‘Pinocchio Unstrung’ Promises A Bloody Horror Take on A Classic Tale

Public domain is a double-edged sword; it gives creatives an opportunity to swim in familiar waters, offering multicultural takes on tales as old as time, reinvigorating the classics. It also gives us seemingly needless duds like Winnie the Pooh: Blood & Honey. Sometimes, however, it gives us horror gold, and that’s what seems to be galvanizing for the upcoming film Pinocchio Unstrung.

Starring horror icons Richard Brake as Geppetto and Robert Englund as the voice of Cricket, Pinocchio Unstrung reimagines the infamous wooden boy as the host of a soul drawn towards evil. Cricket serves as the conscience guiding Pinocchio to become real by any means necessary, and the trailer doesn’t shy away from demonstrating just how that might happen.

Ironically, the film is written and directed by Rhys Frake-Waterfield, the very same “auteur” who brought us Winnie the Pooh: Blood & Honey and its unnecessary sequel, which I’d just lambasted. However, based on this trailer, the few clips I’ve seen, and the recruiting of major talent like the previously mentioned horror luminaries, I’m willing to give this one a try.

If you still need a little more incentive, here’s a sneak peek clip from the film, showing the dynamic between Pinocchio and his fleshy counterparts, highlighting the seamless integration of the special effects and modernization of the material:

So will you be lining up to see this new take on everyone’s favorite wooden boy or do you prefer him with strings? Sound off below and don’t forget to check back here after you’ve seen the film to see what we thought of it. And of course, for all of your movies, comics, streaming, and book news, we’ve got you covered.