As we bid a tearful seeya later to summer, the season shifts to harvest, football, and all things pumpkin. Simply put, the Holidays are here. With that, it’s time for Two Months of Terror!
“Puppet Master” is a 1989 horror flick that bypassed the theater and went straight to home video. I caught bits and pieces on TV many times as a kid, always too chicken-bleep to watch in its entirety.
Set at the Bodega Bay Inn, an obvious reference to Alfred Hitchcock’s classic “The Birds,” it checks all the boxes for the Halloween movie season. It has 80s gory deaths delivered via practical effects. It contains several characters which have since become iconic. And its garnered cult status amidst the horror community.
The Gist
André Toulon (William Hickey) is a puppet master. Of course, there’s more sinister elements at play. The puppets he crafts are creepy. And unlike “Child’s Play” which offers some misdirection early in the story, we know Toulon’s creations are sentient.
Alex Whitaker (Paul Le Mat) is a Yale professor who has been suffering through vivid nightmares. But there’s no point in listing the characters. Irene Miracle, Robin Frates, Matt Roe, Kathryn O’Reilly, Mews Small, Jimmie F. Skaggs – co-stars who are brought to the Inn for various reasons only to be preyed upon by the puppets.
“Puppet Master” is 85 minutes in length. Despite that, it can be painfully slow as we plod through the “plot” and meander amidst the slog of character backstories. The score feels out of place at times, and the acting is as generic as possible. The ambiance of the Inn is fine as a setting. And we know the puppets are lurking, so tension is high even if the humans are annoying and pointless.
It Works
Director David Schmoeller succeeds in the character deaths. All are gory. All done with practical effects that are so much more impactful than anything in today’s world. The stop-motion movement of the puppets is unintentionally chilling and quite effective.
Each puppet is unique and has its own method for murder. Blade is the leader and most recognizable face from the franchise. Pinhead is the muscle and would fit in at my gym. I found Leech Woman to be the most hideous in appearance and execution style. Of course, the puppets return for several sequels.
“Puppet Master” is surprisingly fun. If I’m being truthful, its not a good movie. But the short length, creative creatures, and unique deaths make it worth a watch.
Let the 2025 Holiday Movie Season begin!
