Pinocchio’s Revenge

Pinocchio’s Revenge

Year: 1996

Runtime: 96 mins

Language: English

Director: Kevin Tenney

MysteryHorrorHorror

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 – Pinocchio’s Revenge (1996)

Trace every key event in Pinocchio’s Revenge (1996) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Evidence puppet delivered

A fellow attorney explains the Pinocchio puppet's bizarre origin and its role as belated evidence in the case. It had been buried by Gotto in his son's grave, and Jennifer had requisitioned it earlier to examine for clues. The puppet arrives at Jennifer's law office as a symbol of the case taking an eerie turn.

Pre-trial / evidence delivery Jennifer's law office
2

Jennifer brings puppet home

Jennifer takes the puppet home to examine it more closely. Zoe mistakes it for a birthday gift and immediately forms an unsettling bond with the puppet.

Evening after delivery Jennifer's home
3

Zoe bonds with Pinocchio

Zoe develops a troubling relationship with Pinocchio, treating the puppet as a confidant. Her emotional state deteriorates as she becomes more unbalanced, and the puppet seems to exert a growing influence over her. The dynamic foreshadows the danger to those around her.

Following days Zoe's room
4

School bully incident

At school, Zoe's bully is pushed in front of a bus. Zoe blames Pinocchio for the accident, insisting the puppet is protecting her.

Day School
5

David Kaminsky accident

David Kaminsky, babysitting Zoe, is knocked down the basement stairs. Zoe calls 9-1-1, and he survives the immediate danger. The incident foreshadows the serious consequences linked to the puppet and Zoe's influence.

That night Zoe's home (basement area)
6

Therapy session and revelation

During a therapy session, Zoe and Pinocchio clash over blame for the accident. Jennifer and Dr. Edwards watch the exchange through a video feed and realize Zoe is talking to herself rather than a real puppet.

During therapy Therapy room and observation room
7

Pinocchio freed; pursuit begins

Pinocchio convinces Zoe to set him free, promising to confess to David. Zoe cuts his strings and lets him go, and the pair head toward the hospital as Zoe pursues the puppet.

That night Home and hospital route
8

David's life support is unplugged

In a chilling moment, an unknown person walks into David's hospital room and unplugs his life support, killing him. The act unfolds from a first-person perspective and marks the puppet's deadly reach.

That night David's hospital room
9

Puppet locked in the trunk

Zoe denies visiting the hospital and blames Pinocchio for David's death. An angry and confused Jennifer locks the puppet in the trunk of her car, hoping to keep it away from Zoe.

That night Jennifer's car / home
10

Babysitter Sophia attacked and killed

Zoe is left in the care of babysitter Sophia for the night. Sophia reminds Zoe that she once gave Pinocchio a cricket to serve as a conscience. Zoe checks on the cricket and finds it killed, and Sophia is then attacked and killed by someone wielding a fireplace poker.

That night Jennifer's house
11

Jennifer confronts Zoe and discovers the poker

Jennifer returns home to find Sophia dead and Zoe standing in a dark hallway with a poker. When Jennifer tries to confront Zoe, the girl runs away in a panic. The tension between mother and daughter escalates as fear takes over the house.

That night Jennifer's house
12

Puppet attack and Zoe's reveal

Jennifer confronts Pinocchio's presence as Zoe is revealed to be connected to the puppet. Pinocchio turns on Jennifer, attacking her with a knife. A pursuit through the house ends with Jennifer hurling Pinocchio through a glass coffee table, and Zoe is momentarily shown lying in the puppet's place.

Chase sequence Living room / house
13

Ending: Zoe catatonic and committed

The drama closes with Zoe in a catatonic state, committed to a facility. Jennifer vows not to give up until Zoe recovers, and Dr. Edwards offers a bleak but hopeful line: 'I hope not, for your sake, I hope not.'

Ending Hospital / facility

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 10:52

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Killer doll horror movies like Pinocchio’s Revenge

Stories where innocent-looking dolls or toys harbor a malevolent, murderous presence.If you liked the malevolent puppet in Pinocchio’s Revenge, you'll find similar chills in this collection of killer doll movies. These films explore the terror of childhood toys turned sinister, often featuring supernatural threats and psychological dread, perfect for fans of creepy inanimate objects coming to life.

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Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread typically involve a new, often antique, doll being introduced into a household, leading to a series of unexplained and increasingly violent events. The plot revolves around characters trying to uncover the truth behind the doll's evil nature while surviving its attacks, often with a bleak or ambiguous conclusion.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here based on their shared central antagonist: a malevolent doll. They create a specific type of fear by subverting childhood nostalgia and exploiting the unease of something inanimate moving with purpose. The tone is consistently dark and intense, focusing on suspense and supernatural dread.

Family collapse horror thrillers like Pinocchio’s Revenge

Slow-burn horror where the home becomes a prison and family bonds fracture under supernatural or psychological pressure.For viewers who appreciated the claustrophobic familial terror in Pinocchio’s Revenge, this section highlights similar movies about domestic dread. These films depict homes turning into battlefields and parents grappling with supernatural or psychological threats targeting their children, resulting in heavy emotional weight and bleak outcomes.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves an external evil—often ambiguous, either supernatural or psychological—infiltrating a family home. The story focuses on a parent's desperate attempt to protect their child while their reality unravels. The central conflict is the battle for a child's soul or sanity, leading to a breakdown of the family structure and a sense of profound helplessness.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared core experience: the horror of a safe space becoming unsafe and the specific agony of parental helplessness. They share a slow, steady pacing that builds claustrophobic dread, a dark tone, and a heavy emotional weight derived from themes of child endangerment and familial distrust.

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Pinocchio’s Revenge Summary

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Pinocchio’s Revenge Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Pinocchio’s Revenge

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Pinocchio’s Revenge

Pinocchio’s Revenge Spoiler-Free Summary

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More About Pinocchio’s Revenge

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