Movies
TV: ABC’s ‘The River’ Has “Soft” Premiere
One thing about watching a new TV series is that you risk getting attached, only to have it canceled before the debut season ends. This is why I typically wait until the second season is announced to jump aboard (although I took the day one dive with “American Horror Story” and “The Walking Dead”).
THR writes that the two-hour premiere of ABC’s “The River,” which, while soft in its returns and declining every half hour, still topped last season’s comparable mid-season time slot entry, “Off The Map.”
“The River” pulled in a 2.4 among adults 18-49, with a 2.5 at 9:00 p.m. and a 2.2 at 10:00 p.m.., and gave the net its strongest showing in the time slot since the fall finale of “Dancing With the Stars.” ABC averaged a 2.4 among 18-49-ers for the night and 7.6 million viewers.
While off to a weak start, there’s still plenty of hope for the new series from Paranormal Activity creator Oren Peli — but it can just as easily capsize into the abyss…
Horror stalwart Richard Brake (Barbarian, The Strangers trilogy) puppeteers a dangerous secret as Geppetto in a new clip from Pinocchio Unstrung.
Part of the cinematic universe known as the “Poohniverse,” Pinocchio Unstrung puts a horror movie spin on the classic tale, releasing in theaters on July 24, 2026.
Meet Geppetto and his creepy wooden puppet in an official clip from Pinocchio Unstrung below.
The chilling reimagining of the familiar fable is set inside an elite London prep school. Created by Geppetto and influenced by a sinister Cricket, Pinocchio launches a violent crusade to carve himself into a real boy like his brother, one piece at a time…
Horror icon Robert Englund (Nightmare on Elm Street) voices the role of Cricket.
Pinocchio is voiced by Jude Evan Lloyd and brought to life via a practical animatronic created by Todd Masters (“Tales from the Crypt,” Slither). Cameron Bell, Jessica Balmer, Jack Art Gray, and Peter De Souza-Feighoney also star.
Rhys Frake-Waterfield (Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey) writes and directs the fairy tale slasher, in addition to producing alongside Scott Jeffrey via their Jagged Edge Productions.
Pinocchio Unstrung has been rated ‘R’ for “strong bloody horror violence and gore, language and brief graphic nudity.”
This is fifth entry in the Twisted Childhood Universe, following Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey and its sequel, Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare, and Bambi: The Reckoning.
The Poohniverse continues with Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 3, currently in production, and the crossover film Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble, slated to shoot this summer.
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