“December 8th, 1:46 A.M. Researcher and principal psychometric subject about to embark on sexual experiment number 517A; hopefully will be opening up a channel to Neil Gallagher; experiment may utilize various sexual aids and certain assorted apparatus; descriptions to follow.” Uh, what kind of puppets are these? Join your faithful Grue Crew – Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, Crystal Cleveland, and Jeff Mohr – as they delve into the still-growing Puppet Master franchise with the one that kicked it all off: Puppet Master (1989)!
Decades of Horror 1980s
Episode 248 – Puppet Master (1989)
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Decades of Horror 1980s is partnering with the WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL (https://wickedhorrortv.com/) which now includes video episodes of 1980s and is available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, and its online website across all OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop.
André Toulon, a puppet maker, one day discovers an old Egyptian formula able to create life and decides to use it to give his puppets life. The Nazis covet this knowledge and, in desperation, Toulon commits suicide. Some years later, four psychics visit a former colleague who suddenly commits suicide. Along with his widow, they uncover the secrets of the Puppet Master.
Directed by: David Schmoeller Writing Credits: David Schmoeller (screenplay by) (as Joseph G. Collodi); (story by) Charles Band, Kenneth J. Hall, J.S. Cardone (uncredited) Produced by: Charles Band (executive producer); Hope Perello (producer) Music by: Richard Band Puppet Effects Created by: David Allen Productions Selected Cast: Paul Le Mat as Alex Whitaker William Hickey as Andre Toulon Irene Miracle as Dana Hadley Jimmie F. Skaggs as Neil Gallagher Robin Frates as Megan Gallagher Matt Roe as Frank Forrester Kathryn O’Reilly as Carissa Stamford Mews Small as Theresa (as Merrya Small) Barbara Crampton as Woman at Carnival David Boyd as Man at Carnival Peter Frankland as Assassin #1 Andrew Kimbrough as Assassin #2 Ed Cook as Pinhead (voice) Linda Cook as Leech Woman (voice) Tim Dornberg as Tunneler (voice) Bert Rosario as Blade (voice) Michael Laide as Jester (voice)
Just what the Grue-Crew ordered (or maybe just Crystal), killer puppets!!! Charles Band and the merry band of misfits – Blade, Jester, Pinhead, Tunneler, Leech Woman, Shredder Khan, and Gengie – scream and slice for airtime in this first entry in the Puppet Master series. Originally intended for a summer theatrical release, the film skipped wide audiences for the booming direct-to-video market… and became an instant franchise, spawning 14 sequels and crossovers… and counting.
At the time of this writing, Puppet Master is available for streaming from the Full Moon Channel, Peacock, Shudder, and Tubi as well as PPV from Amazon and Redbox. The film is available on physical media in Blu-ray format as a stand-alone disc or as part of various boxed sets from Full Moon Entertainment.
Every two weeks, Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror 1980s podcast will cover another horror film from the 1980s. The next episode’s film, chosen by Chad, will be The Beast Within (1982). It should be interesting when the Grue-Crew go talkabout with this one.
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