Puppetmaster (1989) (V)

User Rating:

5.1/10   

Director:

David Schmoeller

Writers:

Charles Band (story) &
Kenneth J. Hall (story) ...

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

A box of little toys has just become a gang of little terrors. This is not child's play...

Plot:

Neil Gallagher found the secret to Toulon's puppets who come to life and then killed himself. Alex and...

Plot Keywords:

Puppet | Psychic | Suicide | Supernatural | Severed Finger

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Paul Le Mat	...	Alex Whitaker
William Hickey	...	Andre Toulon
Irene Miracle	...	Dana Hadley
Jimmie F. Skaggs	...	Neil Gallagher
Robin Frates	...	Megan Gallagher
Matt Roe	...	Frank Forrester
Kathryn O'Reilly	...	Carlissa Stamford
Mews Small	...	Theresa (as Merrya Small)
Barbara Crampton	...	Woman at Carnival
David Boyd	...	Man at Carnival
Peter Frankland	...	Assassin #1
Andrew Kimbrough	...	Assassin #2
Ed Cook	...	Pinhead (voice)
Linda Cook	...	Leech Woman (voice)
Tim Dornberg	...	Tunneler (voice)

Also Known As:

Puppet Master (USA) (alternative spelling)
Puppet Master I (USA) (DVD box title)
The Puppet Master (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

90 min | West Germany:75 min (cut version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:16 | West Germany:18 (cut version: 16) | Australia:M | UK:18 | USA:R | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Castle Green - 99 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, California, USA

Company:

Empire Pictures

Trivia:

In the finger-slicing scene, the blood was dyed green to avoid an "X" rating.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Toulon puts Blade in the trunk, the hook is his right hand, while every other time it is his left, the knife being right.

Quotes:

Alex Whitaker: I had this dream and I came here to make sure it didn't come true

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Arrival (1991)

Now THIS was a fabulous movie!

You'd figure the thirtieth or fortieth movie about dolls that "live" would get stale, but "Puppet Master" has yet more to show you. They're not dolls in this movie, but rather five special puppets, crafted with love to be the companions of an old, lonely man. Jester, the quiet puppet, and last to be created, who sits back and watches is by far the most interesting. It's cool to watch his head spin around (it's made up of three distinct sections) when he changes his facial expressions.

These puppets have been "lost" for nearly fifty years when the story begins, and a bunch of psychics come to investigate the hotel. The death scenes in this movie are unique -- no one can commit gruesome murder quite like tiny little people. But even though they're rampaging the hotel, these toys aren't evil. They set a standard followed in "Puppet Master II" (a movie that, while tolerable, is no where near as good as the original) in that the puppets have no choice but to follow their master, who will eventually reap what he sows.

It's a fabulous movie, from the scenery of the old bed and breakfast at the Bodega Bay house, to the almost sweet-looking puppets (who just happen to like to murder people), and all told, I think I would have to give this movie an eight out of ten. Sure, there's simulated sex, but it's not all that bad. The movie itself is pretty tame -- there's language, humor, gratuitous (and fairly strange) sex, and violence, but it's not marked by extreme gore (well, there's a questionable part right at the very end that is a little disgusting).

One of the best reasons for watching this movie is the cast, particularly Paul LeMat as Alex Whitaker. He's excellent as the peace-keeper in the movie, as well as the first of the psychics to have a really good clue what is going on in the household. Unfortunately, even he, in the end, jumps to the wrong conclusion.

Viewers who enjoy this movie will enjoy "Child's Play", "Dolls", "Demonic Toys", and "Dolly Dearest", among other horror films. Although "Puppet Master" isn't quite as demonic as the others mentioned, and has no aspects of Satan-worship, voodoo, or demonic culture, it's still another of those "inanimate objects come to life" movies. A definite hit!