The film's central 'becoming real' arc is interpreted through a provocative trans allegory involving gender presentation, body modification via violence, and rejection of the change, embedded in a horror slasher story that draws comparisons to negative stereotypes like Buffalo Bill.

The film uses Pinocchio's quest to become a 'real boy' by harvesting human parts as a provocative trans allegory. After adopting a femme presentation, the character rejects the change and returns to being wood, evoking harmful stereotypes like Buffalo Bill without affirming dignity or agency.

The film depicts a preteen boy orphaned by his parents' death in an accident and raised by his grandfather, who creates Pinocchio as a companion after further loss; this family setup serves only as brief backstory for the horror plot with no exploration or endorsement of marriage, parenting roles, gender norms, religion, or other family values.