By Dr.LoveGore
Welcome to my second (and long overdo) edition of Top-Notch Trilogies. I started the first article with my opinion on a series I think many can least agree with, that the highest quality of script writing and directing lies within the first three movies. That series being the SAW franchise.
You can read PART 1 HERE
Moving forward, each movie series I pick may not be easily recognizable as a solid trilogy. SAW I truly felt was a no-brainer to start this thought-provoking adventure, but now I want to dig deeper.
I have no doubt in my mind some people will agree and others disagree due to plotholes, timelines, dead characters reappearing or whatever other issues one may find with the film series' I suggest. However, I firmly believe a strong trilogy can succeed through plotholes, low budgets and any other bullshit that can throw an unexpected challenge a filmmakers way. That's why this post is Top-Notch Trilogies -- not Perfect Trilogies.
And speaking of a bump in an otherwise perfect trilogy, PUPPET MASTER'S timeline is all over the place, but the first three films are so solid for different reasons that I have to highly recommend them.
Let me break the first three PUPPET MASTER movies down and show you why I think that, had Charles Band stopped producing these stories after the third film in the series, PUPPET MASTER would have been a top-notch trilogy.
Note:Film crew info was gathered through Wiki, IMDB, and film credits.
Small spoilers in this article.
Puppet Master Triolgy
There's not necessarily a shortage of creepy/murderous doll movies in the world. A lot of them are good; a surprising fact considering how ludicrous the idea of living dolls is. But, how often does one seek out a killer doll flick? You know, other than the Chucky and Annabel films? I, myself am guilty of leaning towards slasher flicks whether the killer is a doll or not. In my observations I've noticed when given choices of Horror movies to watch, most people's first pick is not the one involving dolls. Again, that's just my opinion based on scrutiny. Now, having said that, if one or a group of people would bypass an opportunity to watch PUPPET MASTER for the first time, I'd say they're making a huge mistake, even if they end up not liking it, the movie is worth seeing at least once if you're a fan of Horror.
Allow me to explain.
One thing the movie PUPPET MASTER has going for it is it has its own feel... its own atmosphere. The music composed for the film by Richard Band (pictured here) adds just as much life and personality to the puppets as David Allen's puppeteer team.
Charles Band produced, and even though he'd go on to direct a later Installment in the series, the directing gig went to David Schoeller. Mr. Schoeller does a fitting job filming the puppets. They have a strong presence whenever they pop up. Blade may be the most well executed (and most well known) of the lot, but they're all quite interesting and move in realistic and creepy ways. They make noises but don't speak. They're killers but have emotions which you can clearly see on their faces. Many props to everyone who helped make those puppet's expressions translate and be believable on the screen. The other puppets included are: Leech Woman, Jester, Pinhead, Tunneler and some other background puppets.
The thespians in the movie all have the same level of acting skills giving the audience human characters that can be a bit boring to follow around at times but the group does have their good moments. They're all psychics which sounds more interesting than it is. The audio is weak at times and the underwhelming delivery of dialog doesn't help. If someone were to throw this movie on for the first time and not give the dialog their undivided attention I'm willing to bet they'd have no idea the human characters are supposed to be psychics. However, each actor does their character some justice throughout the runtime in the form of on-point comedy beats and decent, albeit minimal, solid acting. Of course, Barbara Crampton's quick cameo is good to see and lands a smile on my face every time I watch this movie.
The puppets and William Hickey's brief but memorable role as Andre Toulon in PUPPET MASTER are definitely the highlights of the story, but every other aspect of this project is done just good enough to make it a classic movie in a beloved genre.
PUPPET MASTER has passable direction, a slightly above average screenplay and fairly decent performances. The script has some merit to it. I've watched bigger budget movies with much worse dialog. It is a tad sleazier than the following two entries in the series, but… sleazy Horror isn't always a deal-breaker for me, especially not for this film. It never goes into derogatory territory. It truly is what it purely is, a well-made, low-budget Horror film starring killer puppets
Puppet Master 2 -1990
Directed By: David W. Allen
Story By: Charles Band
Written By: David Pabian
Puppet Effects By: David Allen Productions
With Steve Welles as André Toulon
I sat and gawked satisfyingly while watching the unexpected opening of this just-short-of-genius sequel. I would argue on most days that this movie is better than the original. The budget seems a feather heavier and the direction the Toulon character is taken this time around is macabre and creepy. His voice sounds very similar to Bane in Christopher Nolen's THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012). There's also a new puppet thrown in the mix: Torch. He's an excellent edition to the PUPPET MASTER universe.
A passable sequel, to me, doesn't have to be as good as the original, but at least close to it. PUPPET MASTER 2 is definitely as good as the first one, and as I said, on certain days, in my mind it's even better. Richard Band returns for the score, the characters are more tolerable (not that the acting is much better) and Toulon is more present this time around giving out sinister THE INVISIBLE MAN (1931) vibes.
The SFX make-up created by David Barton is just as well done as in the first film and the cherry on top: the story moves forward as it should in a competent sequel.
The appetite-whetting opening I mentioned starts off with a brave grave digging scene. The diggers being the puppets and the corpse in the grave being none other than the puppet's creator, Andre Toulon. The old along with the new and (awesome) puppets deliver creative kills. And the movie turns it up a full level spookier with a delicious ending. Other than what I've already said, I really can't go further without giving too much away. I recommend this sequel and think some may favor it over the first.
Puppet Master 3: Toulon's Revenge - 1991
Directed by: David DeCoteau
Written by: C. Courtney Joyner
David Schmoeller (uncredited)
Puppet Effects By: David Allen Productions
With Guy Rolfe as André Toulon
Not only could this movie be the perfect end to a trilogy, it's also one of the most ambitious and well executed standalones to any film franchise ever.
This third entry in the series has dignity and shows what can exist in the Horror genre when filmmakers are allowed to use focused creativity. There's no non-quality bones in this film's body.
Nowadays, franchises are all over the place. They range from remakes to from-scratch storylines to misdirected/misguided sequels. PUPPET MASTER 3 bungled the timeline a bit, but it keeps the momentum of the series healthy. This movie has massive confidence with a heavy splash of talent and it seems to only have one thing on its mind: be a good fuckin Horror movie! I was absolutely stunned while watching this one. I still can't believe the amount of high-quality filmmaking within it. The slim budget doesn't hurt the final product at all.
We have, yet again, another actor portraying Andre Toulon, and, as much as I enjoy the menacing uneasiness of Toulon in the second movie, PART 3's version of the character adds 100% humanity to him. The director, actors, and crew tug at emotions that are absent from the two films before it. This is not just a good Horror movie, it's a good movie.
Third entries are usually "up in the air" as far as what an audience can expect from them. A NIGHTMARE ON ELM ST. 3: DREAM WARRIORS and SAW 3 are strong examples on how to do them properly. And I give my word that PUPPET MASTER 3: TOULON'S REVENGE is of the same top quality. Richard Band's original score is used again plus David Barton returned for a third time in a row to handle the SFX, cranking the gore and realism up to a thousand!
Like it's predecessor, TOULON'S REVENGE barges in with a strong opening. This time, we're graced with a RE-ANIMATOR (1985) type of intensity. This ferocity shows upfront how the main villain (played perfectly by Richard Lynch) will carry himself throughout the film. He's a mean-spirited nazi on a power trip.
Messed up timeline aside, this movie is a prequel and informed me of juicy details in backstory I didn't realize I wanted to know. This is a film that knew what it wanted to do while still staying true to the puppets, in look and spirit, along with bringing a new puppet into the story, that being Six-Shooter.
With all that information and all those opinions I just spewed, give the first three PUPPET MASTER movies a marathon on a "there ain't shit to do '' night if you've never seen them. Do it for the genre. I vouch for them. There's fun stuff in the later sequels, but the first three together are a Top-Notch Trilogy.
Until next time, keep it bloody, Beyond The Voiders!!!
Dr.LoveGore is all about the gore, and quality in anything related to Horror. Movies, soundtracks, comic books, novels, you name it, he loves it!
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