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Cast: Thomas Lennon (I Love You, Man, “Reno 911!”), Jenny Pellicer (“State of Affairs”, “The Bridge”), Nelson Franklin (“Black-ish,” “New Girl”), Charlyne Yi (Knocked Up, This Is 40), Michael Paré (Gone, Eddie and the Cruisers), Barbara Crampton (You’re Next, Re-Animator), and Udo Kier (Downsizing, Brawl in Cell Block 99, Blade)
Edgar (Thomas Lennon), recently divorced, returns to his childhood home where he finds a nefarious looking puppet in his deceased brother’s room. He decides to sell the doll for some quick cash at a small-town convention celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the infamous Toulon Murders. All hell breaks loose when a strange force animates the puppets at the convention, setting them on a bloody killing spree that’s motivated by an evil as old as time.
'Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich' tells the story of Edgar who has recently gotten divorced. He returns home to live with his parents while he gets his life back in order. While there he finds an evil looking puppet that his deceased brother owned. He decides to take the puppet to the 30th Anniversary of the infamous Toulon Murders convention along with his girlfriend and his boss. Things go from good to bad in a hurry when something diabolical animates the puppets and sends them on a killing spree. Now everyone at the convention must fight in order to stay alive.
Everyone that knows horror remembers the Puppet Master movie from Full Moon that debuted back in 1989 and the sequels that followed. Well that me say the killer puppets are alive and well and are back in a different movie with a gory spin and a little different design.
This new film was Written by S. Craig Zahler (Bone Tomahawk, Brawl in Cell Block 99) and directed by co-directed by Sonny Laguna (Wither, Animalistic, Blood Runs Cold) and Tommy Wiklund (Wither, Animalistic, Madness). The new reincarnation gives the puppets and the story a bit of a make over and while it does contain some humor it mostly tries to play it serious for the most part.
I don't remember any of the original Puppet Master movies being scary and this one isn't either but it is loaded with gore and there are a lot of killings as well, some being very clever and even funny. If I had a complaint about the film, it would be that it lacks the original's campiness and charm.
This film of course has a higher budget and for the most part the acting is better but I did miss the original's style which is lacking here.
I suppose some will not like the film for changing up the story a bit and others might even complain it doesn't have a story at all but I found it to be an entertaining hour and a half. In order to enjoy the film I recommend not over thinking it and just sit back and enjoy the craziness and gore. If you like killer puppet movies and lot of blood and guts then check this out when it comes to DVD, Blu-ray and 4K UHD/Blu-ray combo on Sept. 25, 2018.
Released by RLJE Films
*** 1/4 Out Of *****