Pinocchio’s Revenge

Pinocchio’s Revenge

Year: 1996

Runtime: 96 mins

Language: English

Director: Kevin Tenney

MysteryHorrorHorror the undead and monster classicsIntense violence and sexual transgressionTwisted dark psychological thriller

Defense attorney Jennifer Garrick buys a Pinocchio puppet taken from a condemned serial killer. Her pre‑teen daughter Zoe thinks it’s a birthday gift and quickly bonds with it. Soon, mysterious accidents strike anyone who opposes Zoe. While Zoe blames the doll, her therapist doubts it, and the puppet promises to behave only if Zoe cuts its strings.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Pinocchio’s Revenge (1996)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Pinocchio’s Revenge (1996). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Mid-1990s

The events unfold in a modern, late-20th-century setting characteristic of a suburban American town. Technology and social institutions of the era—schools, clinics, and a legal system—frame the suspense. The timeline emphasizes a sense of contemporaneity and plausibility, grounding the horror in recognizable everyday life.

Location

Jennifer Garrick's House, Local Hospital, School, Therapy Clinic

Set in a contemporary American suburb, most action centers on Jennifer Garrick's house. The narrative also moves to a local hospital and school, reflecting the everyday spaces where family, law, and psychology intersect. The house, with its concealed tensions and the mysterious puppet, serves as the central stage for danger that emerges from within.

🏡 Suburban home 🏥 Hospital 🏫 School 🧪 Therapy clinic

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:55

Main Characters – Pinocchio’s Revenge (1996)

Meet the key characters of Pinocchio’s Revenge (1996), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Jennifer Garrick – Rosalind Allen

Jennifer is a defense attorney who becomes emotionally invested in Vincent Gotto's case. Convinced of his innocence, she brings the Pinocchio puppet into her home to search for clues, placing her daughter Zoe in increasing peril. Her efforts to protect Zoe collide with the terrifying power of the puppet, driving the film's ethical and psychological tensions.

⚖️ Lawyer 👩‍👧 Mother 🧠 Determined

Zoe Garrick – Brittany Alyse Smith

Zoe is an emotionally fragile girl who forms an intense attachment to the Pinocchio puppet. Her fixation unleashes a cascade of violence and manipulation, as she slips between vulnerability and aggression under the puppet's influence. Her shifting mental state anchors the film's horror and tragedy.

👧 Child 🧠 Fragile 💔 Traumatized

Pinocchio

The living puppet whose presence becomes an uncanny catalyst for Zoe's unraveling. It manipulates events and blurs the line between fantasy and reality, turning a child's fear into deadly consequence.

🪵 Puppet 🎭 Malevolence 🌀 Obsession

Pinocchio (voice)

The puppet's voice (provided by the actor) reinforces the menace and shapes Zoe's perception, amplifying the puppet's psychological impact on the girl.

🔊 Voice 🪁 Influence 🕹️ Haunting

Vincent Gotto – Lewis van Bergen

Vincent Gotto stands as the convicted child murderer whose case drives the legal question at the story's heart. The pursuit of truth around his guilt is complicated by the puppet's interference and the powerful emotions of those defending him. The narrative uses his case to explore justice, doubt, and culpability.

⚖️ Accused 💔 Criminal 🧪 Forensic doubt

David Kaminsky – Todd Allen

David is Jennifer's boyfriend who is injured in a basement accident and later dies after life support is unplugged by an intruder. His fate momentarily shifts the investigation toward the puppet's influence and the fragile hold of truth.

💔 Tragic 🏥 Medical 🕯️ Loss

Dr. Edwards – Aaron Lustig

Dr. Edwards is Zoe's psychiatrist, monitoring her therapy sessions and discussing the family's dynamics. He watches events unfold via a video feed and offers clinical perspective on Zoe's mental state and the puppet's role.

🧠 Psychiatrist 🏥 Medical 🎥 Surveillance

Sophia – Candace McKenzie

Sophia is the babysitter entrusted with Zoe's care; she becomes entangled in the night's danger. Her murder marks one of the film's pivotal, violent turning points.

👩‍👧 Babysitter 💔 Danger 🕯️ Tragedy

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:55

Major Themes – Pinocchio’s Revenge (1996)

Explore the central themes of Pinocchio’s Revenge (1996), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

👩‍👧 Mother-Daughter Dynamics

The film centers on a mother (Jennifer) and daughter (Zoe), whose bond becomes strained and dangerous as Zoe forms an unhealthy attachment to the Pinocchio puppet. Jennifer's defense-driven rationality collides with her daughter's vulnerable psyche, revealing the limits of parental control. The puppet becomes a mirror for unresolved fears inside the family, driving the tragic escalation.

⚖️ Guilt and Justice

The case of Vincent Gotto haunts the story, raising questions about innocence, evidence, and who deserves blame. Jennifer's pursuit of truth clashes with the legal system's speed and ambiguity, while the puppet manipulates perceptions of guilt. The narrative suggests that justice can be compromised by perception, fear, and manipulation.

🎭 Reality vs Perception

Events unfold through a lens of shifting reality, as Zoe's conversations with the puppet and the video surveillance reveal the fragility of truth. The audience is kept guessing what is real—the puppet's influence, Zoe's mental state, or the consequences of hidden actions. The film blurs the line between imagination, possession, and actual harm, creating an unsettling sense of uncertainty.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:55

Unlock the Full Story of Pinocchio’s Revenge

Don't stop at just watching — explore Pinocchio’s Revenge in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Pinocchio’s Revenge is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Pinocchio’s Revenge Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Pinocchio’s Revenge, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Pinocchio’s Revenge Summary

Pinocchio’s Revenge Timeline

Track the full timeline of Pinocchio’s Revenge with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Pinocchio’s Revenge Timeline

More About Pinocchio’s Revenge

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Pinocchio’s Revenge: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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Pinocchio’s Revenge (1996) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

Pinocchio’s Revenge (1996) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

Pinocchio’s Revenge (1996) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow