First announced in November 2022 as a Bambi-based horror film, the film was subsequently revealed to be set in the TCU shared continuity. It started production in London on 6 January 2024 and wrapped twenty days later.
Bambi: The Reckoning was theatrically released on 25 July 2025 in the United States,[5] and received mixed reviews from critics.
Plot
In the past, a young fawn named Bambi lives happily with his mother until a poacher kills her. Bambi grows up alone, but meets a doe named Faline, who then gives birth to a fawn. They teach their offspring about the world including the dangers. Unfortunately, Faline is fatally run over by a truck carrying toxic waste from a local radiation company called Wibexr Pharmaceuticals, and Bambi's offspring disappears in a panic. Devastated, Bambi drinks contaminated water from a river, which mutates him into a ravenous creature, determined to get his revenge.
In the present, mother Xana and her son Benji take a taxi to spend Thanksgiving with Xana's husband Simon and his family—his dementia-stricken mother Mary, his brothers Andrew and Joshua, Andrew's wife Harriet, and their teenage son Harrison—while Simon himself promises to arrive before dinner. On the way, Bambi attacks the taxi and kills the driver while Xana and Benji manage to reach Mary's house.
Meanwhile, Michael, Tyler, and Eddie, three hunters hired by Wilbexr, prepare to hunt Bambi. Joshua leaves the house only to be accidentally shot dead by Tyler. Harrison annoys Benji and Mary, the latter of whom starts acting strange, knows Bambi's name, and has made several drawings of Bambi around the house. Bambi attacks the house and kills Harriet, forcing the family to flee to a caravan. Andrew tries to remove a log blocking the way, but Benji drives off upon seeing Bambi with only Xana and Mary inside; Andrew is unintentionally dragged along with them and dies from blood loss. Harrison encounters Bambi and gets lost in the forest, where he is mauled to death by a group of mutated rabbits.
Xana, Benji, and Mary find Michael, who takes them to a den where they meet Simon and his co-worker Jo. Simon reveals himself as the one who killed Faline and dumped toxic waste into the river. During the conversation, Benji finds a garage where Tyler and Eddie have caged and mistreat a young fawn. Xana also learns that Simon plans to trap Bambi and kill him, not caring how many lives may be lost along the way. Tyler goes to urinate and ends up being decapitated by Bambi. When Eddie goes to investigate, Bambi rips off his legs and his head.
Benji frees the fawn and runs away; Xana and Simon go after him while Mary encounters Bambi, who tries to kill her. Jo sacrifices herself and shoots a gas canister to kill Bambi, but Bambi survives. Benji eventually reunites with Xana and Simon, only for Michael to arrive too, threatening them with gunpoint and demands the fawn. Bambi drags Michael to the forest before approaching Benji. Simon abandons Xana and Benji and tries to flee, but gets killed by a mutant rabbit inside his car. Realizing the fawn is Bambi's offspring, Xana and Benji return it to him. However, a bloodied Michael arrives and fatally shoots Bambi, only to get shot dead by Mary, who has recovered from her dementia. Bambi bleeds out in front of Xana, Benji, and his own offspring.
In November 2022, a live-action horror film based on Bambi, a Life in the Woods by Felix Salten was announced as being in development with the title Bambi: The Reckoning. Dan Allen was named as director, with Rhys Frake-Waterfield serving as a producer. The film was produced by Jagged Edge Productions.[8]Scott Chambers described the film as "an incredibly dark retelling of the 1928 story we all know and love. Finding inspiration from the design used in Netflix's The Ritual, Bambi will be a vicious killing machine that lurks in the wilderness."[9] The film is set in the same continuity as Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey (2023) and its sequel,[10] being teased in the latter film.
Principal photography was originally slated to commence on 31 January 2023 in London, England, with Vince Knight serving as cinematographer, after working on Blood and Honey.[11][12][13] Filming was later rescheduled to begin on 6 January 2024 in England,[6] which Chambers confirmed via his social media.[14][15] Filming wrapped on 26 January 2024.[16]
Release
Bambi: The Reckoning was theatrically released on 25 July 2025 in the United States by ITN Distribution.[5] The film was originally set to be released in late 2024.[6] The film was released on VOD platforms, including Amazon Prime, on 29 August.[17][18][19]
Reception
Box office
Bambi: The Reckoning grossed $172,187 in the United States, and $36,154 in various international territories, for a worldwide total of $208,341.[4][3]
↑ "Bambi: The Reckoning". Film & Television Industry Alliance. 12 December 2022. Archived from the original on 19 December 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
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