Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey (2023)

   

Produced, Written & Directed by: Rhys Frake-Waterfield

Starring:

Maria Taylor .... Maria
Nikolai Leon .... Christopher Robin
Craig David Dowsett
.... Pooh Bear
Chris Cordell .... Piglet
Amber Doig-Thorne .... Alice
Natasha Rose Mills .... Jess
Danielle Ronald .... Zoe

Release Dates:
Quick Theatrical: February 15, 2023; Frightfest Glasgow: March 10, 2023 (UK)

 

Rating:

 

When Christopher Robin (Nikolai Leon) grew up he left his animal friends while attending college in which Pooh and his friends were starving and some left for dead.
Pooh Bear (Craig David Dowsett) and Piglet (Chris Cordell) were the only two survivors as they are hungry for blood and goes on a killing rampage to anyone that trespasses into their woods as well as torturing Christopher Robin while returning after graduating from his university.

 

At the start of the film there's some sketch art of the characters and as to what happened to them when Christopher Robin had to leave them for university along with the starvation on these animals along with who survived from this which looked pretty zany.
Then it's present day as Christopher Robin and his fiancée return to the goes back to the Hundred Acre Wood to reunite with his friends in which their conversations while walking back there looked nice and peaceful which flowed perfectly.
Suddenly they discover that the area isn't the same anymore in which makes things look truly creepy along with them going into Pooh and Piglet's home when he spots something terrifying on a piece of paper. Plus they hear someone enetering and try to hide in which this left a chill down my spine wondering if these two will be okay. Shows interesting horror timing before the opening credits but then it's a disappointment later on in the story.
However, after the closing credits things look fairly strong with Maria talking to her shrink on some bad incidents that she experienced in the past which was nicely put into the story with good camera shots on all of this.
While her and a bunch of friends decide to to rent a cabin in those woods one of her friends gets lost and spots Pooh in which he charges at her in which this is supposed to look scary but this all falls flat big time.
While we wonder as to what happened to Christopher Robin we find out and boy it isn't pretty as Pooh holds him up as prisoner in the treehouse as this so called silly old bear tortures him with lots of strong moments and well focused camera shots on all that is happening during this moment. Within this scene we spot a flashback sequence as Christopher when he was little and being happy talking to Pooh Bear about staying with him forever which seemed to do okay in the story.
Then one of the friend's who happens to be Lara decides to relax in a hot tub which takes a bit too long to watch but then we have Pooh spying on her as this is supposed to look creepy but misses by a longshot.
Before you know it she is pinned to the ground by Piglet and Pooh has a vehicle with the tire next to her head in which this was all carefully focused and making you cringe on what's going to happen as slasher fans may find this mildly amusing to watch.
Chaos breaks out with the other friends by trying to get away from these animals in which there's a moment when one of them tries to get away while being in a swimming pool and Piglet tries to come after her with a seldgehammer in which they tried to make this slashing moment different than the rest on the situation it falls flat.
Yet one of the friends gets vengeful towards Piglet which looked very powerful and made me want to cheer for what happens here. This moments was well focused and concentrated big time looking strong. Plus there's a battered up victim that also tries to seek revenge as I didn't understand as to who this person was.
All of this commotion saves the flick from bombing as we have some great adrenaline with Jess and Maria trying to escape from Pooh in the misty deep dark woods which the setting looked truly dark and creepy. Along with all of this they spot a car and stops them by telling hese local redneck type of hunters as to what is happening along with these men confronting Pooh in which this bear stands still while they taunt him which leaves a deep creepy feeling that he will do something deadly to these hunters.
The ending is very stupid and beforehand Christopher Robin tries to plead to Pooh before killing someone else and all of this looked pointless to watch the outcome.
Bottom line is that this is very sad in which I was expecting a so bad it's good but it's awful. Plus this film can spark controversy omn making those happy children's novels into a ghastly nightmare. I wouldn't recommend little kids trying to watch this and then being too scared to have a bedtime story on the novels. Also Piglet is not a little character like in the book or the cartoons. He's hulking with fangy teeth. Of course making this flick is an excuse to try and make money. This was a real waste of time.

The acting is in fair taste but only certain one's worth mentioning such as Maria Taylor (Maria) does a nice job with her calm and soft spoken words. Also shows some good energy especially when the terror strikes. Does a nice job adding alot of adrenaline as well as showing great aggressions and being fearful too. She was a worthy character actress.
Nikolai Leon (Christopher Robin) does a fabulous job playing this type of role in which he shows off a nice innocent and charming attitude and doing a nice job by acting mellow during the start of his performance along with acting a bit fearful after what he spots in a certain scene. Reacts well to being tortured or pleading near the end of his performance bringing all of this to the extreme. He can definetely go places and be in better shows than this clunker.
Amber Doig-Thorne (Alice) was another attention grabber as she was good with her emotional attitude and knew on how to act fearful. Also was terrific later on in her performance when she acts vengeful and snarling at her arch enemy. She was a full force of nature and was believeably tough when seeking her revenge.
Natasha Rose Mills (Jess) had the right brainy looks for her role in this one and seems to be passable when she speaks her lines as well as doing a fair job with her serious and calm attitude. Does a nice job with her energy when she tries to struggle and get away during the near end of her performance.

A top is stripped off revealing breasts.

A woman is grinded in a woodchipper. Then her blood is dumper on Christopher Robin's head.
Another one's head is run over by a vehicle with her brains splattered open.
Head is bloodily bashed by a sledgehammer.
Piglet is bashed by the sledgehammer as well.
Knife is imaled through someone's mouth and looking graphic.
Reneck hunters have their wrists snapped off, head bloodily bashed and other gruesome horror violence such as that.
Head is decapitated
Throat is bloodily slit.

Andrew Scott Bell offered some real powerful classical composing for this piece which is another reason as to why I didn't bomb this flick. During the beginning of the film showing the sketch art history of Pooh and Christopher Robin we hear some light chiming which was impressive. THen there's alot of high intense violin music and deep trombone playing along with drum poundings and metal clashings for when the terror strikes and boy can it be loud as it would almost stand on the edge of your seat. Not only that, there's some vocal harmony in the middle of the plot which sounds good too. Yes he was versatile with his music and hats off to him.

Pooh Bear: [Breaks vow not to talk] You left.