By Melissa Antoinette Garza
Damn, this was better than I anticipated. I expected it to be funny and crazy, but this was fabulous.
The film opens in 1989, where Nazi puppet-maker Andre Toulon (Udo Kier) uses his creations to murder a bartender and her girlfriend. When the police arrive, they find more victims and shoot Toulon dead.
On the 30th anniversary, a convention and auction are held at a hotel. After finding one of Toulon’s dolls at his mother and father’s house Edgar Easton (Thomas Lennon) decides to go to the auction. He needs the cash as he’s going thru a rocky divorce and staying with his folks. Worse is that his dad (James Healy Jr.) is a complete alpha male douche-bag who doesn’t much care for Edgar or his creativity.
Accompanying him, is his new girlfriend Ashley (Jenny Pellicer) and his lonely, socially-awkward boss Markowitz (Nelson Franklin). At first, all those arriving are given a tour by one Retired Officer Carol Doreski (Barbara Crampton). She had been one of the cops on the scene that night in ‘89.
Back upstairs in his hotel room, Edgar notices his doll is missing. When Detective Brown (Michael Pare) arrives to investigate the theft, more madness ensures. The puppeteer of course is still in control and Andre’s decomposed, but badass corpse is being held in this semi-regeneration system that allows him to puppeteer the little guys. He did work with the Nazis and Rt. Officer Doreski does say he help Eichmanm with the final solution so this can be summed up with two words: Nazi Science
There – no holes.
The Nazi puppets go crazy and start committing horrific hate crimes with inventive and awesome gory special effects. They go after anyone who is Jewish, of Gypsy heritage, homosexual, non-white, or any one who tries to run.
My favorite character in this entire film is Markowitz. He just earns that spot in your heart! Nelson Franklin takes Markowitz from sleazy tool to a heroic nice guy and keeps it genuine the whole time. I’m always more into the guys that are afraid to go face the music, but do it despite of the fear. There’s just more to lose with a character who is desperate to live, but also must listen to their conscience. I loved seeing Markowitz exceed all expectations when the chips were down. It sort of reminded me of the evolution of Ernest Borgnine’s character, Rogo, in THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE (1972).
Franklin also has the best lines and some superb delivery. My favorite moment is when he throws a baby Hitler puppet in the oven and says, “see how you like it.” He also responds when asked why he’s risking his life to save an old Jewish women that he has “about 6 million reasons!” There were so many moments like that while watching the flick.
There are also moments of complete levity. Whether it’s the shockingly amusing way a few main characters die or how the individuals themselves are just so bizarre thus making them stand out marvelously. The bartender insists on calling himself Cuddly Bear (Skeeta Jennkins) to everyone over and over again. Of course, it only makes since that his off-screen wife would be Lady Bear, because it is. It’s just silly, but it’s great.
Jenny Pellicer is fantastic as the female lead. I wish there had been more scenes between her and Charlyne Yi who portrays Markowitz’s love interest. I would have loved to see the ladies take on some of these Nazi pricks, while discussing Manga.
It should go without saying that Udo Kier is marvelous. Perfectly cast and wonderfully performed, he gave us one hell of an intro into a great modern horror flick.
To be honest, the entire supporting cast is fabulous. Michael Pare portrayed the brash, know-it-all cop perfectly. He’s snarky, but believable. He also finds a marvelous balance between portraying Brown as the worst asshole and a sympathetic tough guy. When he’s faced with a victim that he tried to protect, Pare does show a level of humanity that adds much depth to a character that on the surface is there to be nothing but an antagonistic source for humor. There’s one moment when Edgar turns to Brown and tells him that he had a father just the same and is not impressed. It’s a great scene and both men sell the whole thing so well. Yes, this an outlandish comedy. Yes, this is a crazy in-your-face horror film. Still it insists on delivering some kick-ass action lines from a protagonist with an inner strength finding its way out.
Speaking of Lennon, of course he was outstanding in the lead. He was sympathetic from jump. Despite the tropes, winks at the camera, and over-the-top intentional campiness of PUPPET MASTER: THE LITTLEST REICH (2018), Lennon made certain to bring Edgar’s heart out for everyone to see. The travels he takes to become the super hero within his comics is a compelling tale greatly because of his performance.
I can’t suggest this enough. The special effects are great, the gore is topnotch, they didn’t shy away from sex or nudity and it actually had an interesting and captivating story.
Admittedly, I harassed my husband a little bit during the flick. He is an artist who enjoys the designs of the toys (I do too – they’re awesome). To tease, I initiated this conversation near the end.
ME: “Don’t root for the Nazi puppets, honey. They may be puppets, but they’re still Nazis.”
STEPHEN: “I’m not rooting for the Nazi puppets. They just have very cool designs.”
ME: “Nazis ARE NOT cool!
STEPHEN: “Asshole” (jokingly)
ME: “You’re not wrong. You’re not wrong at all.
Such fun! And that’s what this movie is – it’s fun! We need some fun in our lives. We need some raw, intense, wild, pedal-to-the-metal fun! And that’s what this is. I highly recommend it.
Get it on Amazon, VUDU or any other streaming place. It’s not free anywhere yet, I don’t believe; but I’m sure SHUDDER will be grabbing it eventually.
Scared Stiff Rating: 7/10
