By Ben Wright (@Iamzavagno | www.xgeeks.co.uk)
This review is spoiler-free.
When a series of brutal murders begins terrorising a small town, the truth leads back to a twisted version of one of literature’s most recognisable characters. Taking inspiration from Carlo Collodi’s The Adventures of Pinocchio, Pinocchio Unstrung turns the classic fairy tale into a bloody slasher that comfortably stands on its own within the Twisted Childhood Universe.
This was my first trip into the Twisted Childhood Universe, or the Poohniverse, and by all accounts I’ve picked the right place to start. The previous films haven’t exactly earned the best reputation and, if I’m honest, I’ve never really had much interest in seeking them out. So I’m still not entirely sure what made Pinocchio Unstrung the one that finally got me to go to the cinema. I think the second I heard they were building Pinocchio using practical effects and animatronics, that was my main draw.
I’m really glad I gave it a chance because this was a lot more fun than I expected.
The practical work was the whole reason I bought a ticket, and thankfully it completely delivers. From the shadow puppet theatre opening to the practical title reveal, it almost feels like the film is saying, “Look what we can do.” As someone who loves practical filmmaking, I was grinning from ear to ear.
Pinocchio himself looks fantastic. The mix of puppetry and animatronics sits in that uncomfortable space between believable and completely unnatural, which only makes him creepier. Every movement feels tangible and gives the character far more personality than a fully CGI creation ever could. Once the horror kicks in, you really appreciate just how much the practical work adds.
The only place where the illusion slips a little is the Jiminy Cricket character. He’s mostly created through CGI, and it’s here that the budget shows itself more than anywhere else. It never pulled me out of the film, but after seeing how good everything else looked, he definitely stands out.
The gore effects are an absolute blast. This film doesn’t hold back, but it also knows exactly what sort of film it wants to be. Most of the kills are played with a knowing sense of humour that reminded me quite a bit of Child’s Play. It suits Pinocchio surprisingly well because there’s still something oddly innocent about the character, even while he’s causing absolute carnage.
The cast was all really solid, especially the younger performers. Cameron Bell and Jude-Evan Lloyd have believable chemistry throughout, while Lloyd does a great job bringing this version of Pinocchio to life. Jack Art Gray was a lot of fun as Dudley and honestly gave me mini Nick Frost vibes more than once. Jessica Balmer is also a welcome addition as Mia, even if I would’ve liked the film to do a little more with her.
Then there’s Robert Englund.
Horror fans are always going to enjoy hearing that voice, and while this definitely isn’t the Jiminy Cricket any of us grew up with, Englund feels like the perfect choice.
For me though, Richard Brake steals the film.
I’ve always thought he’s one of the most underrated character actors. He’s usually cast as the creepy or downright horrible bloke, and nobody does it better. Here, he’s still every bit as unsettling, but Geppetto also gives him a chance to show a little more range than we’re used to seeing. I genuinely think this is one of my favourite performances from him.
As for the negatives, there are a few. The pacing loses its footing every now and then, and there are a couple of tonal shifts that don’t quite land. Some of the dialogue also feels a little younger than the film around it, which is strange considering how polished the visuals and practical work are.
Look, this isn’t going to be sweeping awards season. Horror rarely gets that sort of recognition anyway. But if you go in expecting a fun, gory slasher with some genuinely impressive practical effects, I think you’ll have a really good time. I can also see this becoming one of those films that quietly finds a much bigger audience once it lands on streaming.
This was also my first experience with one of Rhys Frake-Waterfield’s films and, honestly, I came away impressed. Maybe people have been too harsh on the earlier Poohniverse entries, or maybe he’s simply grown as a filmmaker, because I thought this looked really good. There’s some genuinely lovely cinematography in here that I wasn’t expecting, and the practical effects give the film a personality that helps it stand out from a lot of low-budget horror.
Andrew Scott Bell’s score also caught me completely off guard. I wasn’t expecting music this good in a film like this, but it genuinely elevates some scenes. Pair that with the practical effects and some really striking visuals, and there are moments that punch well above the film’s budget.
More than anything though, I came away admiring just how ambitious this whole project is.
Stay for the credits. Seriously.
Watching the behind-the-scenes footage of the cast and crew building the puppets, creating the practical effects and bringing everything together only made me appreciate the film even more. Ever since Deadpool & Wolverine ended with behind-the-scenes footage, I’ve found myself wishing more films would do the same. It’s such a simple way of celebrating the people behind the camera, and it felt especially fitting here because you can see just how much passion went into making this film.
If I had to describe Pinocchio Unstrung in one word, it’d be ambitious. They could’ve gone down the cheaper CGI route, and I honestly think the film would’ve lost a huge part of its identity. Choosing practical effects was a gamble, but for me it’s the decision that makes the whole thing work.
Gory, funny and incredibly ambitious, Pinocchio Unstrung proves there’s still plenty of life left in twisted fairy tale horror. Fantastic practical effects, a strong cast and an eye-catching visual style make this one of the biggest surprises I’ve had at the cinema this year. Pinocchio Unstrung pulls all the right strings.
X-Geeks 