On this episode of 30 Screams or Less, we review Pinocchio Unstrung, the twisted new horror reimagining of the classic Pinocchio story from writer and director Rhys Frake-Waterfield.

Starring Richard Brake as Geppetto, Robert Englund as Cricket, Jude Evan Lloyd as the voice of Pinocchio, and Cameron Bell as James, Pinocchio Unstrung follows the iconic wooden puppet on a disturbing journey to become a real boy — one that involves brutal kills, stolen body parts, and a seriously warped interpretation of the original story.

We break down the movie’s incredible practical puppetry and animatronic effects, Richard Brake’s menacing performance, Robert Englund’s Freddy Krueger-inspired callbacks, Andrew Scott Bell’s score, the surprisingly compelling story, and some of the most ridiculous and creative kills in the Poohniverse so far.

Is Pinocchio Unstrung another goofy public-domain horror movie, or has the Twisted Childhood Universe officially turned these childhood characters into legitimately entertaining horror?

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