The horror movie Pinocchio Unstrung, the latest entry in the so-called Twisted Childhood Universe (also known as the Poohniverse), has received an R rating for “strong bloody horror violence and gore, language, and brief graphic nudity.”
Written and directed by Rhys Frake-Waterfield (Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey), the film is set to hit U.S. theaters on July 24, 2026.
The story of this chilling reimagining of Carlo Collodi's classic tale unfolds within an elite London boarding school. Created by Geppetto (Richard Brake) and influenced by a sinister Cricket, Pinocchio embarks on a bloody quest to become a real boy like his brother, resorting to increasingly brutal methods in his pursuit of humanity.
In the cast of Pinocchio Unstrung are Richard Brake (Barbarian), Jude Evan Lloyd, Cameron Bell, Jessica Balmer, Jack Art Gray, and horror icon Robert Englund (A Nightmare on Elm Street), who provides the voice of Cricket.
Pinocchio was brought to life through a life-sized animatronic created by Todd Masters (Tales from the Crypt, Slither).
Pinocchio Unstrung is the fifth entry in the Twisted Childhood Universe, which is set to expand further with Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 3 and the crossover Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble.
The official trailer:
The poster:
