Puppetmaster
Puppetmaster

Puppetmaster

1989Movie88 minEnglish

After being contacted by their mysterious former colleague, four psychics arrive at a secluded hotel where they are stalked by a group of murderous puppets.

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Insights

IMDb5.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes40%
Google Users60%
Director: David SchmoellerGenres: Horror, Fantasy

Plot Summary

A psychic medium and a young woman are drawn into a deadly mystery surrounding a sinister puppet master and his reanimated puppets. As they investigate the dark secrets of a hotel and the death of a puppeteer, they uncover ancient Egyptian rituals that bring the inanimate figures to life. The protagonists must confront the malevolent forces controlling the puppets before they become the next victims.

Critical Reception

Puppetmaster received mixed to negative reviews upon its release, often criticized for its low budget and plot. However, it gained a cult following over the years due to its unique premise and memorable killer puppets, becoming a staple of direct-to-video horror.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its imaginative concept of killer puppets and decent gore effects.
  • Criticized for a convoluted plot and uneven pacing.
  • Considered a cult classic within the low-budget horror genre.

Google audience: Audience reviews often highlight the film's B-movie charm and the creepy design of the puppets as its main draws. Some viewers find the story engaging despite its production limitations, while others point out the acting and script as weak points.

Fun Fact

The distinctive look of the puppets, particularly Blade, was inspired by a 1936 film called 'The Puppet Master' and the actor J. Foundation, who played the original puppeteer André Toulon.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
Filipe Manuel Neto

Filipe Manuel Ne...

**A horrible film saved by five puppets and good stop-motion animation.** I saw this film recently, following the advice of a friend, and I didn't have very high expectations: she herself had told me that it was a bad film, and I decided...
Lil’ Klem

Lil’ Klem

_Puppet Master_ is the first of the Puppet Master series of movies. It's not the best, so if this is the first Puppet Master movie you see I'd continue on with the series as the sequels are actually much better than the original. In thi...
Wuchak

Wuchak

Inert first act, but decent start to the ongoing puppet-slasher series RELEASED TO VIDEO IN 1989 and directed by David Schmoeller, "Puppet Master" (or “Puppetmaster”) takes place at a striking old hotel on the California coast where four...