Geppetto as he introduces his grandson James to a mysterious magical doll named Pinocchio. Innocently believing the puppet to be harmless, James welcomes him into the world. However, Pinocchio quickly embarks on a violent crusade against anyone he perceives as evil, manipulated by the sinister Cricket.
The result is a blood-soaked horror film that flips one of literature’s most recognisable characters into an unstoppable killer.
Part of the Twisted Childhood Universe
Written and directed by Rhys Frake-Waterfield, the filmmaker behind Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, the film continues the growing Twisted Childhood Universe, produced by Scott Chambers.
The interconnected horror franchise currently includes:
- Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey
- Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2
- Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare
- Bambi: The Reckoning
- Pinocchio: Unstrung
The shared universe has become known for turning familiar childhood characters into violent slasher villains, with more entries expected in the future.
Early Critical Reaction
Early reviews suggest Pinocchio: Unstrung could be the franchise’s most ambitious entry to date.
Critics have described it as:
- “The biggest and boldest entry in the blossoming Twisted Childhood Universe yet.” – Macabre Daily
- “Rhys Frake-Waterfield has crafted a disturbing reimagining of Pinocchio.” – Bloody Disgusting
- “Inventive, gleefully nasty, and showcases some genuinely impressive practical craftsmanship.” – HeyUGuys
Release Date
Pinocchio: Unstrung is now showing in UK cinemas after its 24 July release.
The film will also be available on DVD, Blu-ray and Digital from 7 September.
For more information about the film and future releases, visit the official Twisted Childhood Universe website: https://twistedchildhooduniverse.com/
