Pinocchio: Unstrung, the latest entry in the Twisted Childhood Universe, transforms the beloved puppet into a sick serial killer. Directed by Rhys Frake-Waterfield, the film follows the pattern of the grisly Winnie-the-Pooh movies, aiming for black comedy but landing as a nasty, shock-free horror.
Plot and Setting
The story takes place at a stately home in the English countryside, where inventor Geppetto (Richard Brake) lives with his preteen grandson James (Cameron Bell), whose parents died in an accident and who recently lost a friend to childhood cancer. To provide James with a friend who will never die, Geppetto carves Pinocchio out of wood and brings him to life. Like Chucky from the Child's Play series, Pinocchio is a creepy doll with a malevolent face and rictus grin. James is terrified at first, but the two quickly become friends. The film includes juvenile gags, such as Pinocchio noting in an encyclopedia that Geppetto missed a vital bit of anatomy.
From Friend to Killer
One day, James sneaks Pinocchio into his school bag, instructing him not to move. When James is bullied by classmates and mutters, “I wish they were all dead,” Pinocchio ignores the instructions and begins a killing spree. The film attempts to blend horror with satire, but the yucky bits feel like replays of slasher cliches without meaningful commentary.
Problematic Elements and Technical Flaws
A particularly troubling scene involves a female character playing a schoolkid who gets a slasher moment topless in the shower, with the camera panning across her naked silhouette behind the curtain. This should have raised alarm bells during production. Technically, the gore appears too fake to be properly disgusting. The gruesome moments may elicit chuckles from the audience, but no gasps. The film fundamentally fails to deliver any shocks, raising the question of whether it can be considered proper horror.
Release and Reception
Pinocchio: Unstrung is set for release in UK and US cinemas on 24 July. Like its predecessors in the Twisted Childhood Universe, it offers feeble satire and shock-free horror, appealing primarily to those seeking bad-taste entertainment.
