Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield talks about his Winnie the Pooh horror movie and the Peter Pan and Bambi thrillers he still wants to make.
Bycera de aliseabout
Elevated horror is so 2018. Now, in 2023, we're in an era of "mad" horror, beginning with 2021's Malignant and continuing with 2022's Barbarian, 2022's Terrifier 2, and kicking off 2023's M3GAN. Still, none of these movies can be compared to the next one.Winnie the Pooh: Sangue y Mel. Yes, that's right, your favorite teddy bear, your cherished childhood memory, is turning into a bloodthirsty killer.
Directed by Rhys Frake-Waterfield, Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey questions what happens when Christopher Robin outdoes his imaginary plush friends. And unlike Disney's Christopher Robin movie starring Ewan McGregor, Blood and Honey shows that the response is quite violent. We chatted with Frake-Waterfield about his future classic/abomination (depending on how attached you are to Winnie the Pooh and his friends). He told us what this movie is about, who this movie is for, and some of the troubles he went through "destroying" people's perception of his favorite childhood memory.
GameSpot: First of all, what is Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey about?
Rhys Frake-Waterfield:
The overall theme of the film is about abandonment. It focuses on Christopher Robin having this relationship and this friendship with Winnie the Pooh and Piglet and the other creatures when he was younger. As he grew, he fed them. He was almost treating them like a pet.
When he was 15 or 16 years old, he had to move to go to university. And then when he left for college, his friends lost food. They needed to defend themselves more. Then winter came and they had to revert to their animal instincts to survive. The consequence of this, when the food was running out, was that they had to eat his friend Eeyore. Yeah, so they eat Eeyore. His minds are warped because they were so used to being house pets that going out into the wild would drastically change their way of thinking. And that's what happened to Pooh and his friends.
Now they have this twisted hatred, particularly for all of humanity and for Christopher Robin. They are wild and thirsty for blood. And they ate people.
Christopher Robin returns, which is where we move forward in the movie. He sees them and they are furious after seeing him. And during this, his violence affects a group of girls who go to a rural retreat. It's kind of a cabin in the woods environment where they have gone there to escape from reality, the hectic city life and just have a nice cold weekend. But then Winnie the Pooh and Piglet are raging near them and get caught up in the ensuing attack. And you see people hit over the head with sledgehammers. Cars run over their heads. Some people are given chloroform, knives stabbed in the throat... lots of things.
Wow. Knowing that Winnie the Pooh was becoming public domain, did you start the movie before that? Or did you only start working on it after it was in the public domain and rushed to publish it?
Rhys Frake-Waterfield:
It was later. We can produce and get projects moving very quickly. And when we got to February, I think it was, we realized that the concept was there, it was in the public domain, so we could make a movie if we wanted to. And instantly, my eyes lit up at the thought of it.
You have a lot of typical horror villains, where you have werewolves, vampires, zombies, blah blah blah... And I thought, there's something super unique and super interesting about that, where you're twisting a character that's always been considered adorable, small and fluffy in this monstrosity. And, at least afterwards, everyone started seeing the same kind of things that I was imagining at first, which are very strange images.
It's very silly and funny. And it also arouses the interest of many people. Because you're like, "How did he become a monster?" Because it's hard to imagine initially. So yeah, the idea came to us in February. We immediately thought, "Hey, let's get this started." And I started looking at the clothing, what it might look like, what the story might be, the locations. I was saying, "Where can I get this?" And I went ahead full steam ahead, putting all the pieces together, started writing the script and then directing it about a month and a half after the initial idea from the beginning, so it was pretty quick to get going.
And then once it was filmed, about two months later, it started to go absolutely viral. And some of the photos were shared, particularly the one where you have this girl enjoying her time in the jacuzzi. She is having a lot of fun. And then, behind her, you see Pooh and Piglet coming towards her from the darkness. And yes, it's so weird. It's so strange to see a huge Winnie the Pooh with a huge belly, his little ears, with chloroform in his hands.
Will this traumatize people who grew up with Winnie the Pooh? Because my husband is a huge Winnie the Pooh fan. And when he told him about it, he said, "Yeah, I'm not going to see that movie. I don't care what you have to do. I'm not going to see that movie."
Rhys Frake-Waterfield:
There are two camps of people with this movie. You have a 50% who loves it. They say, "This is the best. This is such a unique idea. The concept is amazing." They're super, super excited about it. But then, you have the other 50% of people that I am the devil to. They think I'm pure evil: I'm destroying [the] lives of children and, yes, I should be arrested. We literally get petitions in the UK to stop it. We have already received death threats. Someone said they're going to call the police on us. It's been crazy how controversial this is. And that continues to come out now with the release of the movie. You have 50% [of] one side, 50% [of] the other side.
Well, that's the response we want from people. There are two versions of Winnie the Pooh. There is the Disney version, which is cute and adorable. This is what children should see. And if people want to cement that as their vision of Winnie the Pooh, they can keep that. You don't have to see the movie, our version.
Our version is completely optional. It is aimed at a more horror audience. And for those who don't want to take it too seriously. It's a bit satirical. And it's kind of funny and silly. But looking is completely your choice.
You said it's a satire. So is it okay if we laugh about it?
Rhys Frake-Waterfield:
Yes. This is exactly what I want.
I was trying to think how a buyer would be thinking. When you're at the movies and you're spending money, and you're buying a ticket for Winnie the Pooh as a horror movie, what are you thinking? What do you want to see? And my mind was thinking, if I was paying for this, I would want it to be fun and silly. I wouldn't want it to be just a deadly serious movie. I wish I could sit there and just laugh. And it is a very dry humor. I told all the actors and actresses not to joke about it. I didn't want them to think it was funny that they're running away from Winnie the Pooh and it felt like a B-movie. I wanted them to really believe that it's really scary.
And the humor and silliness comes from being Winnie the Pooh doing something. Like he's holding a knife [and] running after someone. That's what makes it feel a little silly and a little funny. So yeah, I want people to laugh at the movies. You're supposed to go there to have fun: have fun, laugh, have fun. Not all horror movies need to have a deep metaphorical tone and really be high grounded horror. There can also be these silly and funny experiences.
I noticed on your credit list you have upcoming Peter Pan and Bambi horror movies. Is this a new niche that you have found for yourself?
Rhys Frake-Waterfield:
Yeah, I'm cementing myself in a world here where I really want to retell a lot of things. Because I've always had the opinion that I'm getting bored with some of the typical villains: ghosts, werewolves and vampires. I enjoy watching them, but basically I know what I'm going to see. And it's hard for them to be innovative or different. They become very stereotypical. But these recounts and these new characters, you don't know what's going to happen. You don't know what knowledge will be built around it. You don't know what your different characteristics are. And it doesn't have to be limited to just Winnie. There are plenty of other characters out there. And it's not just Disney's. Bambi, I think, is amazing for that. Because everyone says, "Is Bambi going to be a monster?" And it has the same effect as "What the hell?" And your interests arouse. And yes, Peter Pan is another.
But there are many other ideas out there. There is so much [a lot of folklore]. The Tooth Fairy can be very interesting, for example, because it is synonymous with childhood, but it is scary. It's about someone walking into a child's room and putting something under the pillow. It has this darker shade. So there are stories and ideas like that that I can integrate into that. And I want to do a bit of a universe around the retellings, where we take all these nostalgic characters and legends that we've all heard of, to have this commercialization, and then twist them and turn them into a horror landscape. .
So it's going to be the universe of horror fairy tales.
Rhys Frake-Waterfield:
Yes, exactly. Like the Marvel [Cinematic] Universe. But mine with few resources, for now. But now we're starting to get more money and budget for some of them. Because people are seeing the potential in it. I hope I can make some really great ones in the future.
Winnie the Pooh: Blood & Honey is in theaters on February 15.
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FAQs
How can I watch Winnie the Pooh Blood and Honey? ›
few ways to watch Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey online in the US You can use a streaming service such as Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video. You can also rent or buy the movie on iTunes or Google Play. watch it on-demand or on a streaming app available on your TV or streaming device if you have cable.
What does honey symbolize in Winnie-the-Pooh? ›Honey is the single driving force behind all Pooh's behavior. In the very first chapter, Pooh tells us, "'the only reason for making honey is so as I can eat it'" (Winnie-the-Pooh. 1.29). In fact, it's this instinctual drive for satisfying his hunger that leads to many of Pooh's great innovations.
Are people making a Winnie-the-Pooh horror movie? ›As the adorable bear and chums entered the public domain, it was revealed this summer that a film studio has made a slasher film featuring the beloved childhood characters. The trailer for Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey revealed that it's a long way from the Disney version.
Is Winnie the Pooh Blood and Honey a real movie coming out? ›Fathom Events released the slasher horror for a one-day event across hundreds of US cinemas on 15th February 2023. Fans in the UK will get to watch the movie on its cinematic release date of 10th March.
Does Pooh only eat honey? ›The diet of Winnie the Pooh isn't much of a secret: he likes honey, and lots of it.
Is Christopher Robin in Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey? ›Christopher Robin is the central protagonist of the 2023 horror film Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, a horror adaptation of the Winnie-the-Pooh books by A. A. Milne and E. H. Shepard.
Why is Winnie called Pooh? ›4. How did Winnie-the-Pooh get his name? Winnie-the-Pooh got his name from when A. A. Milne went to the zoo and saw a black bear called Winnie, and the 'Pooh' part of the name came from a swan called Pooh that he met on holiday.
What is the message of the Pooh? ›The overall theme of Winnie the Pooh is the importance of forming solid, lasting friendships. With good friends, you will always have someone there to lean on, someone who will go on adventures and expeditions with you, and even someone who might invite you over for tea and a mouthful of something.
What is honey a symbol of? ›Common food to all civilizations, honey is an important symbol of ancient cultures and religions that generally represents pleasure, sweetness, truth and knowledge. Honey was often used in medicine. It was considered an elixir of life capable of healing wounds since the time of Ancient Greece.
Is there a villain in Winnie the Pooh? ›Heffalumps and Woozles are the overall main antagonists of Disney's Winnie the Pooh franchise. They are creatures who first appeared in the 1968 featurette Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day.
Does Disney no longer own Winnie the Pooh? ›
Winnie the Pooh is in the public domain
The characters of A. A. Milne's 1926 classic Winnie the Pooh are free to use legally without repercussion.
Frake-Waterfield is gearing up to make a Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey sequel and did tease plans to add more characters to the Piglet/Pooh team. Given these restrictions, it seems as though Tigger won't be one of them.
Does Tigger have a family? ›Tigger is a toy and therefore does not have any relatives. The same for Kanga and Roo, again toys made as a mother and son. So the point of the Tigger movie is that the only family Tigger has are the other toys of Christopher Robin.
Is Piglet a pig? ›Piglet, fictional character, a small and timorous pig who is a friend of Winnie-the-Pooh in A.A. Milne's classic children's books Winnie-the-Pooh (1926) and The House at Pooh Corner (1928).
Why does bear eat honey? ›Bears do love honey and are attracted to beehives. But unlike in Winnie the Pooh, the bears eat more than just honey. They will also consume the bees and larvae inside the beehive, which are a good source of protein. Both brown and black bears will raid beehives.
What is Pooh Bear afraid of? ›Winnie the Pooh has a very big fear of Heffalumps and Woozles. They made him hug his honey jars tighter and hide under his covers.
Is Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey A Disney movie? ›So how exactly did the R-rated Blood and Honey come to be? Although Disney still owns the rights to the animated cartoon versions of Pooh Bear and company, A.A. Milne's 1926 book Winnie-the-Pooh entered the public domain on Jan. 1, 2022.
What is the real life Winnie-the-Pooh movie? ›Goodbye Christopher Robin is a 2017 British biographical drama film about the lives of Winnie-the-Pooh creator A. A. Milne and his family, especially his son Christopher Robin.
Is Christopher Robin sad? ›With this movie, you can probably take the whole family, but be warned: it is very sad. Christopher Robin will certainly be triggering for dads who have had hard discussions about balancing their work with their family life, but it's not like the movie is actually like Lars Von Trier dark.
What is Winnie-the-Pooh full name? ›The main character, Winnie-the-Pooh (sometimes called simply Pooh or Edward Bear), is a good-natured, yellow-furred, honey-loving bear who lives in the Forest surrounding the Hundred Acre Wood (modeled after Ashdown Forest in East Sussex, England).
What was Winnie-the-Pooh's name before he was called Pooh? ›
"Pooh" was the name of a swan in When We Were Very Young. Pooh was purchased at Harrods department store in London and given by A.A. Milne to his son Christopher Robin on his first birthday, August 21, 1921. He was called Edward (proper form of Teddy) Bear at the time.
What is Pooh trying to trap? ›In this chapter, Pooh and Piglet attempt bravely to capture a heffalump in a clever trap; however, no heffalumps are ever caught, and indeed they never meet a heffalump in the course of the books.
Why does Pooh have a shirt? ›In lieu of using Shepard's illustrations, which Slesinger opted not to license, he drew his own—possibly basing his new Pooh off of Shepard's shirted illos. Hence, shirt. By the early '30s, Slesinger's Pooh was one of the most popular characters in America.
What does Winnie the Pooh say about life? ›"Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved." "When all else fails, take a nap." "'What day is it?' asked Pooh.
Who ate honey in the Bible? ›However, Jonathan is unaware of his father's oath and eats some honey while walking through the forest (14:27). Saul, after learning what Jonathan has done, is resolved to put his son to death. Jonathan willingly submits to his fate, as unjust as it is.
What does honey in the Bible mean? ›What is the meaning of honey in the Bible?” In the Bible, honey is mentioned 61 times and its meaning is often associated with prosperity and abundance. In the third chapter of Exodus, when God called Moses to lead the slaves out of Egypt, he called him to lead them to a land that will flow with milk and honey.
What does milk symbolize? ›Milk is a powerful symbol within most cultural traditions. It is the fluid of eternal life, fertility, abundance; it is the food of the gods, the first human diet, it flows freely in the "promised land of Canaan" (Biederman, 221). Milk symbolizes the MOTHER, it is deeply connected with life itself.
Why is piglet a boy? ›Piglet is a fictional character, whose author envisioned him as a boy. He could have envisioned the same character as a girl, but for his own reasons chose the other way. There were no prohibitions on the author to choose one way or the other.
Why did Winnie the Pooh become evil? ›Darker and Edgier: Winnie the Pooh and Piglet have turned evil since they felt "abandoned" by Christopher Robin and they are featured as serial killers in this movie, a complete contrast to the lighthearted and innocent adventures that the characters are usually known for.
Who is the monster in Winnie the Pooh? ›While searching for honey, Pooh and his friends embark on an adventure to find Eeyore's missing tail and rescue Christopher Robin from an unknown monster called The Backson.
Is Tigger a girl? ›
...
| Tigger | |
|---|---|
| Created by | A. A. Milne |
| In-universe information | |
| Species | Tiger toy |
| Gender | Male |
| Gender: | Male |
|---|---|
| Age: | 20 |
| Relatives: | Christopher Robin |
| Friends: | Winnie the Pooh (Buddy Bear), Piglet (Piglet O'Pal), Rabbit (Long Ears), Eeyore (Donkey Boy), Roo (Roo Boy), Kanga (Mrs. Kanga Ma'am), Owl and Gopher |
| Enemies: | Bees |
In the Winnie the Pooh universe, the only female character that ever appears with any regularity is Kanga. She and her son, Roo, are kangaroos who are friends with Winnie, Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore, and all the other male characters in the series.
Can Disney Sue Winnie the Pooh? ›bear and his friends are open to new adaptations and projects. If someone uses Disney's version of Winnie the Pooh and friends, however, then yes, Disney can sue the creator of the content, as Disney's adaptation of the characters has been trademarked.
Is Disney losing the rights to Mickey Mouse? ›Disney's most iconic character is set to enter public domain in 2024, but it's more complicated than you think. Mickey Mouse on a slide rule. The beloved mouse that is nearly a century old will soon enter public domain — the original Mickey Mouse's copyright expires in 2024.
Why is Disney getting rid of princesses? ›SCOOP: Disney diversity and inclusion manager Vivian Ware says the company has eliminated all mentions of "ladies," "gentlemen," "boys," and "girls" in its theme parks in order to create "that magical moment" for children who do not identify with traditional gender roles. The media could not be played.
What is Tigger named after? ›Tigger first appeared as a character in A.A. Milne's The House at Pooh Corner in 1928. The character was named after a stuffed tiger belonging to Milne's son, Christopher Robin Milne. The character first appeared on film in the 1968 Disney film Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day.
Is Piglet in blood and honey? ›In Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey, A. A. Milne's Pooh and Piglet get a horror makeover. Gone are the beloved cuddly teddy bear and tiny soft-spoken pig.
What was Tigger afraid of? ›Tigger inadvertently reveals that he is afraid of heights when he and Roo bounce up a tree, and Tigger becomes too scared to come down. Rabbit, Christopher Robin, Pooh, Piglet, and Kanga all come to Tigger's rescue.
Is Tigger the last of his kind? ›The Adoption Connection
Tigger has often sung that the “most wonderful thing about Tiggers is I'm the only one.” Now he realizes a sadder side of being “the only one.” Owl suggests that Tigger can find his family by first finding his family tree.
Are Kanga and Tigger together? ›
Kanga is an anthropomorphic, stuffed kangaroo belonging to Christopher Robin that first appeared in Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree. Hospitable and gentle, Kanga is the mother of Roo and a good friend to the Hundred Acre Wood residents, most notably Tigger.
How old is Eeyore? ›Not a child. Christopher Robins's dear friend, Eeyore, is 40 years old in the book series.
Is Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey a Disney movie? ›So how exactly did the R-rated Blood and Honey come to be? Although Disney still owns the rights to the animated cartoon versions of Pooh Bear and company, A.A. Milne's 1926 book Winnie-the-Pooh entered the public domain on Jan. 1, 2022.
Is Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey on Paramount Plus? ›Watch Winnie the Pooh Blood and Honey With Paramount Plus' Free Trial The best way to watch Winnie the Pooh Blood and Honey online for free is with Paramount Plus' seven-day free trial, which is more than enough time to watch Winnie the Pooh Blood and Honey at no cost.
Where can I watch the Winnie the Pooh series? ›Watch Winnie the Pooh | Disney+
How can I watch Winnie the Pooh TV show? ›Right now you can watch The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh on Disney+.
Can Disney still use Winnie-the-Pooh? ›The characters of A. A. Milne's 1926 classic Winnie the Pooh are free to use legally without repercussion. US copyright law means that works of authors are avalable to use either 70 years after the author's death or 95 years after publication. In the case of Pooh, it is the latter.
Will blood and honey be on Netflix? ›Is Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey on Netflix? The streaming giant has a massive catalog of television shows and movies, but it does not include 'Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey. ' We recommend our readers watch other dark fantasy films like 'The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf.
What is the real story behind Winnie-the-Pooh? ›Did you know there's a Canadian connection to the honey-loving character brought to life by A. A. Milne? Winnie-the-Pooh was based on a real-life bear who lived in the London Zoo. He got there thanks to a Canadian soldier and veterinarian named Harry Colebourn.
Why did Disney let Winnie the Pooh? ›Disney's Licensing Deal for Winnie the Pooh (1961)
His daughters grew up listening to him read the original books to them, much like the Mary Poppins books. SSI sold Disney their rights to Winnie-the-Pooh, with the agreement that Disney would continue paying SSI some royalties.
What age is Winnie the Pooh show for? ›
Winnie the Pooh is suitable for all ages. All guests under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Children under the age of two can attend the show without a ticket if they sit on a parent or guardian's lap throughout the performance.
What is the oldest Winnie the Pooh movie? ›The first Pooh movie, “The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh” from 1977, was a collection of the four previously released shorts all edited together.
Is Winnie the Pooh for kids? ›Winnie-the-Pooh, collection of children's stories by A.A. Milne, published in 1926.
What is the meaning of Pooh Bear? ›During the 1920s there was a black bear named "Winnie" in the London Zoo who had been the mascot for the Winnipeg regiment of the Canadian army. "Pooh" was the name of a swan in When We Were Very Young."
Why is it Winnie the Pooh and not Winnie Pooh? ›4. How did Winnie-the-Pooh get his name? Winnie-the-Pooh got his name from when A. A. Milne went to the zoo and saw a black bear called Winnie, and the 'Pooh' part of the name came from a swan called Pooh that he met on holiday.