When it comes to the longest-running horror franchises in film history, one that often goes overlooked is the Puppet Master series. Introduced by director David Schmoeller in 1989, the franchise has quietly amassed 14 feature films, many of which were released straight to video.
As the series has progressed, original co-creator Charles Band has taken more of an ownership role, directing several entries in the killer puppet franchise in a way that hew to his B-movie sensibilities. As Halloween nears, it's a perfect time to reflect on the Puppet Master series and find out which films are most worthy of watching this October.
10 Puppet Master Vs. Demonic Toys (2004) - 4.0
In the absurd high-concept crossover, Puppet Master battles Demonic Toys in a clash for cruel Christmastime supremacy. The plot concerns Andre Toulon's (William Hickey) nephew Robert (Corey Feldman), who obtains his uncle's reanimation formula and uses it to release a new line of scary killer dolls to the public on Christmas Eve. When a ruthless toy corporation demands the formula, the puppets go haywire.
As the ninth film in the series, producers were clearly scratching their heads to come up with a new angle on the material. While extremely cheesy, most agree the film is pure unadulterated fun made for true fans that bring new meaning to the phrase "so bad it's good."
9 Curse Of The Puppet Master (1998) - 4.1
In the sixth franchise entry, Curse of the Puppet Master alters its tried and true plot formula. The movie concerns Robert (Josh Green), an assistant to Dr. Magrew (George Peck) who unwittingly has his body transferred into a puppet by the devious doctor hell-bent on creating the perfect specimen.
While the chronology of the standalone storyline doesn't quite make sense in the larger context of the franchise, the film drew modest praise for being deeper, darker, and more original than most Puppet Master movies. With a slow-burn pace to mount suspense and excellent FX that bring the dolls to life, Curse really is a unique entry.
8 Puppet Master: Axis Of Evil (2010) - 4.3
Puppet Master and Nazis have gone hand in hand since the 1989 original. In the ninth feature, Axis of Evil, the story harkens back to WWII and concerns a young aspiring soldier who finds the slain Toulon's trove of puppets and uses them to prevent the bombing of an American plant.
The biggest plaudits for the film include its prequel origin story that paints more of a backstory for Toulon, as well as the decent visual effects and practical puppet work that mark a distinct upgrade from the limp prior entries.
7 Blade The Iron Cross (2020) - 4.4
In the only official franchise spinoff to date, Blade the Iron Cross is also the most recent Puppet Master movie to be released. The brisk 70-minute horror salvo introduces a ludicrous telekinetic angle to the WWII Nazi puppets, which a war correspondent uses to expose an evil plot to turn soldiers into mindless zombie drones.
Hampered by a low budget and chintzy visual FX, the film reflects the tone and tenor of the other Axis of Evil-era Puppet Master films, fusing inaccurate historical facts with a sadistic head puppet that provides enough entertainment to keep the franchise afloat.
6 Puppet Master 5 (1994) - 5.0
Conceived as the final film in the franchise, Puppet Master 5 was too entertaining to kill off the series for good. With the titular killer dolls now acting as protagonists (continuing from Part 4), they must fend off a demonic scourge conjured by an ancient evil force. With the help of Toulon's spirit, Rick Myers (Gordon Currie) becomes the new puppet master.
Hailed for its zany energy, solid FX, and mordant sense of humor, director Jeff Burr knows how to expertly craft tension and suspense in a way that feels fun, breezy, and cartoonishly over-the-top. Having directed the previous entry helped him foster a sense of continuity as well.
5 Puppet Master 4 (1993) - 5.2
One of the smartest things Charles Band did in the franchise is turning the puppets into protagonists to protect the human characters rather than terrorize them. Puppet Master 4 continues the tradition first introduced in the third entry, pitting the deadly dolls up against deleterious demons called Totems.
With a more playful tone and refreshing plotline, Puppet Master 4 is often cited as a favorite among franchise fans for the way it fuses tenets of the '80s and '90s horror into one unique whole. Standout scenes include an Ouija board seance, a human-puppet laser tag game, and an unforgettable finale that leads right into the fifth chapter.
4 Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich - 5.4
The penultimate chapter in the long-running horror franchise film to be released includes The Littlest Reich, the hyper-gory, and the surprisingly hilarious 12th chapter. Under new the direction of Sonny Laguna and Tommy Wikland, the film has been hailed for being side-splitting and throat-slashing in equal measure.
Plot-wise, the film concerns a convention held for the 30th anniversary of the Toulon murders, during which the deadly dolls mysterious reanimate on go on a kill-crazy rampage. The movie was lauded for its breathless action, intense carnage, throwback slasher film tropes, and a whip-smart screenplay by S. Craig Zahler.
3 Puppet Master II (1990) - 5.5
Directed by David Allen, Puppet Master II finds a government research unit with expertise in the paranormal investigating Toulon's puppets. When the deadly dolls collect human brain tissue in the attempt to reanimate Toulon himself, the investigators are put on a direct path to peril.
In addition to the distinct puppets like Jester, Pinhead, Blade, and the others from the original, the introduction of the fiery Torch puppet marks a worthy upgrade to the film. The final act goes into really dark and disturbing material that freaked out so many viewers that the antagonistic puppets were turned into protagonists for the next three films.
2 Puppet Master (1989) - 5.6
Hailed for its startling originality and impressive practical FX, the inaugural Puppet Master film deserves praise for propping up a horror franchise that has endured for over 30 years. The introduction of puppets Pinhead, Jester, Blade, Leech Woman, and Tunneler is among the movie's lasting legacy.
Now considered a fun, cheesy, enjoyable cult classic, Puppet Master also sets up the lore of Andre Toulon, the cryptic dollmaker who takes his own life as soon as he learns his puppets have reanimated with evil intentions. The novelty of the premise and the physical execution of the puppetry are the strongest qualities.
1 Puppet Master III: Toulon's Revenge (1991) - 6.0
As per IMDb, Puppet Master III: Toulon's Revenge is the most entertaining movie in the franchise to date. Directed by David DeCoteau, the excitement comes from taking the horror franchise in a new direction by turning the puppets into violent protective protagonists who slaughter Nazis in revenge for the death of Toulon's wife.
Often considered the best entry in the series, the movie provides endless thrills and chills to go with a fascinating backstory to how many of the most iconic puppets, like Blade and Leech Woman, were created. The simple premise of killer dolls defeating Nazis is done with such a lighthearted, cartoonish comic book tableau that it continues to plaster a smile on viewers' faces, even 30 years later.
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October 07, 2021 at 02:00AM
