Bambi: The Reckoning

"Bambi: The Reckoning" (2025), directed by Dan Allen, takes the beloved childhood character and twists it into a relentless, R-rated creature feature. Part of the "Twisted Childhood Universe," this film reimagines Bambi as a mutated, grief-stricken deer on a deadly rampage, seeking revenge on humans. While some critics note inconsistent pacing and CGI, many praise its effective monster design, creative kills, and willingness to lean into its wild premise. It's a bloody, unapologetic horror film that delivers on its promise of an unhinged Bambi.

Is it worth watching? If you're a horror fan looking for a campy, gory, and surprisingly fun take on a classic, and don't mind a B-movie aesthetic, then "Bambi: The Reckoning" is a surprisingly entertaining watch.

Bambi: The Reckoning had a few decent moments, but overall it fell flat due to a lack of depth and emotional connection. The story felt underdeveloped, with barely any world-building or explanation around the who, where, or why of what was happening. None of the characters were particularly likable or compelling.

Even the kid, who should have been a sympathetic figure, just came across as kind of a blank slate. The mom made questionable choices, especially in how she handled the broken relationship between the father and son, and that dynamic was never explored in a meaningful way. The film seemed to rely on shock or sentimentality in the final act, but it didn't earn that emotional payoff.

The ending felt heavy-handed for a movie that hadn't taken the time to make you care about anyone. I usually enjoy these B-movie horror spins on fairy tales or childhood IPs, but this one just didn't land. It lacked heart, clarity, and ultimately any real reason to get invested.

Review: Bambi: The Reckoning - A Disturbing Yet Stylish Horror Reboot

Bambi: The Reckoning is a bold and twisted reimagining of the beloved childhood classic - and surprisingly, it works. Turning a story about innocence and nature into a brutal tale of revenge and survival, the film embraces its absurd premise with full force and delivers a stylish, bloody horror experience.

The visuals are eerie and beautiful, with haunting forest landscapes and creative cinematography that give the film an almost fairy-tale nightmare quality. The creature design of Bambi is terrifying and impressive, combining grace with sheer menace.

While the plot is simple and leans heavily on horror clichés, it's effective. The pacing is tight, the kills are creative, and the atmosphere is thick with dread. The film also touches lightly on themes like environmental destruction and trauma, without becoming preachy.

Overall, Bambi: The Reckoning isn't for everyone - especially not for those hoping for nostalgia. But for horror fans looking for something bold, gory, and visually striking, this film is a wild and unforgettable ride.

Rating: 10/10.

Look, Bambi: The Reckoning isn't a good movie in the traditional sense, and that's exactly why it's worth watching. This gloriously unhinged revenge-horror parody takes Disney's most delicate deer and turns him into a bloodthirsty woodland avenger. It's absurd, over-the-top, and completely aware of how ridiculous it is.

You don't watch this movie for nuance or storytelling, you watch it to see Bambi tear through people like Rambo with antlers.

It's the perfect movie for a late-night hangout with friends, some popcorn, and a sense of humor.

Is it bad? Absolutely.

Did I enjoy it? Without a doubt.

I recently watched the UK picture 🇬🇧 Bambi: The Reckoning (2025) in theaters. The storyline follows a mutated Bambi who is out for revenge after the death of his mother. When a car crashes in the forest, the victims will have to avoid Bambi at all costs if they hope to survive.

This picture is directed by Dan Allen (Mummy Reborn) and stars Roxanne McKee (Game of Thrones), Samira Mighty (Beauty and the Beast), Nicola Wright (Peter Pans Neverland Nightmare) and Tom Mulheron (Carnage).

This movie is absolutely awful; however I have to admit, I was definitely entertained. The CGI is way over the top and horrible; however, the kills are unique, gory and pretty awesome. I also enjoyed the supporting wooded animals, thumper was great. The bunny and propane tank sequences had me laughing out loud in the theaters. There is a kitchen scene that was stolen from Jurassic Park, and the overall storyline and premise is as bad as you'd expect, but there is an elite bear trap sequence and ai liked the ending more than I wanted too...so much so I sat through the credits just to find out there's a sequel on the way that I will watch also.

In concluding, Bambi: the reckoning fell in the so bad it's good category for me. I'd score this a 4/10, but recommend it for those looking for something different.