#skeeta jenkins

[badmovieihave]

Bad movie I have Puppet Master : The Littlest Reich 2018

[davidosu87]

[brokehorrorfan]

Broke Horror Fan presents Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich and Patchwork on limited edition, fully functional VHS! The latest genre films to join our retro home video line is available now from Witter Entertainment.

From Fangoria, Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich arrives on VHS in a clamshell case with two variants: a standard edition with new artwork by Vasilis Zikos (Terrifier, Victor Crowley), with 75 stocked, and a variant with teaser art by Brandon Schaefer, limited to 25.

The 2018 reboot of the ‘80s horror classic includes a letter from directors Sonny Laguna and Tommy Wiklund, exclusive introductions by actors Michael Paré (Streets of Fire) and Skeeta Jenkins, and The Cast of Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich featurette.

Patchwork arrives on VHS in a black clamshell case with artwork by Eric Jeon and writer-director Tyler MacIntyre (Tragedy Girls). It’s limited to 50 units.

The 2015 horror-comedy includes a letter from MacIntyre, an exclusive introduction by actresses Tory Stolper, Tracey Fairaway (Hellraiser: Revelations), and Maria Blasucci (Drunk History), and the original crowdfunding short film.

For optimal VHS viewing, the films have been cropped from their original aspect ratios to 4:3 full frame. They are officially licensed and have been approved by the filmmakers.

Edgar (Thomas Lennon) is recently divorced and returns to his childhood home where he finds a nefarious looking puppet in his deceased brother’s room. He decides to sell the doll for some quick cash at a small-town convention celebrating the 30th anniversary of the infamous Toulon Murders. All hell breaks loose when a strange force animates the puppets at the convention, setting them on a bloody killing spree that’s motivated by an evil as old as time.

After a night on the town, Jennifer, Ellie, and Madeleine awake to find themselves stitched together into the same body. Determined to find who’s responsible for what happened to them, the ladies set out on a madcap quest for revenge!

[johnnymundano]

Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich (2018)

Directed by Sonny Laguna and Tommy Wiklund

Screenplay by S. Craig Zahler

Music by Fabio Frizzi

Country: United States

Running time: 90 minutes

CAST

Thomas Lennon as Edgar Easton

Jenny Pellicer as Ashley Summers

Nelson Franklin as Markowitz

Charlyne Yi as Nerissa

Michael Pare as Detective Brown

Alex Beh as Howie

Matthias Hues as Strommelson

Skeeta Jenkins as Cuddly Bear

Barbara Crampton as Carol Doreski

Udo Kier as André Toulon

Serafin Falcon as Richard

Kennedy Summers as Goldie

David Burkhart as Brian

All images taken from IMDB.

Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich is ostensibly an attempt to reboot the wholly terrible, yet unarguably endearing Puppet Master franchise. Mostly though it is concerned with getting a rise out of the audience. It’s kind of the cinematic equivalent of a teenager repeatedly saying “fuck” at the Christmas dinner table and sculpting a cock and balls out of some sprouts and a carrot on grandma’s plate when she slips into a senile doze. Yet, since Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich never once pretends to be Schindler’s List, but is instead about a bunch of homicidal Nazi puppets killing the “un-Aryan” and “mongrel races”  in a series of outrageously unpleasant ways, this brusquely adolescent approach works, I admit, pretty well.

It would have worked a whole lot better if the script and direction had been a bit tighter, but I guess that might be asking a bit much from a movie about homicidal Nazi puppets. Also, the script is by S. Craig Zahler, whose star is currently somewhat in the ascendant. His earlier weird Western movie Bone Tomahawk (2015) was itself impressive despite some infelicities in the script (Oh, c’mon, the guy with the wounded leg does all that? Really Seriously? No, give over). I’ve not seen his last two as they sound hilariously butch; obviously I will see them as I enjoy hilariously butch movies but, y’know, it’s not a priority. I guess what I’m saying is I hope their scripts are substantially less slack than the two S. Craig Zahler scripts I have sat through, highly enjoyable hokum though they both were. After all no one wants to suggest the “S” in S Craig Zahler stands for “Sloppy”. The less buzzworthy pairing of Laguna and Wiklund direct with a lack of clarity in the action scenes and a lack of interest in the inaction scenes, but it’ll do. Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich’s multiple rough edges could even (maybe?) be taken as a further loving call-back to the ‘80s schlock it so dearly yearns to ape.

Such technical folderol barely matters though as Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich can weather a little sloppiness since it is genuinely pretty funny, and heroically eye rollingly grotesque. I’m not proud; that kind of thang buys a lot of goodwill chez Mundano. Also, it’s clearly anti-Nazi so that’s good, because I’m all about being anti-Nazi. Other than the overall and pervasive (and correctly so) anti-Nazi business Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich takes very little seriously. It even starts like a joke when…”A Nazi walks into a bar…” This particular Nazi is an aged Andre Toulon (cinema legend Udo kier) and the bar is in Texas in the 1980s. Upset when the barmaid rebuffs his creepy and, frankly, rather vulgar advances, Toulon is incandescent with rage to learn she is a lesbian and later sets his puppets on her and her lover. (The puppets? It’s a long story; they tell it, don’t worry.) The police follow a series of tiny footprints from the crime scene and Toulon is shot dead by the police. Following this muddled and poorly paced opening, we fast forward to 2018 and find freshly divorced man-child, comic book store employee and comic creator Edgar Easton (a deadpan Thomas Lennon) moving back into his parents’ home. Apparently his brother died years ago in a  horrific accident (this might be  a reference to an earlier Puppet Master opus; I don’t care) so Edgar decides to auction off his brother’s disquieting Toulon “Blade” (no, not Wesley Snipes) puppet at a conveniently imminent and conveniently nearby Toulon convention.

In the least believable event in a movie replete with unbelievable events, Edgar, the newly divorced man-child, comic book shop employee who has just moved back in with his parents, immediately cops off with his hot neighbour. And yes, that is less likely than an undead Nazi controlling an army of puppets from within his tomb, which is just next to his house in defiance of all zoning laws known to man. Anyway, Edgar and Ashley set off for the convention along with Edgar’s  irascible schmuck of a boss Markowitz (a movie stealing Nelson Franklin). What with their hotel being full of convention guests, most of whom have brought a Toulon puppet to sell, it is to be fervently hoped an undead Nazi doesn’t take control of the army of puppets from within his tomb which is just next to his house in defiance of all zoning laws known to man. Oy vey, I should cocoa!

There then follows a series of inventively gross death scenes as the Nazi controlled puppets lay siege to the guests within the hotel cum killing ground. It would be pretty poor show to spoil any of these kills as they are the meat of the meal here, but I did at least twice wonder how they had got away with what I had just witnessed. So, y’know, maybe not a date movie? Certainly not a movie for people hot on plot. Or even characterisation; although the bulk of the characters are well done, that’s largely down to the performances. Thomas Lennon is drily amusing as the lead and Jenny Pellicer as Ashley, the neighbour with unfeasible taste in men, is better than her underwritten role deserves. Nelson Franklin pretty much makes the movie his with a hilarious performance as a strangely vulnerable bundle of offensiveness. If people wrote theses about Puppet Master movies one might be written about how his vulnerability and offensiveness embody the movie in microcosm. But a world in which people penned theses about Puppet Master movies would be a pretty dumb one, so scratch that thought. Everyone else portrays quirky cannon fodder, and while some are, uh, substantially less than good at the whole “acting” thing, luckily they are the ones who get dispatched fastest. The best ones are the ones you wish would make it. Like Cuddly Bear, a ridiculously entertaining turn by Skeeta Jenkins, and Charlyn Yi as Nerissa, an anime lover who you will dearly wish had better eyesight. And of course there must be a special mention for Genre Legend Barbara Crampton, who here displays her knack for comedy as the lightly disdainful ex-cop cum Toulon Tour guide.

Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich is a movie built around scenes of ridiculously unpleasant gore, and they are ridiculously unpleasant indeed, so it scores highly there. It’s also heavily reliant on offensive humour but it’s really more amusing than it is offensive. I certainly laughed a lot, but y’know, I’m nearly 50 and I’m watching a movie called Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich entirely of my own volition. So bear that in mind at all times. The best joke might not even have been intentional, because in Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich after the fall of The Third Reich the world is so full of the kinds of people the Nazis tried to eradicate that it’s like the Nazis never existed. For all its Sturm und Drang, for all its Edginess, for all its attempts to play the Bad Boy card, Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich laughs longest and hardest at the Nazis. Because, as any fule kno, that’s all the Nazis are worth. Unlike the Nazis, Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich, however, is worth your time even if only for the scene involving an irate Nelson Franklin, a certain “Baby Hitler” and an oven. Shalom, motherfuckers! Shaaaaloooooooom!

[jokeronthesofa]

Video on Demand Review – Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich

Video on Demand Review – Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich @Fangoria asked the Grouch to preach the gospel of this film, so that's what he's doing. In his words: "Holy Hell, this movie." #PuppetMaster #PuppetMasterTheLittlestReich

Holy. Hell. This movie.

Maybe I should be ashamed to say this, but I have seen every Puppet Master movie, including the crossover with Demonic Toys. They’re corny, they have such bad continuity errors that they literally made a film that is mostly archive footage just to address them, they’re usually cheaply made, and they hardly ever have scary moments at all, tending to be more horror-comedies.…

[terrorama]

'Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich' Remake de 'Bonecos da Morte' Já está Sendo Filmado

Em Maio do ano passado, durante meu período sabático, foi anunciado que um remake para o clássico de 1989, Bonecos da Morte (Puppetmaster) de David Schmoeller estava sendo desenvolvido com o título original de Puppet Master: Littlest Reich e de acordo com uma imagem (abaixo) publicada recentemente

Veja mais: http://trror.net/y1Zfs

[saturdaynightmatinee]

CALIFICACIÓN PERSONAL: 6 / 10

Título Original: Jakob's Wife

Año: 2021

Duración: 98 min

País: Estados Unidos

Director: Travis Stevens

Guion: Kathy Charles, Mark Steensland, Travis Stevens

Música: Tara Busch

Fotografía: David Matthews

Reparto: Barbara Crampton, Larry Fessenden, Bonnie Aarons, Nyisha Bell, Sarah Lind, Mark Kelly, Robert Rusler, Jay DeVon Johnson, CM Punk, Omar Salazar, Ned Yousef, Giovannie Cruz, Armani Desirae, Monica L. Henry, Skeeta Jenkins, Kathe Newcomb, Morgan Peter Brown

Productora: AMP International, Eyevox. Distribuidora: AMP International, Front Row Filmed Entertainment

Género: Horror

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11908982/

TRAILER:

[filmleltar]

Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich

2018, Sonny Laguna és Tommy Wiklund

Thomas Lennon, Michael Paré, Charlyne Yi, Udo Kier, Jenny Pellicer, Barbara Crampton, Matthias Hues, Nelson Franklin, Kennedy Summers, Skeeta Jenkins, Victoria Hande

Harmincéves évfordulójukra tizenharmadjára is visszatértek a gyilkos bábok egy új stúdió gyártásában, a megszokottnál egy polccal magasabbra taksált színészekkel, a gyakorlatilag nullánál ezúttal több pénzből, és a legnagyobb dobásként egy komoly névnek számító feltörekvő íróval, viszont igazi teremtőjük Charles Band nélkül.

Történetbeli alkotójuk, a francia bábművész Andre Toulon persze most is hamar feltűnik, a kultikus német színész Udo Kier alakításában. A főbábost színes karrierje 248. tételeként játszó Kier eddigi pályája alapján kevéssé meglepő, hogy az öreg ezúttal egy gonosz szemétláda. Ez mondjuk még nem is számítana annyira sokkoló újításnak, lévén Toulon egyszer (Gyilkos bábok 2, Puppet Master 2, 1990, David Allen) már volt negatív karakter (négy alkalommal pedig a jókkal tartott). A filmek rajongói azt nem tudják megbocsátani a készítőknek, hogy az eddig határozottan a másik oldalon álló karakter itt meggyőződéses náci lett.

A több mint egy tucat filmet 1989 óta fialó, hosszú múltra visszatekintő franchise atyja Charles Band '83-tól számít hol kisebb, hol komolyabb tényezőnek az iparban, mikor megalapította sci-fi és horror profilú stúdióját az Empire International Picturest. A korai időkben jól ment a cégnek, maga Band is rendezett pár sikeres filmet, és az Empire több produkciója is töbmillió dolláros bevételt hozott. A Troll (1986, John Carl Buechler) volt a csúcs, közel 5,5 millió dollárral, az Eliminators (1986, Peter Manoogian) 4,6 milliót, a legendás Re-Animator - Az újraélesztő (Re-Animator, 1985, Stuart Gordon) pedig több mint 2 millió dollárt termelt. Band úgy érezte jöhet már a magas élet és Olaszországba költözött, ahol egy 12. századi kastélyt vásárolt magának. Később nem csak a saját, hanem a gyártás főhadiszállását is átköltöztette, miután megvette a nagynevű olasz producer Dino De Laurentiis filmstúdióját, ahol óriási iramot diktálva 1987-ben már 36 új produkciót mutattak be. A hajmeresztő tempó azonban fordított hatást ért el és az Empire hamarosan csődbe ment.

Band ekkor elindította a leginkább a Puppet Master filmekről ismert Full Moon Features nevű új cégét, hasonló fókusszal, mint a kimúlt előd. Kapásból megnyerte partnernek a Paramountot és gyártotta az igényesebbnek szánt, de bevallottan videó- (majd később DVD) forgalmazásra tervezett B-filmeket. Az új (anya)cég is hullámzóan teljesített, mely mellé attól függően épp miben látta a legnagyobb potenciált, többféle leányvállalatot is alapított, amik egy-egy (al)műfajra specializálódtak a softcore pornó-sci-fitől a családi fantasyig. A Full Moon leginkább kultstátuszba került és legrégebb óta műsoron lévő attrakciója a gyilkos bábok története, mely ugyan nem egy aranybánya (4,23 millió dollárt hozott 12 rész), némi érdeklődés mindig mutatkozik utána, akármilyen stabilan alacsony is a részek színvonala. A filmeken kívül kapható Puppet Master képregény, akciófigura, modell, kártya, valamint különféle ruházati cikkek és Halloweenre való jelmez is.

A Band bábáskodása alatt készült tucatnyi részből egy kakukktojás, mégpedig a sorban kilencedik Puppet Master vs. Demonic Toys (2005, Ted Nicolaou), mely mint a címéből is látszik egy crossover, amiben a két gyilkos hajlamú bábukat szerepeltető franchise főszereplői csapnak össze. (Érdekesség, hogy a démoni játékok kitalálója az a David S. Goyer, aki azóta felettébb sikeres forgatókönyvíróvá érett Hollywoodban.) A többi 11 rész azonban ugyanazt a történetszálat gazdagítja/zilálja szét, mely alapján tudjuk, hogy Andre Toulon, az ügyes bábjátékos egy ősi egyiptomi varázsrecepthez jutott, mellyel életre tudja kelteni az élettelent, például különféle bábjait. A nácik is pályáznak erre a tudásra, és mikor Toulon nem hajlandó azt átadni nekik, megölik a feleségét, őt pedig árulásért bebörtönzik. Hűséges bábjai segítségével később kiszabadul és véres bosszút esküszik. (ld.: Gyilkos bábok 3, Puppet Master III: Toulon's Revenge, 1991, David DeCoteau)

Ezt a status quot rúgja most fel a Littlest Reich, melyet már nem a Full Moon, hanem a nemritkán kétséges politikai nézeteket propagáló (?, ábrázoló?) filmjeiről is ismert Cinestate gyártott, akik a manapság kurrens névnek számító S. Craig Zahlert (Csontok és skalpok, Bone Tomahawk, 2015, Büntető ököl, Brawl in Cell Block 99, 2017) kérték fel írónak. A borzalmasabbnál borzalmasabb színvonalú folytatásokat végigszenvedő rajongók dühe érthető, mivel végre készült egy rész vállalható stábbal, tisztességes pénzből, de felrúg szinte mindent ami nekik szent. A helyzet azonban most korántsem tragikus. Az egyik leggyengébben sikerült folytatás, a megdöbbentően logikátlan és arányvesztett 1998-as Gyilkos bábok 6 (Curse of the Puppet Master, David DeCoteau) volt az igazi töréspont a franchise azámára, ekkortól nem dolgozott ugyanis a bábok megjelenítésén a kiváló stop-motion animátor David Allen. A filmeket addig leginkább a költségvetéshez és az egyéb összetevők minőségéhez mérten ragyogóan sikerült bábmozgatás emelte valamivel a többi tékás horrorfilm fölé. Allen magánélete azonban eddigre egészen mély mélypontra jutott. Felesége rájött, hogy viszonya van egy másik nővel, majd nyomozásba kezdett utána és végül sikerült egy 17 évvel korábbi gyilkosságot a szeretőre bizonyítania, akit aztán börtönbüntetésre is ítéltek. Ezután elvált Allentől.

Charles Band nem az a típusú producer aki megoldhatatlan feladatnak tartaná olyan rémfilmek elkészítését, ahol totálisan mozgásképtelen fabábuk gyilkolnak. Az elkövetkezőkben a korábbi részekből vágtak be olyan képeket, ahol a kegyetlen apróságok jönnek, mennek, körülnéznek (az, hogy a díszlet teljesen más volt, nem számított), közelharcnál pedig egyszerűen a színészek mozgatták őket, akikkel éppen élethalálharcot vívtak. A csúcs a Puppet Master: The Legacy (2003, Charles Band) már mindössze pár darab új jelenetet tartalmazott, gyakorlatilag flashbackek sorozata segítségével (melyek a korábbi filmek jeleneteiből lettek összeollózva) elmesélte az addig történteket. Majd a stúdió nevében elköszönt a nézőktől, lezárva a sorozatot. Band aztán hamar meggondolta magát és egy év múlva a már említett crossover film kedvéért újra harcba dobta a bábokat. Ez a film ugyan nem része a hivatalos történetszálnak, de hat évre rá a PM-veterán David DeCoteau visszahívásával a főszál is folytatódhatott. Ekkorra a drótokkal irányított marionett bábuk és némi számítógépes technika használata bizonyult a paralizált gyilkosok kínos problémája megoldásának.

A legújabb Puppet Master vitán felül az egyik legszínvonalasabban elkészített rész. A színészi tehetség itt-ott felefedezhető, és játékuk is homogénebb a korábban megszokotthoz képest, ahol Oscar-jelölttől (William Hickey, az első Andre Toulon) a pornószínésznőn át a nyereményjátékon keresztül bekerült rajongókig mindennemű szereplő megfordult az évek során. Emellett nagyon véres lett, nagyon gátlástalan, (sötét) humora is van, és a kissé elnyújtott expozíció után tényleg elenged minden gyeplőt. A történetet felületesen ismerő zsánerrajongók körében bizonyosan számíthat valamilyen mértékű sikerre, a folytatásokat lelkiismeretesen végigkövető keményvonalas rajongók azonban a Toulon és a bábok szerepének megváltoztatása okán nagyon nem szívlelik az új irányt. A legtöbb horrorfilmsorozatra igaz, hogy az áldozatok jellegtelen kartonpapír figurák, akikkel semmilyen mértékben nem azonosulunk, így a haláluk csak egy izgalmas attrakció a film tulajdonképpeni poszterhőse, az éppen aktuális szörnyeteg előadásában. Jelen sorozat pedig végig tudatosan ki is használta ezt a jeleséget, és mindig adott valamilyen plusz ürügyet, kiskaput, hogy érezhessük: jogosan szurkolunk a harcias báboknak. Zahler ezt most elvette tőlünk. Toulon és teremtményei egyértelműen nácik, a film fő helyszínéül szolgáló hotelben pedig akadnak zsidó, fekete, cigány, meleg áldozatjelöltek is, akik a műfajnak megfelelően természetesen sorra válogatott kínhalált is halnak. Ahogy már említettük, náci gyilkológépek keze által. Annyira nem ismerjük meg őket, hogy bármennyire is aggódjunk értük, de ez a felállás a horrormonstrumok mögé állás bűnös élvezetét is lehetetlenné teszi.

Meglepetésre Zahler - a franchise hosszú történetének eddig messze legnevesebb írója - könyvével nem is ez az egyetlen probléma. Nyilván egy igazi alsópolcos zsánerfilmből nem igen lehet, vagy legalábbis nagyon nehéz egyszerre egzisztencialista kérdéseket feszegető allegorikus horrort csinálni, de Zahlert bizonyos helyeken eddigi biztos ízlése is cserbenhagyta. A náci-zsidó vonal és az erre épülő csattanók jó része félresikerült. Egy ponton a zsidó boltos bedobja a hitlerbajszos csecsemő-bábot egy kályhába, majd utánaszól: "Na, neked hogy tetszik?" Az író érezhetően vallja: bármiből szabad viccet csinálni. Védhető gondolat. Néhol azonban egyszerűen fantáziátlan megoldásokkal találkozni. A női főszereplő valójában a férfi főhős életre kelt nedves álma, valódi, indie drámákból karikaturizált manic pixie dream girl. A filmek célközönségét alighanem többé-kevésbé pontosan lemodellező képregényes protagonista sármjának ellenállni nem tudó, majd annak testi szerelmével betelni nem tudó csinos lány talán fan service volna a bábokkal történtek miatt. A (főleg verbális) gegek jó része is első körös, eddigi életműve ismeretében nem érződik, hogy a forgatókönyvírót különösebben megihlette volna ez a megbízható producerétől kapott feladat. A svéd rendezőpáros Tommy Wiklund és Sonny Laguna (Wither, 2012; We Are Monsters, 2015) viszont igen lelkesen látott munkához, mint afféle kísérletező kedvű horrorrajongók, akik lehetőséget kaptak valóra váltani mindazt, amit addigi filléres filmjeikben nem lehetett. Itt ne filmnyelvi vagy történetbonyolítási kísérletekre gondoljunk, triójuk Zahlerrel összesen 30 válogatottan kegyetlen gyilkosságot álmodott vászonra, köztük néhánnyal, amik mintha valami beteg városi legendából, vagy mára elfeledett underground filmből lennének átemelve. Moziforgalmazásra szánt (amerikai) filmben mindenesetre meglepően hatnak. Az egymásra licitáló durva grand guignol jelenetek nem túl kreatív lefilmezésén kívül a rendezők nem sokat tesznek a filmhez, Zahler splatterfantáziáját esélyük sincs összetartani. Feltűnő, a színészek játékának mennyire nincs íve, bár mondjuk a gyakori logikai bukfencek és dramaturgiai sutaságok közt hamar át lehet siklani azon, hogy egy szereplő sokkal élénkebben reagál egy tiszteletlen recepciósra, mint arra hogy valamivel később két szénné égett fejű hullába botlik egy folyosón.

A film hibái súlyosak és számosak, de a franchise bájának néhány morzsája azért még megmaradt. A második felét kiadó élethalálharc a szállodában pedig annyira komolyanvehetetlen és féktelenül hatásvadász, hogy a túlnyomórészt szabálykövető és jólfésült kortárs horrorfilmek után azért tud frissítően hatni. Ha mégsem aratna sikert az új verzió, Band elárulta, csak azért állapodott meg végül a Cinestate-et alapító barátjával Dallas Sonnier-vel, mert a stúdió nála hagyta az eredeti franchise jogait, melyet kedvére folytathat a továbbiakban, ők csak a Littlest Reich-al megkezdett vonalat kívánják továbbvinni.

A Full Moon pedig azóta be is jelentette a 2020-ban érkező új részt, ami egy spin-off lesz az egyedüliként minden eddigi filmben feltűnő halálfejű báb főszereplésével (Blade: The Iron Cross, John Lechago).

[davidosu87]

[brokehorrorfan]

4K Ultra HD Review: Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich

2018 has been a rough year for many, but it's hard to complain when we live a world with two concurrent Puppet Master series. Full Moon Features' Charles Band - who launched the franchise in 1989 - continues churning out cheap sequels; the eleventh installment (!) just hit earlier this year. Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich, meanwhile, is a (slightly) bigger-budgeted, higher-profile reboot.

The Littlest Reich is exciting for more than just its fresh take on the killer puppets. Presented by Fangoria, the film boasts a script by S. Craig Zahler, the brilliant filmmaker behind Bone Tomahawk and Brawl in Cell Block 99. Funnyman Thomas Lennon (Reno 911) leads the cast, which also includes genre favorites Barbara Crampton (Re-Animator) and Udo Kier (Suspiria). Fabio Frizzi (Zombie, The Beyond) composed the score. Band serves as an executive producer.

Lennon stars as Edgar, a newly-divorced, middle-aged man who works at a comic book shop while pursuing his own career in comics. He’s forced to temporarily move back in with his parents, where he discovers an old doll, curiously equipped with a dangerous blade and hook. Edgar traces it back to infamous German puppet maker/performer Andre Toulon (Kier), who committed a series of grisly murders three decades earlier.

Wouldn't you know that a convention commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Toulon murders is being held in nearby Postville, Texas. Edgar, along with his new girlfriend (Jenny Pellicer, The Bridge) and the owner of the comic shop at which he works (Nelson Franklin, New Girl), make the trip in order to auction off the puppet. Many other collectors bring their valuable puppets to the convention as well.

It's not long before the Nazi puppets come to life and begin killing the attendees, with a particular target on minorities. This is a decidedly politically incorrect approach, but - unlike many of the earlier Puppet Master movies - the audience is never intended to root for the puppets. Their hate crimes are reprehensible, and the characters are likable.

Bits of Zahler's clever dialogue are present, but Puppet Master is quite a departure from his other work. Directors Tommy Wiklund and Sonny Laguna - the Swedish duo behind the Evil Dead homage Wither - embrace the concept's '80s origins, complete with practical effects and neon lighting, but it never feels cheap. Frizzi's score is reminiscent of his memorable work with Lucio Fulci, while the main theme evokes the spirit of Richard Band's original Puppet Master score. Band's "Origins of the Puppet Master" is also worked in.

Lennon, per usual, owns the comedic bits, but he's not alone; several other actors - Franklin and Skeeta Jenkins, playing hotel bartender Cuddly Bear, in particular - shine in humorous moments. Kier's take on Toulin is perhaps even creepier than it read on the page. Crampton (who had a small role in the original Puppet Master), as the Toulin mansion tour guide, makes the most of her task of expounding a plethora of backstory. Michael Paré (Streets of Fire) serves as the straight man in his part as the detective on the scene.

The real stars of any Puppet Master movie, however, are the puppets. Tate Steinsiek (Knock Knock) redesigned four classic characters - Blade, Pinhead, Tunneler, and Torch (now called Kaiser) - in addition to introducing a handful of inventive new puppets. While the later entries in the original Puppet Master franchise were so low budget that the puppets barely moved, The Littlest Reich may very well have more puppet action than all 11 previous movies combined. Steinsiek also headed the gloriously practical and gory make-up effects.

Not only does Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich mark a leap in production quality, it also marks a jump in format. Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich hits 4K Ultra HD (which also includes a Blu-ray) from RLJ Entertainment. The discs include a behind-the-scenes featurette, a spotlight on the cast, a slideshow following the puppets from concept design to final form, another slideshow showing the evolution of the film’s Lightning Girl comics, and a still gallery.

With an abundance of puppet mayhem and its tongue planted firmly in cheek, Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich is what I always wanted a Puppet Master to be. It's gleefully mean-spirited, including what has to be the year's most reprehensible kill (topping Victor Crowley's cell phone death). If 10+ sequels can be squeezed out of the humdrum original film, there's no reason this reboot can't launch a respectable franchise of its own.

Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich will be released on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD on September 25 via RLJ Entertainment.

[ao3feed-snape]

Infinite DC: The Legend of Cthulhu

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/3bukOui

by LivingStoneWriter

Louisiana, 1929. Lucius Malfoy, father of Draco Malfoy, has brought his wealthy estate across the dimensions of time and space by mysterious means. Taking advantage of the rate of unemployed African American workers at the height of the Great Depression, he sacrifices these innocent men to a cosmic entity he claims as being Cthulhu itself, the half-human/half-cephalopod creature of myth and legend. Only one person can end Malfoy's inhumane ploy: Neas, the Gladiator of Gallifrey. Thankfully, there are three incarnations of the Gladiator working together, along with their companions and the Eleventh Doctor. This gathering of interdimensional heroes will prove beneficial to their cause, with the true mastermind behind Lucius Malfoy's sinister scheme to be a far more dangerous adversary than the wizard. This sequel to "Infinite DC" and "Infinite DC: Regeneration" marks the darkest journey in the lives of Neas.

Words: 3834, Chapters: 2/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Doctor Who (2005), Doctor Who, Doctor Who & Related Fandoms, Doctor Who (1963), Doctor Who (Big Finish Audio), Doctor Who - Various Authors, Doctor Who (Comics), Cthulhu Mythos - H. P. Lovecraft, Cthulhu Mythos - Fandom, LOVECRAFT H. P. - Works, Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Movies), Stranger Things (TV 2016), Ben 10 Series, Shazam! (2019), Shazam! | Captain Marvel (Comics), Pacific Rim (Movies), Summer Camp Island (Cartoon), Godzilla - All Media Types, Godzilla (2014), Godzilla: King of The Monsters (2019), Gojira | Godzilla (1954), Godzilla vs. Kong (2020), Hellboy - All Media Types, Hellboy (Movies 2004-2008), Hellboy (Comics), Hellboy (2019), GLOW (TV 2017)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death

Categories: Gen

Characters: Neas, Alicia, SI - Character, Maureen, Aznavorian, Skeeta Jenkins, Penz, Eleventh Doctor, The Doctor (Doctor Who), The Doctor's TARDIS, TARDIS(es) (Doctor Who), Neas's TARDIS, Eleven | Jane Hopper, Mike Wheeler, Dustin Henderson, Lucas Sinclair, Will Byers, Nancy Wheeler, Karen Wheeler, Ted Wheeler, Holly Wheeler, Wheeler Family (Stranger Things), Jonathan Byers, Joyce Byers, Byers Family (Stranger Things), Jim "Chief" Hopper, Hellboy (Hellboy), Ruth Wilder, Debbie Eagan, Maxine "Max" Mayfield, Billy Hargrove, Tom Riddle | Voldemort, Voldemort (Harry Potter), Lucius Malfoy, Narcissa Black Malfoy, Draco Malfoy, Malfoy Family (Harry Potter), Cthulhu (Cthulhu Mythos), Jake Pentecost, Vilgax (Ben 10 Series), Death Eater Characters, Bellatrix Black Lestrange, Newt Scamander, Harry Potter, Harry Potter Characters, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Albus Dumbledore, Severus Snape, Oscar Peltzer, Hedgehog (Summer Camp Island), Susie McCallister (Summer Camp Island)

Relationships: Eleventh Doctor/Original Female Character(s), Eleventh Doctor/The Doctor's TARDIS, Eleventh Doctor & Original Female Character(s), Eleventh Doctor & Eleven | Jane Hopper, Eleventh Doctor & Original Character(s), Eleventh Doctor/Original Male Character(s), Eleventh Doctor/Jake Pentecost, Eleventh Doctor & Jake Pentecost, The Doctor & Original Time Lord Character(s), The Doctor & Time Lord(s), Time Lord(s) & TARDIS(es), The Doctor's TARDIS/Original Time Lord Character(s), Companion(s) & Time Lord(s) (Doctor Who), Eleven | Jane Hopper/Mike Wheeler, Maxine "Max" Mayfield/Lucas Sinclair, Maxine "Max" Mayfield & Lucas Sinclair, Lucius Malfoy/Narcissa Black Malfoy, Billy Batson & Harry Potter, Billy Batson/Original Female Character(s), Billy Batson & Original Character(s), Billy Batson/Original Character(s), Billy Batson/Gizmo, Billy Batson & Gizmo, Billy Batson/Ben Tennyson, Billy Batson & Ben Tennyson, Ben Tennyson/Original Female Character(s), Ben Tennyson/Original Character(s), Ben Tennyson & Original Character(s), Ben Tennyson/Original Male Character(s), Ben Tennyson & Original Female Character(s), Ben Tennyson/Newt Scamander, Ben Tennyson & Newt Scamander, Original Time Lord Character(s)/Newt Scamander/Ben Tennyson, Original Time Lord Character(s)/Gizmo, Will Byers & Dustin Henderson & Lucas Sinclair & Mike Wheeler, Jonathan Byers & Will Byers, Joyce Byers/Jim "Chief" Hopper, Joyce Byers & Jim "Chief" Hopper, Joyce Byers & Will Byers, Jonathan Byers & Joyce Byers & Will Byers, Mike Wheeler & Nancy Wheeler, Hellboy/Original Time Lord Character(s), Cthulhu (Cthulhu Mythos)/The Doctor (Doctor Who), Cthulhu/H. P. Lovecraft, Debbie Eagan/Ruth Wilder, The Doctor & The Doctor's TARDIS, Mike Wheeler/Will Byers/Dustin Henderson/Lucas Sinclair/Original Time Lord Character(s), Eleven | Jane Hopper/Original Time Lord Character(s), Eleven | Jane Hopper/Ben Tennyson, Eleven | Jane Hopper & Ben Tennyson, Eleven | Jane Hopper/Newt Scamander, Eleven | Jane Hopper & Newt Scamander, Eleven | Jane Hopper & Original Time Lord Character(s), Albus Dumbledore/Harry Potter, Albus Dumbledore & Harry Potter, Harry Potter/Tom Riddle | Voldemort, Harry Potter/Voldemort, Harry Potter & Tom Riddle | Voldemort, Harry Potter & Voldemort, Susie McCallister/Oscar Peltzer, Hedgehog/Oscar Peltzer, Ben Tennyson/Vilgax, Ben Tennyson & Vilgax, Vilgax (Ben 10 Series)/Original Character(s)

Additional Tags: Action/Adventure, Action, Alternate Universe - Fantasy, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Alternate Universe - Urban Fantasy, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Racism, Period-Typical Racism, Period Typical Bigotry, Period-Typical Sexism, Period Typical Attitudes, Sexism, Science Fiction, Alternate Universe - Science Fiction, Science, Cthulhu Mythos, Cult of Cthulhu, Death Eaters, Draco Malfoy is Not a Death Eater, Draco Malfoy Never Becomes a Death Eater, Draco Malfoy in the Muggle World, Doctor Who References, Doctor Who Feels, Eleventh Doctor Era, Pottercest (Harry Potter), Post-Movie 1: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Aliens, Alien Culture, Alien Invasion, Multiverse, Alternate Universe, Parallel Universes, Ben 10 Classic, Alternate Universe - Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hogwarts Era, Adorable Newt Scamander, Living in Newt Scamander's Suitcase, Newt Scamander is a Dork, Alternate Universe - Time Lords & Ladies, Time Lord Angst, Lovecraftian, Lovecraftian Monster(s), References to Lovecraft, Lovecraftian Shenanigans, Inspired by H. P. Lovecraft, Cute Eleventh Doctor, Inspired by Stranger Things (TV 2016), Hawkins (Stranger Things), Stranger Things 2, Time Travel, Alternate Universe - Time Travel, Alternate Universe - 1920s, 1920s, Wizards, Muggle/Wizard Relations, Alternate Universe - Wizards, Wizarding World (Harry Potter), Wizarding Culture (Harry Potter), Wizarding Wars (Harry Potter), Wizarding Politics (Harry Potter), Wizarding Traditions (Harry Potter)

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/3bukOui

[geekcavepodcast]

“Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich” Rounds Out Cast

Starring in the next installment of the horror franchise is Thomas Lennon (Santa Clarita Diet) as Edgar, Udo Kier (Melancholia) as Toulon, Jenny Pellicer (State of Affairs) as Ashley, and Nelson Franklin (Black-ish) as Markowitz. The flim also stars Charlyne Yi, Alex Beh, Barbara Crampton, Tina Parker, Skeeta Jenkins, and Michael Pare, but no word on their characters yet. 

Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich begins principle photography next week. 

Variety broke the news.

[brokehorrorfan]

World War III begins on the Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich poster. The reboot of the Puppet Master franchise - which launched in 1989 and has spawned 10 sequels - will be released in select theaters and on VOD on August 17 via RLJE Films.

Swedish duo Tommy Wiklund and Sonny Laguna (Wither) direct from a script by S. Craig Zahler (Bone Tomahawk, Brawl in Cell Block 99). Puppet Master creator Charles Band serves as executive producer.

Thomas Lennon, Jenny Pellicer, Nelson Franklin, Charlyne Yi, Michael Paré, Alex Beh, Skeeta Jenkins, Barbara Crampton, and Udo Kier star. While we await a trailer, the synopsis is below.

Recently divorced and reeling, Edgar (Thomas Lennon) returns to his childhood home to regroup his life. When Edgar finds a nefarious looking puppet in his deceased brother’s room, he decides to sell the doll for some quick cash at a small-town convention celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the infamous Toulon Murders.

Girl-next-door Ashley (Jenny Pellicer) and his comic book shop boss, Markowitz (Nelson Franklin), join Edgar for the doomed road trip. All hell breaks loose when a strange force animates the puppets at the convention, setting them on a bloody killing spree that’s motivated by an evil as old as time.

[slpublicity]

PUPPET MASTER: THE LITTLEST REICH & PATCHWORK Join Modern VHS Line

BrokeHorrorFan.com presents Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich and Patchwork on limited edition, fully functional VHS! The latest contemporary horror films to join the retro home video line are on sale now at WitterEntertainment.com.

From Fangoria, Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich arrives on VHS in a clamshell case with two variants: a standard edition with new artwork by Vasilis Zikos, with 75 stocked, and a variant with teaser art by Brandon Schaefer, limited to 25.

The 2018 reboot of the ‘80s horror classic includes a letter from directors Sonny Laguna and Tommy Wiklund, exclusive introductions by actors Michael Paré (Streets of Fire) and Skeeta Jenkins, and The Cast of Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich featurette.

Patchwork arrives on VHS in a black clamshell case with artwork by Eric Jeon and writer-director Tyler MacIntyre (Tragedy Girls). It’s limited to 50 units.

The 2015 horror-comedy includes a letter from MacIntyre, an exclusive introduction by actresses Tory Stolper, Tracey Fairaway (Hellraiser: Revelations), and Maria Blasucci (Drunk History), and the original crowdfunding short film.

For optimal VHS viewing, the films have been cropped form their original aspect ratios to 4:3 full frame. They are officially licensed and have been approved by the filmmakers.

Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich and Patchwork are available on VHS while supplies last at WitterEntertainment.com, alongside such titles as Terrifier, Victor Crowley, Yoga Hosers, Survival of the Film Freaks, and more.

[brokehorrorfan]

If Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich isn’t playing near you when the film hits select theaters on August 17, you can pick it up on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, or DVD on September 25 via RLJ Entertainment.

Presented by Fangoria, the reboot of the Puppet Master franchise - which launched in 1989 and has spawned 10 sequels - is directed by Tommy Wiklund and Sonny Laguna (Wither) and written by S. Craig Zahler (Bone Tomahawk, Brawl in Cell Block 99).

Tate Steinsiek (Knock Knock) designed the puppets, while Fabio Frizzi (Zombie, The Beyond) composed the score. Puppet Master creator Charles Band serves as executive producer.

Thomas Lennon, Jenny Pellicer, Nelson Franklin, Charlyne Yi, Michael Paré, Alex Beh, Skeeta Jenkins, Barbara Crampton, and Udo Kier star. Watch the trailer here.

Edgar (Thomas Lennon), recently divorced, returns to his childhood home to where he finds a nefarious looking puppet in his deceased brother’s room. He decides to sell the doll for some quick cash at a small-town convention celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the infamous Toulon Murders. All hell breaks loose when a strange force animates the puppets at the convention, setting them on a bloody killing spree that’s motivated by an evil as old as time.

[brokehorrorfan]

The red band trailer for Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich warns that it is "one of the most violent films ever made." Find out if the claim is accurate when the film hits select theaters and VOD on August 17 via RLJE Films.

Presented by Fangoria, the reboot of the Puppet Master franchise - which launched in 1989 and has spawned 10 sequels - is directed by Tommy Wiklund and Sonny Laguna (Wither) and written by S. Craig Zahler (Bone Tomahawk, Brawl in Cell Block 99).

Tate Steinsiek (Knock Knock) designed the puppets, while Fabio Frizzi (Zombie, The Beyond) composed the score. Puppet Master creator Charles Band serves as executive producer.

Thomas Lennon, Jenny Pellicer, Nelson Franklin, Charlyne Yi, Michael Paré, Alex Beh, Skeeta Jenkins, Barbara Crampton, and Udo Kier star.

Edgar (Thomas Lennon), recently divorced, returns to his childhood home to where he finds a nefarious looking puppet in his deceased brother’s room. He decides to sell the doll for some quick cash at a small-town convention celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the infamous Toulon Murders. All hell breaks loose when a strange force animates the puppets at the convention, setting them on a bloody killing spree that’s motivated by an evil as old as time.