A new entry in the growing wave of twisted fairy-tale horror has arrived with the release of the first trailer for Wizard of Death: Tinman’s Rise. The upcoming indie horror film reimagines the classic Wizard of Oz mythology with a brutal, nightmarish twist.
Directed by William Stead and written by Michael Miceli, the film is produced by ChampDog Films, the team behind the dark fantasy horror Cinderella’s Curse. This latest project dives into a sinister reinterpretation of L. Frank Baum’s iconic world, turning one of Oz’s most recognizable characters into a terrifying monster.
The story follows a family outing that spirals into a desperate fight for survival when they encounter a heart-hungry Tin Man who has risen from the ruins of Oz. Portrayed by James Shenton, this twisted version of the Tin Man is driven by a gruesome obsession with human hearts, transforming the beloved fantasy character into a relentless horror villain.
The film’s cast also includes Lauren Staerck, Paul Andrew Goldsmith, Connor Horrigan, Dylan Reeves-Fellows, and Karolina Knight, who portrays Dorothy Gale in this dark reimagining of the Oz universe.
The newly released trailer teases a blood-soaked journey through a warped version of the Yellow Brick Road, blending familiar fantasy imagery with grindhouse-inspired horror visuals. The project joins a growing trend of public-domain fairy-tale horror adaptations that twist classic childhood stories into violent genre fare.
Wizard of Death: Tinman’s Rise will be distributed by ITN Distribution, though an official release date has not yet been announced. Additional promotional materials and release updates are expected in the coming months.
With twisted fairy-tale horror continuing to gain traction among indie filmmakers, Wizard of Death: Tinman’s Rise looks poised to attract fans of experimental genre storytelling and brutal fantasy reimaginings.
