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HorroRated archive entry

Pinocchio: Unstrung

HorroRated verdict
Recommended
2020sSlasherKiller DollBritish HorrorIndependent
Directed by
Rhys Frake-Waterfield
Written by
Carlo Collodi, Rhys Frake-Waterfield
Produced by
Scott Chambers, Rhys Frake-Waterfield, Stuart Alson, Nicole Holland, David Coppa

Why it’s HorroRated

Robert Englund voicing a cricket with terrible advice is a gift, and he sounds like he's having a ball. The central gag, a puppet treating "real boy" as a shopping list, gets played with a straight face and plenty of practical gore, so the kills land as gross and funny at once. Richard Brake adds sly menace as a Geppetto you wouldn't trust with your kids. The teen subplots and shared-universe cameos slow things down and the budget shows in spots, but a late-night crowd with a soft spot for killer dolls will have a bloody good time.

Synopsis

The Twisted Childhood Universe reaches its fifth chapter with Pinocchio: Unstrung (2026), a British independent slasher from writer-director Rhys Frake-Waterfield that reworks Carlo Collodi's 1883 novel with the title puppet as the killer. Richard Brake plays Geppetto and Cameron Bell plays his grandson James, while Jude Evan Lloyd voices Pinocchio and Robert Englund voices a sinister Cricket. Scott Chambers carries Christopher Robin over from the shared universe's bloody Winnie-the-Pooh films. After a Brussels festival debut in April 2026, it opened in theaters on July 24 and became the first in the series to earn generally positive reviews.

Filed under

Where to watch Pinocchio: Unstrung

Subscription
Peacock
Rent or buy
Prime Video · Apple TV · YouTube · Google Play · Fandango at Home

Streaming in the US changes often. Listings from JustWatch via TMDB, checked November 10, 2026.See every option

Quick facts

Release date
July 24, 2026
Runtime
1 hour 22 mins
Country
United Kingdom
Language
English, Ukrainian
Content rating
R
Entry type
Movie

Content notes

  • Strong bloody violence
  • Flaying and disembowelment
  • Brief graphic nudity
  • Strong language
  • Bullying and a child's terminal illness

Tags

Pinocchio: Unstrung trailer