There’s a particular kind of horror movie that takes a beloved children’s story, hands it a knife and dares you to laugh. Pinocchio: Unstrung is the latest from that tradition, the fifth entry in the Twisted Childhood Universe from writer-director Rhys Frake-Waterfield. It reached theatres on July 24, 2026, and landed on digital on September 7. Reviews are all over the place, from gushing to unimpressed. This article explains the premise, the filmmakers’ track record, what the critics say and who should press play.
As ever, I’m relying on official material and published reviews, not a personal screening. Fair warning: the film is rated R and very violent.
What Is the Twisted Childhood Universe?
The series began with Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, a low-budget slasher that became a surprise success by turning a public-domain bear into a killer. It was followed by a sequel and other entries, including Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare. One reviewer calls Unstrung the fifth film in the series and notes that the earlier entries were cash grabs with no ambition beyond standard slashers (Culture Crypt).
The success of the Pooh films has afforded the filmmakers more money. A review at Moria notes that Unstrung resembles one of producer Scott Chambers’ earlier killer-doll films, but with a decent budget (Moria). Pinocchio: Unstrung is also described as the first non-Pooh chapter in the broader universe for Frake-Waterfield, who returns as writer and director.
The Story
The classic story of Pinocchio comes from Carlo Collodi, first appearing as newspaper installments before being published as a book in 1883, and has been adapted many times, from the Disney animated classic to Guillermo del Toro’s stop-motion version.
This version is much darker. In the English countryside, Geppetto (Richard Brake) is a wealthy clockmaker and puppet creator who lives in a gloomy mansion with his teenage grandson James (Cameron Bell), whose parents died in a car accident. When James’s friend Zach dies of a terminal illness, Geppetto creates an odd-looking wooden Pinocchio puppet (voiced by Jude Evan Lloyd) as a companion. The puppet wants to become a real boy and is fiercely protective of James.
Geppetto orders James to keep Pinocchio hidden at home. James doesn’t listen and takes the puppet to school, where Pinocchio sees James being bullied. James casually wishes his tormentors were dead, and Pinocchio takes the idea to heart (Common Sense Media).
Spoilers aside, reviewers note a late swerve that changes what kind of movie it is, and a Frankenstein-style morality thread about a made creature who is misunderstood.
Cast and Craft
Richard Brake plays Geppetto, Cameron Bell plays James, and Robert Englund, famous as Freddy Krueger, voices the Cricket. The supporting cast includes Jessica Balmer, Jack Art Gray, Belinda Fenty, Kelly Rian Sanson, Toni Olabanji and others. The film runs only about 80 minutes.
The headline craft claim is that it’s all done with practical effects and puppetry. Bloody Disgusting says the film boasts that the effects are practical and argues that this commitment makes a major difference, as there would be little point in making the movie otherwise. It also praises a shadow-puppetry introduction (Bloody Disgusting).
What Critics Are Saying
The scores range widely:
- Film Threat gives it 9 out of 10, calling it a B-movie that delivers better filmmaking than many A-pictures, with the best puppet splatter since Meet the Feebles (review).
- Daily Dead rated it 3 out of 5 and called it undeniably the strongest entry in the series, praising the puppet’s mix of endearing and unnerving and the gooey kills (review).
- Culture Crypt scored it 60 and said it might be the most tolerable of the five films, with more personality than its predecessors.
- Bloody Disgusting called it arguably the goriest in the series, with a finale that turns it into something weird and wonderful, even if a lot still doesn’t work.
- Common Sense Media is the toughest: it says the film still suffers from a lack of skill, and with a low budget the filmmakers have to shoot around the puppet’s limitations, resulting in a choppy movie. The main reason to watch, it says, is the brutal gore.
- Dennis Schwartz graded it C+, describing it as grisly and campy.
The pattern is clear: the more you value practical gore and camp, the better you’ll rate it.
What Works
The puppet. The Pinocchio design is the star, and several critics describe it as both endearing and creepy.
Practical effects. In an era of digital everything, hand-built gore has a tactile charm.
The tone. The film is more willing to be silly than earlier entries, which several reviewers see as an improvement.
Robert Englund. A horror legend lending his voice is a fun bonus for fans.
What Doesn’t
Technical roughness. A low budget shows up as choppy staging and limited movement for the puppet.
The script’s third act. One reviewer says the story stumbles when Geppetto turns on his own cause.
The target victims. Daily Dead notes the puppet mostly kills children, which some viewers will find hard to stomach.
Who Should Watch It
It’s for gorehounds, B-movie fans and people who enjoy twisted takes on fairy tales. If you’re squeamish, sensitive about violence involving kids, or want a polished horror film, skip it. It is not for children, whatever the source material.
Where to Watch
Pinocchio: Unstrung opened in theatres worldwide on July 24, 2026, and became available digitally on September 7. It’s rated R.
FAQ
Is it for kids? No. Despite the story it’s based on, it’s a violent R-rated horror film.
Do I need to see the Pooh movies? No. It stands alone, though it belongs to the same shared universe.
How long is it? About 80 minutes.
Is it the best Twisted Childhood Universe film? Several reviewers say so, though that bar is described as low.
Final conclusion
Pinocchio: Unstrung is a messy, gory, surprisingly spirited horror romp. It won’t convert skeptics, but if you like practical effects and a knowing sense of camp, you’ll likely have fun.
