There have been many times in cinema’s history when an absurd and raw film became an anomaly in how it was produced in the first place. The best and most recent examples of this phenomenon are the films in the Twisted Childhood Universe.
The mastermind behind the birth of this franchise is British filmmaker Rhys Frake-Waterfield. The franchise’s first entry was “Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey” (2023), which was also directed by Frake-Waterfield. Upon its release, the film was met with a wide range of reactions.
Many viewers were amused by the concept of a soft and kind character like Winnie-the-Pooh turning into a serial killer alongside his best pal, Piglet. On the other hand, other viewers were disgusted and even shocked by such a film’s existence.
“‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey’ can grab the attention of someone just by reading the title,” Mollie O’Donnell said in a review for The Montclarion. “Other than that, the film is arguably one of the worst things to ever grace the silver screen.”
However, this film and other entries in the Twisted Childhood Universe have a devoted fanbase. The film currently has a 2.9 out of 10 for its IMDb rating. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 3% critic score and a 49% audience score.
Last year, a sequel titled “Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2” (2024) released and was met with a better reception compared to its predecessor. It has a 4.7 out of 10 rating on IMDb and a 47% critic score and 73% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Based on this increase in ratings with the sequel, it is clear more people have taken a liking to these films.
According to a review by Cody Allen of Geek Vibes Nation, “‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 2’ may not be hailed as a masterpiece, but it’s surprisingly, and I mean surprisingly, a genuinely fun ride. It’s competently shot, sporadically well-acted, and delivers plenty of gore that horror fans will revel in.”
Perhaps in a different world, a film like “Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey” probably would never make enough money for a sequel. However, even films considered the trashiest and goriest among fans, such as Damien Leone’s “Terrifier” films, can get greenlit for more installments.
On Jan. 13, “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare” was released as the franchise’s third entry, and it is currently the highest-rated film in the Twisted Childhood Universe. On IMDb, it rests at a decent 6.2 out of 10. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 47% critic score and a 71% audience score.
Becca Johnson, a writer for Film Focus Online, stated in her review of the film: “If you’ve been of the opinion so far that the TCU (Twisted Childhood Universe) doesn’t lean enough into the fun, campy nature that it should do, Neverland Nightmare may do little to impress you. However, fans of a more disturbing nature of horror are likely to be satisfied by this one.”
Upcoming films in the Twisted Childhood Universe include “Bambi: The Reckoning,” “Pinocchio: Unstrung” and “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble.” All films are slated to release in 2025.
Films such as the ones in the Twisted Childhood Universe are not for everyone. However, fans across the world do have a particular interest in this type of cinema.
While some people might question why these films gain attention and rise in popularity, one observation someone could draw from these films’ acclaim are the risks a filmmaker takes when creating something which might never be made again. Overall, these films are projects at least one person might be curious about watching.
