A blood-soaked reimagining of Pinocchio is heading to cinemas. The trailer gives a sneak peek into a new gory take on the classic fable. It arrives courtesy of Jagged Edge Productions, the studio that previously shocked audiences with Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey.
This time, the target is Carlo Collodi’s wooden marionette, now transformed into a murderous creation hunting for human flesh within the corridors of a prestigious London boarding school. The trailer does not attempt to soften its violent intent. Instead, it leans headfirst into the grotesque, presenting a puppet who will stop at nothing to shed his artificial form.
R-Rated Pinocchio Unstrung movie gets a scary new trailer with release date
Directed by Rhys Frake-Waterfield, Pinocchio Unstrung reimagines the classic tale as a gory horror set inside an elite London prep school. What separates this Pinocchio Unstrung trailer from the recent glut of twisted childhood adaptations is its apparent sincerity.
The preview plays its absurd premise completely straight, evoking the unsettling tone of horror slasher movies, but the film carves out its own identity through sheer commitment to the bit. Emmy winner Todd Masters has overseen the practical animatronics, and the results are striking.
Pinocchio himself moves with a jerky, unnatural physicality that makes every frame uncomfortable. The digital effects appear polished rather than an afterthought, and the gore sequences are unrelenting.
The official synopsis outlines, “Pinocchio Unstrung unfolds inside an elite London prep school. Influenced by a sinister Cricket (Robert Englund) and created by Geppetto (Richard Brake), Pinocchio launches a violent crusade to carve himself into a real boy like his brother James, one piece at a time.” Cameron Bell stars as James, with Jessica Balmer rounding out the cast.
Pinocchio Unstrung has already got festival credibility. It premiered at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival, where it took home the Silver Méliès Special Jury Prize in the European Competition. It also screened at the Raindance Film Festival, landing nominations for Best Horror, Best UK Feature, Best UK Cinematography, and Best Performance in a UK Feature Film.
Pinocchio: Unstrung runs 88 minutes, carries an anticipated R rating, and releases on July 24, 2026.
