British filmmaker Rhys Frake-Waterfield continues reframing children's stories as horror films with 'Pinocchio: Unstrung', building on his 2023 'Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey'. The film reimagines Geppetto as a contemporary mad scientist who creates artificial life within a Gothic mansion setting. Frake-Waterfield demonstrates resourcefulness working within budget constraints, but the film struggles with narrative structure and fails to generate meaningful scares, ultimately offering a concept that feels familiar within this emerging subgenre.

The film's strength lies in its hands-on technical execution, particularly its practical puppetry and animatronic design. The deliberately rough, splintered Pinocchio puppet—styled after Guillermo del Toro's darker 2022 interpretation—represents skilled craftsmanship. Old-school practical gore effects deliver visceral grossness rather than psychological horror, though even the jump scares prove muffled and ineffective. Reviewers note the film shows greater visual ambition than its predecessor whilst remaining narratively hollow, appealing primarily to those entertained by twisted character concepts rather than to audiences seeking substantial horror storytelling.