What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedPinocchio: Unstrung
Rhys Frake-Waterfield · Film · 2026
If you loved Pinocchio: Unstrung, start with The Adventures of Pinocchio (Carlo Collodi, 1929) — a book from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Pinocchio: Unstrung across media.
If you enjoyed the twisted transformation of a familiar childhood icon in Pinocchio: Unstrung, these stories explore dark, unsettling reimaginations.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Pinocchio
Hamilton Luske · Film · 1940
Adaptation
The Adventures of Pinocchio
Luigi Comencini · Film · 1972
Books on the same thread
The Adventures of Pinocchio
Carlo Collodi · Book · 1929
Explores: redemption, coming-of-age, good vs evil.
After witnessing the violent evolution in Pinocchio: Unstrung, return to the original text to see how Collodi’s classic puppet foundation was subverted into a modern nightmare of body horror.
Rowley Jefferson's Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories 2
Jeff Kinney · Book · 2026
Explores: childhood imagination, spooky folklore, absurdist humor.
Much like the unsettling tone found in Pinocchio: Unstrung, these stories use childhood imagery to deliver a haunting experience that balances dark folklore with a morbid sense of humor.
A Deadly Episode
Anthony Horowitz · Book · 2026
Explores: film industry satire, story-within-a-story, detective tropes.
If the meta-narrative and grim industry focus of Pinocchio: Unstrung appealed to you, this satire provides a sharp, deadly look at the chaos behind professional film productions.
Untitled KRRAE
Anonymous KRRAE · Book · 2026
If Pinocchio: Unstrung hit, Untitled KRRAE shares the thread.
Series on the same thread
IT: Welcome to Derry
Andy Muschietti · Series · 2025
Explores: Childhood Trauma, Ancient Evil, Group of Friends.
The grim atmosphere of Pinocchio: Unstrung finds a counterpart here, as a group of misfits uncovers a buried ancient evil that threatens to consume their small town.
Among Us
Series · 2026
If Pinocchio: Unstrung hit, Among Us shares the thread.
Young Sherlock
Matthew Parkhill · Series · 2026
Explores: Protagonist with a dark past, Conspiracy thriller, Intellectual underdog.
Just as Pinocchio: Unstrung reimagines a classic figure through a lens of violence, this series peels back the layers of a famous legend to reveal a darker, raw origin.
Stranger Things: Tales from '85
Eric Robles · Series · 2026
Explores: paranormal investigation, small-town secrets, monsters among us.
Fans of the supernatural menace in Pinocchio: Unstrung will appreciate this return to Hawkins, where the characters face terrifying monsters that mirror the dread of a relentless, unnatural threat.
Podcasts on the same thread
Dr. Insanity
Podcast · 2026
Explores: Crime Investigation, Unexplained Mysteries, Supernatural Horror.
The visceral horror and psychological terror that define Pinocchio: Unstrung are echoed in these scary stories, which delve into the unexplained mysteries that haunt the modern digital age.
Passenger List
Passenger List and Radiotopia · Podcast · 2025
If Pinocchio: Unstrung hit, Passenger List shares the thread.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Pinocchio: Unstrung based on the same source material as the 1940 Disney movie?
Yes, Pinocchio: Unstrung is a reimagining of the original character created by Carlo Collodi, which also served as the source material for the 1940 film and the 1929 book, The Adventures of Pinocchio.
What is the primary motivation for the violence in Pinocchio: Unstrung?
In Pinocchio: Unstrung, the character is influenced by a sinister Cricket and launches a violent crusade against others to carve himself into a real boy, mirroring his brother James, one piece at a time.
Should I watch the 1972 The Adventures of Pinocchio before Pinocchio: Unstrung?
You do not need to watch the 1972 adaptation to understand Pinocchio: Unstrung. While both films utilize the classic Pinocchio character, Pinocchio: Unstrung is a standalone horror interpretation directed by Rhys Frake-Waterfield that features a unique, violent plot.
Who created the character in Pinocchio: Unstrung?
In Pinocchio: Unstrung, the character is created by Geppetto. This version of the story follows his violent crusade to become a real boy, which differs significantly from the traditional narrative found in the 1929 book or the 1940 film.