Exploitation is one thing, but the Poohniverse has taken the concept in a whole new direction. Thehorrorgenre continues to expand thanks to the bloody and oftentimes hilarious antics of what is also known as The Twisted Childhood Universe, and the filmmaker behindWinnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey,Rhys Frake-Waterfield, is at it again. Yes, Frake-Waterfield serves as writer and producer on director Dan Allen’s upcomingBambi: The Reckoning, and fans can check out the brand-new official trailer below. The brief synopsis for the film reads as follows:
“A mutated deer terrorizes a family in the forest while a group of mercenary hunters are sent out to hunt the bloodthirsty creature.”
Unlike the wholesome way Disney took the character that originally appeared in the pages of author Felix Salten’s coming-of-age story,Bambi, a Life in the Woods(1923), Jagged Edge Productions and ITN Studios have concocted more of a Milwaukee Bucks approach to the beloved character: “Fear the Deer!” It’s been over two months since the first trailer forBambi: The Reckoningdropped in March, and the latest footage only furthers the newly mutated version of Bambi’s bloodlust and savagery.
‘Poohniverse’ Director Teases Which Upcoming Movie Will “Destroy” Everyone’s Childhood
“It’s maybe the best film we’ve now made.”
Game of Thrones’Roxanne McKee will be one of those having to face off against the evil, revenge-seeking Bambi, while the cast also includes Nicola Wright (Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey,Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2, Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare), andCasualty’syoung star Tom Mulheron. For those who think The Twisted Childhood Universe can’t get any stranger, how about anAvengers-style cinematic team-up? Well, it’s actually happening.
The Poohniverse Is Going Where No Horror Film Has Gone Before
Beloved Bambi will jointhe ever-expanding Twisted Childhood Universeover the summer, which already consists of three disturbing horror films (Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2, Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare) to feature familiar characters appearing in Disney movies, but who have all fallen into the public domain. However,Bambi: The Reckoningis only the next step in the development of the Poohniverse, which will feature an Avengers-style team-up between all the villainous characters. The CEO of Jagged Edge Productions, Scott Chambers, addressed the horrific cinematic collaboration by saying (per Variety):
“As horror fans, we would love an Avengers that is all villains. It’d have Freddy Krueger, Jason [Voorhees], Halloween [Michael Myers], Scream [Ghostface], all of those. Obviously, that will never happen, but we can make it happen in our own little way, and that’s where this film has been born.”
Honestly, the upcoming team-up of children’s characters who turned to evil is more likeDestroy All Monsters(1968) orGodzilla: Final Wars(2004), which assembled a who’s who of good and evil kaijus to wage war against one another. Back in March, it was revealed exactly which characters would be a part ofPoohniverse: Monsters Assembleand here’s the frightening roster:
‘Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble’s Characters
Horror fans can whet their appetites while they wait forPoohniverse: Monsters Assembleby watching the next installment in The Twisted Childhood Universe this summer.Bambi: The Reckoningjoinsthe 2025 box officewhen the film drops in theaters on July 25. In the meantime,Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey(Tubi, Pluto TV),Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2(Peacock)andPeter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare(Prime Video) are all currently available to watch online.
Sources:@Bambi_Horror(X),Variety
Bambi: The Reckoning
