Pinocchio Unstrung Locks Release Date as Twisted Horror Teams With a Nightmare on Elm Street Icon

So, in case you were wondering how far we can push the whole 'let's turn childhood icons into nightmare fuel' trend, get ready: the team behind Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey is back at it. Their latest experiment with your childhood memories? 'Pinocchio Unstrung,' an R-rated horror movie set to hit North American theaters on July 24, 2026.

Yep, It’s THAT Pinocchio – But Definitely Not for Kids

Rather than bringing Carlo Collodi's classic wooden boy to life for a new generation of families, 'Pinocchio Unstrung' throws out all the wholesomeness. This is more 'slasher villain with a longing for humanity' than anything like the Pinocchio Disney wanted you to know. The movie is set in an elite London prep school—because, of course, that’s where you unleash a deranged puppet with parental issues.

Who’s Who in This Twisted Fairy Tale?

• Richard Brake (yep, the guy who’s played more than his share of creeps) is Geppetto
• Robert Englund—the original Freddy Krueger—is the not-so-friendly talking cricket. If that’s not casting with a wink, I don’t know what is.
• Cameron Bell is playing James, Geppetto’s human son (presumably still made of organs and not wood… we'll see how long that lasts in this universe)

So, What’s the Actual Plot?

Here’s the basic setup: Geppetto, apparently taking a break from whittling toys to dabble in something far darker, creates Pinocchio. Under the influence of Englund’s sinister cricket, Pinocchio sets out on a bloody, very literal quest to carve himself into a real boy like his brother James—one piece at a time. If you were hoping for a heartwarming family reunion at the end, this is probably not your movie.

The Details (Marketing Edition)

- Length: 88 minutes. Short and sharp, probably a blessing.
- Rating: Pitched hard at the R-rating for obvious reasons.
- Release: North American theaters, July 24, 2026.
- Distributor: Viva Pictures.
- Director/Writer: Rhys Frake-Waterfield (the guy who’s made a cottage industry out of making children’s stories horrifying).
- Producer: Scott Chambers.
- World Premiere: This one had its first screening at Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival back in April. (So yes, some people have already seen it, and presumably a few of them slept afterwards.)

The Pitch, in Their Own Words

"He has no strings to hold him back now."

Clever tagline—a twisted nod to the 1940 animated film. And yes, the movie seems to pride itself on being about as subtle as a marionette with a hatchet.

Victor Elizalde, the president of Viva Pictures, summed up the vibe with: 'It’s a bold take on a familiar property, reimagining Pinocchio through a darker, more visceral lens. The horror audience has proven to be one of the most discerning and engaged in theatrical, and we’re proud to bring exhibitors a distinctive title that can cut through and drive attendance.'

In Case You’re Keeping Track: The ‘Twisted Child Universe’ Is Officially a Thing Now

Believe it or not, 'Pinocchio Unstrung' is the fifth movie in what’s now being called the Twisted Child Universe. So if you thought the Pooh slasher movie was just a one-off, they’ve got other classics lined up for the horror treatment. Time to start guessing which characters are next.