When you think “Disney,” you tend to think of family-friendly films, joyful amusement parks, Oscar-winning Pixar movies. Maybe the large mouse who, much like ’80s pop star Cameo, wears red pants. What you don’t tend to think of is horror, but a newly-released trailer offering our first look at Disney’s latest indicates the studio is ready to step into the horror game in a major way.
What you’re about to see may disturb you (possibly NSFW):
Jesus Christ. This so-called “Pinocchio” is the latest from director Robert Zemeckis (Used Cars, The Polar Express), who’s carved out quite the niche for himself over the past decade or two by making a series of CGI-heavy films where animated characters without souls in their eyes leap and cavort around the screen. Pinocchio (aka The Living Puppet You Must Not Look In The Eyes) appears to be a little like that, with a few actual human beings tossed into the mix for his animated creations to be terrorized by, including Tom Hanks. Seems like a mean thing to do to Tom Hanks, but that’s not any of my business.
As for what the movie’s about: Seems as though The Living Puppet You Must Not Look In The Eyes will tell the tale of a reanimated puppet corpse who gets kidnapped from his father, taken to a carnival in Hell (“Pleasure Island,” my ass), and taunted by a number of freakish CGI abominations who wear clothes and dispense questionable, possibly sinister advice. Those with pupaphobia need not apply.
The press release attached to this trailer said nothing about the film being rated R for “intensity, horrifying imagery, and necromanced puppets,” but they probably just left that out to trick children into watching this. I mean, I get it.
The Living Puppet You Must Not Look In The Eyes arrives on September 8th, just in time for spooky season (“Disney Plus Day”).
