Movies - Pinocchio: Unstrung – The Twisted Childhood Universe turns Carlo Collodi’s puppet into a nightmare

By Mulder, 03 march 2026

Pinocchio: Unstrung continues the strange and increasingly audacious experiment that is the Twisted Childhood Universe, a growing horror franchise that reimagines beloved childhood characters through the lens of slasher cinema, and with this new entry filmmaker Rhys Frake-Waterfield pushes the concept even further by transforming Carlo Collodi’s iconic wooden puppet into a creature of dread rather than innocence. Written and directed by Rhys Frake-Waterfield, and produced by Rhys Frake-Waterfield alongside Scott Chambers, the film represents the fifth installment in the expanding shared universe built by Jagged Edge Productions, a studio that has gained notoriety for its willingness to reinterpret public-domain characters in ways that are deliberately provocative and often surprisingly ambitious given their independent origins. Inspired by Carlo Collodi’s 1883 literary classic The Adventures of Pinocchio, the film explores a far darker psychological territory than the original moral fable, presenting a world where childhood myths mutate into something uncanny and unsettling, and where the boundary between fantasy and nightmare becomes dangerously thin.

At the heart of the story lies a deceptively simple premise that gradually unfolds into something far more sinister: the character of Geppetto, portrayed by Richard Brake, introduces his grandson James to a magical puppet named Pinocchio, a wooden figure who initially appears curious and naïve about the world around him. What begins as an innocent bond quickly spirals into something far more disturbing when James, unaware of the puppet’s literal interpretation of morality and human behavior, begins introducing him to the complexities of real life. In this twisted reinterpretation, Pinocchio’s simplistic understanding of good and evil evolves into a violent crusade against everything he perceives as wrong in the world, creating a narrative that plays with the terrifying implications of innocence turned into fanaticism. The role of the legendary horror figure within the film is further strengthened by the presence of Robert Englund, whose casting immediately sparked excitement among genre fans; the actor, forever associated with Freddy Krueger, brings an undeniable aura of horror pedigree to the project, reinforcing the film’s position within modern cult horror culture while bridging generations of fans.

The supporting cast also includes Cameron Bell, Jessica Balmer, Jack Art Gray, and Peter DeSouza-Feighoney, actors who help ground the film’s surreal premise within a more human emotional framework, something that has gradually become one of the defining traits of the Twisted Childhood Universe as it evolves beyond simple shock value toward a broader mythology. Behind the camera, cinematographer Vince Knight crafts the visual tone of the film, while composer Andrew Scott Bell provides the musical score, an element that will likely play a crucial role in amplifying the eerie atmosphere surrounding the puppet’s transformation from curiosity to menace. The project was filmed in late 2024 after initial production plans targeted a September and October shooting window, with principal photography confirmed to have taken place by November of that year, reflecting the relatively fast production rhythm typical of independent genre filmmaking but also the growing efficiency of Jagged Edge Productions, which has steadily expanded its slate of interconnected horror projects.

One of the most intriguing creative choices revealed during production concerns the design of Pinocchio himself, as Rhys Frake-Waterfield opted to use a fully practical animatronic puppet rather than relying on digital effects, a decision motivated by the director’s desire to give the character a tangible physical presence that audiences could instinctively react to. In an era where CGI often dominates genre filmmaking, the use of practical animatronics adds an old-school horror sensibility reminiscent of creature features from the late twentieth century, a detail that has already sparked curiosity among fans who are eager to see how the puppet will move, emote, and ultimately terrorize characters within the film’s narrative. This approach also reinforces the unsettling quality of the character: a wooden puppet that truly exists within the frame, rather than being digitally inserted, naturally amplifies the uncanny feeling that lies at the core of the story.

The development of Pinocchio: Unstrung was first announced in January 2024, when Rhys Frake-Waterfield revealed that the character of Pinocchio would join the rapidly expanding Twisted Childhood Universe, a franchise concept that aims to unite various public-domain childhood figures into a shared horror mythology. Early promotional concept art quickly circulated online and ignited discussion across genre communities, partly because the idea of turning the famously moralistic puppet story into a slasher narrative represents one of the boldest reinterpretations yet attempted within the universe. At the same time, the announcement hinted that additional characters from classic children’s stories could appear or be introduced across future installments, suggesting that the broader narrative world envisioned by Rhys Frake-Waterfield and Scott Chambers may eventually resemble a dark, interconnected fairy-tale multiverse.

Distributed worldwide by ITN Distribution, the film is scheduled for a theatrical release that will bring this eerie reinterpretation of Carlo Collodi’s creation to international audiences, further cementing the curious phenomenon of public-domain horror adaptations that has emerged in recent years. Whether one approaches the project with excitement, skepticism, or simple curiosity, Pinocchio: Unstrung represents another chapter in a rapidly evolving genre trend where childhood nostalgia is deliberately twisted into something far more unsettling, reminding audiences that the stories once told to comfort children can, under the right creative vision, become surprisingly effective tools for modern horror storytelling.

Synopsis : 
This dark reimagining of Pinocchio explores the unsettling nature of the iconic puppet, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy.

Pinocchio: Unstrung
Written and directed by Rhys Frake-Waterfield
Based on The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi
Produced by Rhys Frake-Waterfield, Scott Chambers
Starring  Robert Englund, Richard Brake, Cameron Bell, Jessica Balmer, Jack Art Gray, Peter DeSouza-Feighoney
Cinematography : Vince Knight
Music by Andrew Scott Bell
Production company : Jagged Edge Productions
Distributed by ITN Distribution (United States)