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Pinocchio: Unstrung is a 2026 horror/slasher movie that follows the long-lasting puppet’s disturbing journey towards changing into actual. It’s a part of the more and more weird Twisted Childhood Universe, which turns characters from public area youngsters’s tales into horror figures.
The film was directed and written by Rhys Frake-Waterfield (Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare; Dinosaur Jail; Rise of the Loch Ness; Sky Monster; The Killing Tree; Firenado) and produced by hyper-prolific filmmaker Scott Jeffrey [aka Scott Chambers] (Spider within the Attic; The Mutation; Bats; Unhealthy Nun: Lethal Vows; Cupid; ClownDoll and plenty of, many others).
“Our film flips the whole lot you already know about Pinocchio on its head,” Frake-Waterfield beforehand commented. “We’ve got an extremely proficient forged and crew engaged on this. We’re closely counting on sensible results for all the deaths and creature work. I can’t look forward to the world to satisfy Pinocchio.”
The Jagged Edge Productions movie stars Richard Brake as Geppetto, Robert Englund because the voice of Jiminy Cricket, Cameron Bell as James, and Jude-Evan Lloyd because the voice of Pinocchio.
Particular results maestro Todd Masters (Little one’s Play; Underworld Awakening; Slither) offered the fully-practical Pinocchio puppet. Masters beforehand enthused: “I’ve eternally beloved the unique and demented story from the Eighties. So I used to be excited to hitch this manufacturing, to carry this little puppet to life — with all sensible FX “This model remains to be slightly puppet’s pursuit to changing into a boy… however the best way he turns into one is extraordinarily gnarly… and albeit, very enjoyable.”
Overview:
Slightly than merely making Pinocchio right into a generic killer puppet, Pinocchio: Unstrung reworks the fundamental mythology of the unique story right into a darkish coming-of-age slasher.
Younger James goes to stay along with his grandfather Geppetto after the deaths of his mother and father. Already coping with grief, James loses his greatest pal as properly. Geppetto subsequently introduces him to a exceptional picket puppet that’s truly alive: Pinocchio.
James brings Pinocchio into the surface world, together with his college, the place the puppet encounters bullying and cruelty. Sadly, Pinocchio has a particularly literal understanding of morality. When James expresses a need for the folks tormenting him to be lifeless, Pinocchio decides to make his want come true.
Plot [contains spoilers]:
James is distributed to stay along with his grandfather Geppetto, a mysterious and obsessive craftsman, following the deaths of his mother and father. Geppetto makes an attempt to offer the troubled boy with companionship by introducing him to Pinocchio, an animated picket puppet.
Pinocchio initially behaves extra like an harmless little one than a traditional monster. He’s fascinated by the human world and notably hooked up to James, whom he sees as his pal and protector.
When James takes Pinocchio to highschool, nevertheless, the puppet witnesses the bullying and mistreatment James receives. James ultimately makes an offhand comment wishing that his tormentors have been lifeless. Pinocchio takes this actually.
With the sinister Cricket appearing as a disturbing affect, Pinocchio begins eliminating folks whom he believes are “unhealthy” or who’ve brought on James struggling. His victims aren’t restricted to the varsity bullies: the killing spree expands to adults, together with a dentist and a drunk driver.
James ultimately realises that his new pal has develop into a deadly menace. Along with Mia and Dudley, he makes an attempt to cease Pinocchio, whereas the more and more disturbing historical past of Geppetto and the puppet is revealed…
Evaluate:
Pinocchio Unstrung is strictly the kind of movie its title guarantees: a beloved youngsters’s character has been ripped from his healthful environment and dropped into an unapologetically nasty slasher flick. Happily, the result’s extra entertaining than earlier entries within the so-called Twisted Childhood Universe.
The sensible puppet results by Todd Masters give Pinocchio a surprisingly convincing bodily presence, and watching this innocent-looking picket little one progress from curiosity to homicidal obsession is significantly simpler than merely turning him into one other masked killer.
Richard Brake brings his customary menace to Geppetto, whereas Robert Englund clearly relishes the chance to offer a voice-over for a totally twisted model of Jiminy Cricket. Gorehounds will admire a number of ugly sensible kills.
Sadly, Frake-Waterfield’s screenplay by no means matches the potential of its central thought. The themes of grief, bullying, innocence and the corrupting affect of adults are current. Nevertheless, they largely function excuses to easily transfer from one kill to the following. The supporting characters are thinly drawn and as with many low cost Brit productions the dialogue could be painfully awakward.
Nonetheless, Pinocchio: Unstrung works moderately properly as low-budget nasty horror and is price a watch.
Technical specs and launch:
82 minutes and it was launched within the US on 24 July 2026.
Visitor overview by our pal Leo from Geek Legion of Doom:
Trailer:
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