No Beloved Character Is Safe from Horror Makeovers
Bambi joins Popeye, Winnie the Pooh and Mickey Mouse in genre bloodbaths
Who knew Winnie the Pooh had such a dark side?
“Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” recast the lovable bear as a vengeance-seeking monster terrorizing Christopher Robin and friends.
The 2023 low-budget shocker ($100K) earned enough to warrant a sequel. More installments may ensue.
Why would anyone rebrand a cuddly creature into a slasher-film killer? Shock value, of course. Name recognition matters, too.
Most importantly, the copyright to the character expired in 2022 (Disney retains the rights to the animated bear). And Pooh is far from alone.
Other iconic figures entered the public domain in recent years, including Mickey Mouse and Popeye. Both became fodder for low-budget horror mavens eager to pounce on the properties.
Now, it’s Bambi’s turn.
The adorable Disney creation gets its horror movie closeup this summer with “Bambi: The Reckoning.” The horror film will be released nationwide July 25.
After a mother and son get in a car wreck, they soon become hunted by Bambi, a mutated grief-stricken deer on a deadly rampage seeking revenge for the death of his mother.
It’s a far cry from “Bambi Meets Godzilla,” an infamous short student film from 1969. This Bambi is out for blood.
The trailer is light on character and plot and heavy on blood, jump scares and mayhem. And that’s probably the point.
The upcoming film features fresher faces (Roxanne McKee, Russell Geoffrey, Tom Mulheron) and a “Blood and Honey 2” alum (Nicola Wright). That helps keep the price point as low as possible, another reason why the horror genre is having a moment.