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Pinocchio Unstrung

Play trailer 1:53 Poster for Pinocchio Unstrung R Jul 2026 1h 20m Horror Mystery & Thriller Fantasy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
74% Tomatometer 23 Reviews 66% Popcornmeter 50+ Verified Ratings
A chilling reimagining of the familiar fable, Pinocchio Unstrung unfolds inside an elite London prep school. Influenced by a sinister Cricket (Robert Englund) and created by Geppetto (Richard Brake), Pinocchio launches a violent crusade to carve himself into a real boy like his brother James, one piece at a time.

Critics Reviews

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Guy Lodge Variety 4h
Anyone who was tickled by an evil Pooh Bear may get a kick out of an evil Pinocchio, but the director’s so-called Twisted Childhood Universe remains a pretty old-hat idea, not mined here with any great daring. Go to Full Review
Kevin Maher The Times (UK) 4d
1/5
The screenplay by the writer-director Rhys Frake-Waterfield is littered with nonsequiturs. The performances are horribly stilted. Go to Full Review
Mark Kermode Kermode and Mayo's Take (YouTube) 4d
I dislike less than the other ones. Go to Full Review
Adam Olinger Adam Does Movies (YouTube) 1d
The most shocking part of this new entry in the Twisted Childhood Universe is that it's actually good! Go to Full Review
Deniz Arslan Battle Royale With Cheese 1d
7/10
Pinocchio Unstrung may not reinvent horror, but its terrific creature design, practical effects, gleeful black humor, and infectious energy make it one of Rhys Frake-Waterfield's strongest films yet. Go to Full Review
Jack Martin Film Feeder 3d
2/5
Only in the few fleeting moments when it embraces how ridiculous its concept is does Pinocchio Unstrung start to come together, but the awkward execution provides too thick a barrier for it to fully work. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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matthew 19h The story had a good twist, the murder scenes were pretty epic…overall a nice addition to the Poohniverse! See more Pedro B 1d good and gory. the story is decent. it is nice to see animatronics in movies instead of just cgi. horror fans will like this one See more Kenneth P 1d I love how they used practical effects throughout this entire movie, which kept it grounded. This is not the typical story of Pinocchio, there are horror elements. Worth a watch if that is what you are into See more Dallas 1d Movie was good! The kill scenes are very creative and gruesome! I would recommend and I'm hoping it'll get a 4k steelbook! See more Brandon G 2d The upstart British production company Jagged Edge Productions continues to carve out a unique niche in modern independent horror. Pinocchio: Unstrung is the latest entry in the studio's Twisted Childhood Universe, the brainchild of Rhys Frake-Waterfield, which has become known for transforming beloved childhood fairy tales into dark, violent horror films. Jagged Edge struck gold with Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, which grossed more than $7 million worldwide against a remarkably modest budget. While subsequent entries have not reached those same box office heights, they have continued to demonstrate the studio's ability to deliver entertaining, well-crafted horror on a shoestring budget. Pinocchio: Unstrung follows the now-familiar formula of taking an iconic childhood character and reimagining them as a relentless killer. What makes the formula work is not simply the shock value, but the consistently impressive production values achieved with limited financial resources. The cinematography, practical effects, and creature design all exceed expectations for productions of this scale. Much of the film's success also rests on the shoulders of its capable cast. Cameron Bell anchors the story as James, a sympathetic protagonist whose sincere and emotionally grounded performance provides the audience with a character worth investing in. Bell's portrayal ensures that, amid the carnage, viewers genuinely hope James survives. In many respects, Jagged Edge Productions recalls the classic British studio Hammer Film Productions. Like Hammer in its heyday, Jagged Edge has demonstrated an ability to attract talented performers while maximizing production value despite modest budgets. The comparison is fitting not because the films share the same style, but because both studios understand how to deliver ambitious genre entertainment with limited resources. Make no mistake, however—Pinocchio: Unstrung is not aspiring to be high art. It is an unapologetically grisly horror film packed with graphic violence, inventive kills, and generous amounts of gore. It knows exactly what its audience expects and delivers it with confidence. Without venturing into spoiler territory, *Pinocchio: Unstrung* stands as one of the strongest installments in the *Twisted Childhood Universe* to date. As Jagged Edge Productions continues to refine its formula and expand its audience, one can only hope the studio's growing success will lead to wider theatrical distribution and even greater opportunities for these uniquely British horror productions. See more Michelle 2d A fun chaotic, unhinged movie to say the least. Dont expect a good plot, just expect a good time. See more Read all reviews
Pinocchio Unstrung

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Pinocchio Unstrung

Pinocchio Unstrung: Movie Clip - Hospital Joyride Pinocchio Unstrung: Movie Clip - Hospital Joyride 1:41 Pinocchio Unstrung: Movie Clip - Cricket Introduces Himself Pinocchio Unstrung: Movie Clip - Cricket Introduces Himself 0:52 View more videos

Movie Info

Synopsis A chilling reimagining of the familiar fable, Pinocchio Unstrung unfolds inside an elite London prep school. Influenced by a sinister Cricket (Robert Englund) and created by Geppetto (Richard Brake), Pinocchio launches a violent crusade to carve himself into a real boy like his brother James, one piece at a time.
Director
Rhys Frake-Waterfield
Producer
Rhys Frake-Waterfield, Scott Chambers, Robert Englund, Richard Brake, Jessica Balmer, Cameron Bell
Screenwriter
Rhys Frake-Waterfield
Distributor
ITN Distribution
Production Co
Jagged Edge Productions
Rating
R (Strong Bloody Horror Violence|Brief Graphic Nudity|Language|Gore)
Genre
Horror, Mystery & Thriller, Fantasy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 24, 2026, Limited
Runtime
1h 20m