Horror Veterans Reimagine Classic Fairy Tales in ‘Tales From the Woods’ Anthology Series
Remember back when you were a child, reading fairy tales, and everything ended “Happily Ever After?” Well, these aren’t those fairy tales. So, let’s take a look at Horror Veterans Reimagine Classic Fairy Tales in ‘Tales From the Woods’ Anthology Series. They even make the Grimm Brothers versions look tame! Buckle up, horror enthusiasts, this is going to be a wild ride!
Who is Responsible for This?
The horror veterans horror veterans like Mattie Do, Justin Benson, Aaron Moorhead, and others, alongside Wayward Entertainment, promise to take the “happily ever after” we know and twist it into something deliciously dark and spine-chilling. As these horror eficiandos take you on a stroll through these eerie woods, you will question every twist and turn.
Tales from the Woods: When Fairy Tales Go Full Nightmare Mode
Fairy tales have always had a dark side. Before Disney sprinkled its pixie dust, these stories were cautionary tales filled with witches, curses, and, let’s be honest, a lot of questionable parenting decisions. Tales from the Woods takes this grim foundation and cranks the horror dial to eleven, delivering a series that’s as unsettling as it is imaginative.
Fantastic Fest and U.S. Bebut
The anthology kicks off with two shorts making their U.S. debut at Fantastic Fest: Mattie Do’s The Sleeping Beauty and Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead’s Jacques the Giant Slayer. Both episodes promise to be a feast for horror fans who love their scares served with a side of folklore.
The Sleeping Beauty: A Curse That Refuses to Die
Mattie Do, known for her hauntingly atmospheric films like Dearest Sister and The Long Walk, brings us a reimagining of Sleeping Beauty that swaps enchanted castles for ancient temples in the jungles of Laos. The story follows a colonial governor’s wife who faces devastation after her son brings home a cursed, slumbering woman. Spoiler alert: this isn’t the kind of curse you can break with a kiss.
Do describes her work to allhallowsgeek as a “dark and exotic twist on a familiar fairytale,” and honestly, we’re here for it. Imagine the intertwining of a classic Western tale; it is so refreshingly terrifying. Then, there is the cast with Sonedala Sihavong and Phonesavanh “Tata” Phimpha. This cast is guaranteed to deliver outstanding performances to enhance the layers within the actual story in this Tales from the Woods.
Jacques the Giant Slayer: A Beanstalk of Existential Dread
Meanwhile, Benson and Moorhead, the dynamic duo behind indie hits like Spring and The Endless, take on Jack and the Beanstalk with Jacques the Giant Slayer. Set in the early 1900s, this version follows a French archaeologist who discovers a giant’s bones and a mysterious feather that leads him to, you guessed it, a towering beanstalk. But this isn’t your childhood bedtime story. Jacques ascends into an otherworldly realm, where he must confront the moral line between explorer and thief.
Benson and Moorhead describe the project as a return to their indie roots, filled with “distilled weirdness from start to finish.” If that doesn’t scream “must-watch,” I don’t know what does. They even star in the short being shown at the debut, adding an extra layer of indie charm to this already intriguing Tales from the Woods.
Why This Anthology Matters
Horror is not for everyone; however, horror anthologies are stealing the spotlight, and Tales from the Woods feels like the perfect addition to the genre. What is better than something ingrained in our culture and childhood, and then having these fairy tales redesigned through a horror lens? The series taps into something universal yet deeply personal. These are stories we’ve grown up with, but now they’re being told by filmmakers who aren’t afraid to explore their darker, more complex themes.
Bring on the Nightmares
With its early 2026 streaming launch, Tales from the Woods is shaping up to be a must-watch for horror fans and folklore enthusiasts alike. Whether you’re drawn to the atmospheric dread of The Sleeping Beauty or the existential weirdness of Jacques the Giant Slayer, this anthology will absolutely deliver a new meaning to bedtime stories.
So, grab your flashlight and your courage, because these woods are dark, twisted, and absolutely worth exploring. And remember: in Tales from the Woods, there’s no such thing as “happily ever after”… at least for some. Which Tales from the Woods will make you leave the nightlight on?
