16: 9 transfer !!! I can't tell you how many times I saw this VHS on the selves of Block Buster back in the day and thought to myself ? Who the h e l l rents this trash ? And why di they keep making more . I passed it up many times. It is interesting that the spectrum of my film taste has broadened over the years. The film and the entire series apparently has a large cult following of horror fans. I joined 'Full Moon Features' web site email list and discovered Charles Band. I can attribute this discovery directly to joining AVS Forum "October fun: 31 days of Horror, Blood, Guts and Gore! (and zombies, too....). Since I started participating in 2018 I found a plethora of new horror genres like schlock , torture & revenge, Italian thriller-horror genre Giallo that I never considered even watching prior. Now I like about all of it highbrow, middlebrow, lowbrow there are some great gems listed in this forum that lead to new avenues in horror cinema to explore ! Thanks for that.
Back to the film.... If one wants to find just one movie that sums up the activities of the legendary Full Moon and the equally legendary founder of the Charles Band over the years, then this should probably be the cult-classic PUPPET MASTER. I had no Idea taht this film did not have a theatrical release, just assumed I missed it . But in the intro to the film Charles Band explained how Full Moon started with PUPPET MASTER and it releasing straight to video... and it was very successful.
A group of people with occult abilities are invited to the castle of a magician puppet maker but will find themselves fighting for their lives, besieged in the castle by the satanic puppets of Toulon, who have a large repertoire of murders, as well as a great appetite for blood. This is brilliant stuff. The Stop Motion is such a treat to CGI of today . I mean sure CGI can be fabulous but the magic by the likes of the master Raymond Frederick Harryhausen who created a form of stop motion model animation known as "Dynamation" his influence is obvious here and it works splendidly. The 5 satanic puppets are a devilish riot to watch as they rip, maim and maul there victims .
Director Schmoeller manages to create awesome atmosphere . The puppets are well made, inspiring and genuinely creepy, the special effects are excellent and absolutely convincing given the limited budget. Kudos to cheapo Charles Band as he does manage to hire the lovely Barbara Crampton !
I am glad to rolled the dice a picked up the pride of the Full Moon--Puppet Master, time has been quite kind to the stop-motion effects that make this classic B/C movie come alive. 7.5/10.
Back to the film.... If one wants to find just one movie that sums up the activities of the legendary Full Moon and the equally legendary founder of the Charles Band over the years, then this should probably be the cult-classic PUPPET MASTER. I had no Idea taht this film did not have a theatrical release, just assumed I missed it . But in the intro to the film Charles Band explained how Full Moon started with PUPPET MASTER and it releasing straight to video... and it was very successful.
A group of people with occult abilities are invited to the castle of a magician puppet maker but will find themselves fighting for their lives, besieged in the castle by the satanic puppets of Toulon, who have a large repertoire of murders, as well as a great appetite for blood. This is brilliant stuff. The Stop Motion is such a treat to CGI of today . I mean sure CGI can be fabulous but the magic by the likes of the master Raymond Frederick Harryhausen who created a form of stop motion model animation known as "Dynamation" his influence is obvious here and it works splendidly. The 5 satanic puppets are a devilish riot to watch as they rip, maim and maul there victims .
Director Schmoeller manages to create awesome atmosphere . The puppets are well made, inspiring and genuinely creepy, the special effects are excellent and absolutely convincing given the limited budget. Kudos to cheapo Charles Band as he does manage to hire the lovely Barbara Crampton !
I am glad to rolled the dice a picked up the pride of the Full Moon--Puppet Master, time has been quite kind to the stop-motion effects that make this classic B/C movie come alive. 7.5/10.