I really wasn’t sure what to expect from Winnie The Pooh: Blood and Honey when I first heard about it. I knew it would be a very strange mix, to turn a childhood character into a horror movie, but i’ve seen stranger things happen on screen (then again- I might not have) But I’m not someone who will shake their head at filmmakers trying something new or spinning a new take on an old favourite. I welcome it.  I knew that Winnie The Pooh: Blood and Honey would be divisive (isn’t everything nowadays)  and that the internet would likely burst into flames when the film was seen by audiences. And I wasn’t wrong. Filmtwitter did burst into flames when the film hit theatres earlier this year and some of the reviews, were….shall we say. less than positive.  Some of them were a little brutal to say the least, but that’s okay too. As anyone who frequents social media, they’ll often have been the ‘critics’ sharpening their knives for a film and sometimes its as if they want a film to be bad so they can talk about how bad it was.  Its a strange thing.  I want all films to be good, and the ones that don’t interest me. Well I just don’t watch them- Its not as if Ill run out of things to watch. 

So Winnie The Pooh: Blood and Honey. We are treated to a hand drawn style introduction which explains that during childhood, Christopher Robin befriended Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet and their friends, but as he grew older, the visits stopped, leaving the new friends increasingly hungry and desperate, eyeing Eeyore as food (RIP Eeyore). Now Christopher has returned to the forest with his new wife hoping to introduce her to his old friends.

From there the film, whilst still strange (and this is where its tricky to review) is a pretty decent slasher movie that wouldn’t have been out of place during the classic slasher era of the 80s.  Yes Winnie The Pooh: Blood and Honey is weird because its Winnie and Pooh and Piglet going on rampage and stalking people, catching them and brutally killing them. But if you can forget (and i tried) that its actually meant to be THE Winnie and Piglet on a murder spree, then the film is a lot of fun.   The kill scenes are well done (especially a hot scene that does put a mobile phone to a really creepy use within the scene)  I think this is where the problem lies and its not really with the filmmakers, its with the audience (and I include me in that)  Being able to separate a film about Winnie The Pooh and Piglet, and that of a film that’s a blood soaked slasher film. Isn’t an easy task. and sometimes I succeeded and sometimes I failed)   When I was able to separate the Pooh/Piglet from the slasher film, I had a blast watching the slasher movie. But now and again the Pooh/Piglet thoughts would creep back into my head and then my poor brain would melt.  

 I do commend the filmmakers from trying something new. and Whilst I did enjoy the film. it isn’t one that I would go back and rewatch- perhaps not. but then again most films nowadays are single viewings.  (with the odd exception)  So which side do I fall on when it comes to Winnie The Pooh: Blood and Honey, well both really. I really liked the slasher elements to the film and the cast were fun, but my poor brain did struggle with the fact it was meant to be an actual bear and pig, rather than 2 humans wearing a bear and pig mask. But don’t take my word for it, dont take others words for it. See the film for yourself and see which side you fall on.  

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