Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich

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Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich is back in action, however while the film has some key differences from its other versions, there are some good laughable parts worth watching.

Almost 30 years after the initial release of the cult classic film, Puppet Master, the thirteenth installment, Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich, graces us with its ridiculous presence once again.

With it’s insanely over-the-top gore and original puppet favourites like Pinhead and Blade, not much has changed (or improved) over the last three decades.

Edgar (played by Thomas Lennon), returns home after a recent divorce to help piece his life back together.

When finding a creepy puppet in his deceased brother’s room (and the value it holds), he decides to take a road trip to sell it.

At the convention celebrating the 30th anniversary of the infamous Toulon murders, individuals with the same goal must fight for their lives as a mysterious force animates all the puppets, setting them on a murderous rampage.

The one thing this installment of Puppet Master does well is remaining true to the original film. From familiar faces to laughable murders, (sounds horrible, but watch the film and you’ll understand) without any nonsensical twists, it did a good job at paying homage to the original cult classic.

However, this was also the film’s major pitfall. For a reboot of a franchise, it didn’t feel like anything was rebooted at all. Watching it felt like I was just watching the original with some (slightly) better graphics and acting. Even with the addition of some new puppets and a supposed alternate universe (which will be lost to anyone who hasn’t seen the original), the film was completely lacklustre.

With all of that aside, huge props should be given to the special effects makeup department. While none of the brutalities actually made any sense or were realistic in the slightest, the actual practical effects were genius and definitely can catch you off guard. For someone who fails to see the film’s ridiculousness, the gore may actually be quite unsettling.

Lastly, the film does an incredible job at keeping such a serious tone throughout the entire movie, even though what you are watching is actually absurd. The music is intense, the lighting is eerie and the actors are portraying such a horrifying scene while in reality, a person is being killed by a 10-inch puppet.

If you need a good laugh or are a huge fan of the original Puppet Master, then I recommend giving this thirteenth installment a watch. If you are one who doesn’t appreciate some absurdity and takes horror movies a little too seriously, this one is definitely not for you. But after 30 years of making these films, they must be doing something right. Right?