Pinocchio Unstrung is turning the wooden boy into the latest horror figure in the Poohniverse, and director Rhys Frake-Waterfield says the film needed a physical puppet to make the character work onscreen.
The film comes from the team behind the Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey universe, which has been reworking public-domain childhood characters into slasher villains.
The Express Tribune, summarizing Frake-Waterfield’s new Variety interview, reported that the director wanted Pinocchio created with a fully practical animatronic rather than built through digital effects.
The film is scheduled to open in North American theaters on July 24, 2026, with Viva Pictures handling the release.
The Pinocchio Horror Uses a Practical Animatronic
Frake-Waterfield told Variety that practical effects were important because he wanted Pinocchio to feel “tangible and real,” according to The Express Tribune.
The outlet reported that the title character was built as a practical animatronic with flesh-like effects. Bloody Disgusting reported that Todd Masters created the practical animatronic and that Jude Evan Lloyd voices Pinocchio.
The Hollywood News, reviewing the film at Raindance 2026, wrote that the movie brings Pinocchio to life with an actual puppet rather than weak CGI effects.
Robert Englund Voices the Cricket
Robert Englund voices the Cricket in the film. Richard Brake plays Geppetto, and Cameron Bell plays James, Geppetto’s grandson.
Bloody Disgusting reported that the story is set inside an elite London prep school. Geppetto creates Pinocchio, and the puppet begins a violent mission to become a real boy.
The cast also includes Jessica Balmer, Jack Art Gray, and Peter De Souza-Feighoney.
Early Reviews Mention Child’s Play and M3GAN
Pinocchio Unstrung recently screened at Raindance. The Hollywood News called it one of the stronger entries in the Twisted Childhood Universe and compared its puppet-horror approach to Child’s Play and M3GAN.
The review said the film uses kill sequences and gross-out moments while keeping the focus on its practical puppet. It also singled out Englund’s vocal work as the Cricket and Brake’s performance as Geppetto.
Bloody Disgusting reported that the film had its world premiere at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival, where an attendee passed out because of the extreme gore.
The Film Sets Up Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble
Frake-Waterfield also discussed Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble in the Variety interview. The Express Tribune reported that he described the crossover as “kooky, crazy and fun.”
The crossover is expected to unite horror versions of Winnie-the-Pooh, Bambi, Peter Pan, Pinocchio, and other public-domain characters introduced across the shared universe.
Bloody Disgusting reported that the Twisted Childhood Universe already includes Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2, Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare, and Bambi: The Reckoning.
Pinocchio Unstrung Opens in July
Pinocchio Unstrung is scheduled to open in North American theaters on July 24. The Hollywood News reported that the film is also set for a U.K. cinema release on July 24.
Frake-Waterfield wrote and directed the film and produced it with Scott Jeffrey through Jagged Edge Productions. The release keeps the Poohniverse moving before the planned Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble crossover.