Puppet Master

"Puppet Master" (1989, David Schmoeller, Full Moon Productions, Paramount Pictures) is the first film in the Puppet Master series. Coincidentally, it was also the first film I ever streamed back when that was a novel idea!

An old puppeteer named Andre Toulon (William Hickey) is interrupted in his work (making, caring for and bringing to life weapon toting little puppets) by two Nazis. In order to escape them he hides his creations and then kills himself.

Now in the 80s, the hotel where the above took place is now a large house. The owner of which, Megan (Robin Frates), is mourning the sudden death of her husband, Neil (Jimmie F. Skaggs). Megan is also entertaining guests, the psychics and magicians of her husband's circle. All of whom are nasty, except Alex (Paul Le Mat), Alex is ok.

It would appear that ol' Neil has found Toulon's secret and brought back the puppets. But only a true Puppet Master can control the little beggers, and Neil is dead! So who can stop the puppets as they kill each of Megan's guests?

A delightfully low budget gore fest with lots of simple effects, shady 'puppet view' camera angles and excellently animated puppets. The death scenes are hokey, but excellent in that nice blood spatteringly 80s way.

The dialogue is a little boring and stilted, but it remains one of my favourite 'possessed doll' horrors to date.

[Image: Full Moon Productions]

Hani