For this week of spook season, I checked out Rhys Frake-Waterfield’s Pinocchio Unstrung, a twisted take on a Disney classic. Back in 2023, the British indie filmmaker gave us a feral Pooh and Piglet in Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey. It was a poorly-written film that fell flat, a missed opportunity and easily forgettable. Then came a sequel I didn’t bother to see, and a dark Bambi re-imagining that I missed all together. I did catch Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare, which also turned out to be pretty horror-ible.
So, why would I give this one a chance? When you put together an unhinged trailer and showcase horror legend Robert Englund (A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise) as the voice of Cricket, you have my attention. I still held some skepticism, but I was mostly sold. And I’m glad I gave it a go.
After tragedy strikes, James (Cameron Bell) is sent to live with his grandfather Geppetto (Richard Brake: 31, The Strangers reboot trilogy). The woodcarver hopes to alleviate his grandson’s isolation and depression by introducing Pinocchio (voiced by Jude Evan Lloyd). This, however, is not the wooden puppet you remember from your childhood. It’s a terrifying skeletal creature that looks like it walked straight out of a fairytale nightmare.
Despite his haunting appearance, Pinocchio is friendly toward James and they form a quick bond. Things take a turn when James disobeys Geppetto and sneaks the puppet out of the house. One thing leads to another, and Pinocchio’s curiosity results in some off-the-wall death scenes that would’ve done the Final Destination franchise proud.
Things become more brutal and bloody when Cricket, an evil re-imagining of Jiminy, becomes a voice in Pinocchio’s ear. Voiced by Englund to perfection, Cricket’s wicked influence takes hold sending the plot into a whole other nightmarish direction. What unravels is a misguided mission to become a “real boy” and a version of Pinocchio that makes Chucky from Child’s Play look like a Disney character.
The first thing that stands out about this slasher is the practical fx and animatronic puppets and puppetry. Known for his work in films such as Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight (1995) and the 2019 reboot of Child’s Play, special fx artist Todd Masters pulls out all the stops. Some scenes are gruesome, and some are shocking and unsettling. Others will have you scratching your head wondering how the hell they pulled it off on such a modest budget.
While this flick is a wild romp sure to be loved by gore hounds, it also has a level of storytelling that’s lacking in Frake-Waterfield’s previous work. The characters have a little more depth, the plot actually goes somewhere, and Pinocchio has a dramatic character arc that’s a bit more nuanced than expected. As the plot progresses, it shifts to something that feels reminiscent of Buffalo Bill out of Silence of the Lambs, then pivots to a Frankenstein-esque plot twist complete with mad scientist vibes. It sounds like a weird combination, I know. But surprisingly, it works.
Overall, this is a win for Frake-Waterfield’s Twisted Childhood Universe. There are some campy over-the-top moments that’ll have you laugh, and plenty of other scenes that’ll make you cringe and gasp. This film isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s a gore-filled romp full of genre tropes and subtle nods to horror classics, and you’ll probably never look at Pinocchio the same way again. Pinocchio Unstrung is one unhinged way to ruin your childhood and it’s streaming now on Amazon Prime.
