Search - The Puppet Master on DVD

Great movie, So-so Transfer

Joshua Peters | 03/14/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Puppet Master(1989)

Stars: Paul LeMat, Irene Miracle.

Movie: 9/10 Video: 7/10 Audio: 6/10 Extras 5/10



First of all, I had already bought the out-of-print American edition on Amazon when a friend ordered me this copy for my birthday, not knowing I'd already bought a better one, on account of my 2-or-3-year-long search for it. So I accepted, graciously.



Anyway, the video isn't bad, but the color is a little faded compared to the American DVD. And the sound isn't bad, except in a couple spots where the sound effects are louder than the dialogue. This is a different soundmix than the American DVD. My only major complaint is that the print transferred was played a little too quickly, meaning the 88-minute-print runs in 85 minutes. If you can't find this movie anywhere else, then buy this DVD, it's worth it, but if you can get a better copy at a good price, go for that one."

An 80's horror classic!

John Lindsey | Socorro, New Mexico USA. | 01/10/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Long ago, a puppet maker named Andre Toulin (William Hickey) has discovered the means of bringing puppets and dolls to life with ancient Egyptian magic techniques and a potion that brings them to life making them into vicious little killers. Years later, a group of psychic investigators (Paul Le Mat, Irene Miracle, Matt Roe and Robin Frates) are called in with each other as they investigate an old hotel only to discover that Toulin's puppets are on the loose and wants their blood.



One of the most well known killer doll flicks, this flick started the "Full Moon" company back in 1989 when Charles Band's company "Empire" was bankrupted, it instantly became a genre favorite among fans. Barbara Crampton ("Re-Animator") does a nice cameo in this movie as a costumer for one of the psychics, the movie was inspired by an early Charles Band production "Dolls" as this became a follow-up of sorts. Alongside the Zuni Doll and Chucky, these puppets are pure evil creatures that deserve to be horror icons.



Now if only MGM or Paramount or Full Moon can re-issue this movie with the rest of the movies on DVD then that would be great.



Also recommended: "Trilogy of Terror", "Child's Play Series", "Dolls", "Magic", "Devil Doll (1964)", "Re-Animator", "Dead of Night (1945)", "Making Contact (a.k.a. Joey)", "Pinocchio's Revenge", "Stephen King's IT", "A Nightmare on Elm Street", "Tourist Trap", "Black Christmas", "Dolly Dearest", "Poltergeist", "Pumpkinhead", "Cemetery Man", "Carrie", and "Demonic Toys"."

Pretty good, but hey, its a B movie!

Mark Twain | LI | 01/13/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"A group of psychics get together in a spooky hotel to attend the funeral of their dead leader, only to find a group of puppets killing each member off. The first in the series clearly made no bones about who the stars of the movie are - the puppets (a trend that followed in each sequal). Mediocre plot, and very hard to follow at times (another trend that followed in each sequal). Fairly chilling (members find the stiff to be hanging out in varying parts of the house, far off from his casket), but nothing really to be found in the scare dept.. Puppets featured are Pinhead, a big strong puppet with a tinyhead, Blade, with a hook for one hand and knife for the other, Leech Woman, who vomits leeches, Jester, a courthand gone bad, and Tunneler, who a drill on the top of his head. The said puppets make the film watchable, and, hey, thats all your watchin it for anyway. Silly at times, cheesy at others, but it's a B movie, its supposed to be! Make some popcorn, order a pizza, and pop this one in for a night of camp fun."

One of the BEST in the 'Puppet Master' series!

Blade | WA, USA | 10/02/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Indeed, this is the one that started it all and is arguably the best along with "Puppet Master III: Toulon's Revenge"! While the acting is so-so and the picture quality isn't the best, this is actually director, David Schmoeller's best since the 70s horror flick, "Tourist Trap"! Of course, the stop motion effects are top notch and prove to be ten times more effective than some of these crappy horror movies nowadays that rely too much on CGI! In addition, the blood/gore effects are nicely done and could almost rival that of Tom Savini (the gore effects wizard behind such hits as "Friday the 13th" and the original "Dawn of the Dead"!) and the puppets are VERY original and fun to watch! First, there's Tunneler (A favorite of mine), a puppet with a drill on his head, Pin Head, a very masculine puppet with a very small head whose only weapon is his fists, the Leech Woman, a sexy black haired puppet who pukes up leeches upon her victims, Jester, the face changing puppet, and Blade (another favorite) a trench coat wearing puppet armed with a switch blade and a hook!



The story begins with Andre Toulon (William Hickey), a puppeteer who escaped Nazi-infested Germany during WWII. However, when his whereabouts are discovered, Toulon commits suicide, leaving his wooden puppets behind! Many years pass, and a group of psychics are called to the Ortega Inn, which is now owned by young and beautiful, Megan Gallagher (Robin Frates). Little do they know that Toulon's old puppets have somehow been brought back to life and with the order to kill! One by one, each of the psychics fall prey to some of the most horrifying death sequences you'll ever witness! (the Leech Woman still freaks me out even today) Now, it's up to Megan and survivor psychic, Alex Whitaker (Paul Le Mat) to investigate the strange happenings before it's too late!



One of the BEST horror movies of all time, "Puppet Master" (1989) is a very well-made 'B movie, which was followed by "Puppet Master II" (1990), "Puppet Master III: Toulon's Revenge" (1991), "Puppet Master 4: When Bad Puppets Turn Good" (1993), "Puppet Master 5: The Final Chapter" (1995), "Curse of the Puppet Master" (1998), and "Retro Puppet Master" (1999). But as I stated earlier, the best in the series would have to be this and the third one! Also worth a look: "Puppet Master 2"!"