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Puppet Master

Play trailer Poster for Puppet Master R 1989 1h 30m Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
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50% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 40% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Assailed by nightmarish visions, Alex Whitaker (Paul Le Mat) and his fellow psychics descend on the Bodega Bay Inn. There, they discover that their compatriot Neil (Jimmie F. Scaggs) has apparently committed suicide. But, as the gruesome visions continue, they sense that there's still something sinister afoot. When they find themselves hunted by a band of homicidal marionettes created by twisted puppeteer Andre Toulon (William Hickey), they discover they're right.
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Puppet Master

Critics Reviews

View All (6) Critics Reviews
C.H. Newell Father Son Holy Gore With some weird, awesome puppets, a nice finale, and an interesting theme hovering over it all, Puppetmaster's a unique piece of the late '80s. Rated: 3/5 May 1, 2019 Full Review Heather Wixson Dread Central While the movie has terrific atmosphere and set designs, it's the iconic posse of killer puppets that have cemented Puppet Master in horror history as a campy cult classic. Rated: 3/5 Jan 4, 2012 Full Review Felix Vasquez Jr. Cinema Crazed The performances are strong and visuals quite eloquent... Jul 15, 2011 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 2/5 Sep 25, 2005 Full Review Jules Brenner Cinema Signals Rated: 1/5 Feb 25, 2005 Full Review Walter Chaw Film Freak Central Rated: 2/5 Jul 20, 2003 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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John C As a fan of 80s horror movies (and horror movies in general!) I've watched 'Puppet Master' a fair few times over the years - and yet I don't own a copy. That probably should tell you something. I've just watched it again and, yeah, it's okay, I guess. I know it has quite a cult following and a lot of fans and I will admit it certainly has its charms, i.e. the puppets themselves. It's about a group of psychics who spend the weekend in a creepy hotel to try and discover yet more powers - and end up being targeted by a group of possessed toys. There are no real actors to speak of and the actors get most of the screen time, which is a bit of a let-down. They do the so-so script just about enough justice, but you'll be crying out for a glimpse of those nasty, murderous little wooden killers. I suppose the film's lack of budget meant the 'killers' can't be shown as much as most people would like them to, but the movie does pick up a lot of pace when they're actually shown. It's a decent enough little horror film. If your view of it isn't clouded by nostalgia and coming to the franchise (yes, there are more after this one) cold then you'll probably have to be quite forgiving when it comes to the films you watch. If you can accept it for what it is then you'll probably find something to enjoy. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/02/25 Full Review Tim R Long sequences of nothing happening. A very boring movie. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/29/25 Full Review Piper T A classic. Blade was always my fave puppet. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/29/24 Full Review Daniel C. M If it wasn't for the sheer staleness and how boring this movie is, i would have rated WAY higher. The kills and story are very nice, but of course, the puppets steal the show as always, both pratically and in-universe; the stop-motion here is crazy good, and they managed to define every puppet's distinct personality without them ever needing to speak or convey facial expressions. It's such a shame this is like, a 30 minute story AT BEST, inflated to a 90 minute runtime; completly unnecessary and boring scenes plague this movie. Still, if you want to get into the franchise, you should give this one a watch. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 12/08/24 Full Review Tyler B Little minions working togeather to complete their kills makes the "demon doll genere" a cool one. No wonder it spawned a franchise that's still making hits a decade later. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 11/27/24 Full Review JUAN D NOSSA o filme é muito divertido os bonecos tem uns efeitos bem legais esse é o meu favorito Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/06/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Puppet Master

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Movie Info

Synopsis Assailed by nightmarish visions, Alex Whitaker (Paul Le Mat) and his fellow psychics descend on the Bodega Bay Inn. There, they discover that their compatriot Neil (Jimmie F. Scaggs) has apparently committed suicide. But, as the gruesome visions continue, they sense that there's still something sinister afoot. When they find themselves hunted by a band of homicidal marionettes created by twisted puppeteer Andre Toulon (William Hickey), they discover they're right.
Director
David Schmoeller
Producer
Hope Perello
Screenwriter
David Schmoeller
Production Co
Empire Pictures, Full Moon Entertainment
Rating
R
Genre
Horror
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016
Runtime
1h 30m
Sound Mix
Ultra-Stereo, Surround
Aspect Ratio
Academy (1.33:1)
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