The world of twisted, reimagined childhood characters is expanding. Following the success of Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey and Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare, a new addition to the so-called “Poohniverse” is set to launch this year. Bambi: The Reckoning will introduce a chilling twist on the beloved deer, taking audiences into uncharted territory with a horror-driven plot.
It was released the official trailer for the film this morning, confirming a Summer 2025 release date. The film, described as “Cujo meets Jurassic Park,” promises to offer something fresh amid the rising wave of public domain horror movies. Unlike its predecessors, which primarily embraced masked slashers, Bambi: The Reckoning will lean into creature-feature territory, evoking nostalgia for Syfy’s wild creature films, such as Sharktopus.
The film follows a gripping premise: after a car accident, a mother and son find themselves stalked by a vengeful Bambi—now a mutated, grief-stricken deer seeking revenge for the loss of its own mother. Director Dan Allen, known for Unhinged, teases a terrifying experience, warning that viewers may never look at deer the same way again. He states, “It’s gonna be terrifying. When people see a deer in the wild after this film, they’re gonna run for the hills. This film is about the death of childhoods as much as it’s gonna ruin childhoods. Expect bloodshed, tears, and rabbits… and one mean killer deer. At last, the British countryside will finally get its Godzilla.”
The cast includes Roxanne McKee (Wrong Turn 5, Game of Thrones) in the lead role as Xana, with Tom Mulheron portraying her son. Additional cast members include Nicola Wright (Sexy Beast), Samira Mighty (Beauty and the Beast), Alex Cooke (Blood Vessel), and Russell Geoffrey Banks (Ghost House).
Produced by ITN Studios and Jagged Edge Productions, the film is written by Rhys Warrington. Bambi: The Reckoning is part of the expanding “Twisted Childhood Universe,” or Poohniverse, which will also introduce Pinocchio Unstrung. These dark reimaginings of classic characters will culminate in Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble later this year.
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