Plot: What’s it about?
If you’re a fan of the Puppet Master series, have you ever wondered what happened before Toulon has these magical creations? If you’re like me you have, and this seventh film in the series explains it all. In scenic Paris, Andre Toulon (Greg Sestero) operates a wonderful little theatre where he performs puppet shows, using his own creations as the stars. Even though Toulon is a very young man, he is able to craft superb puppets and manipulate them skillfully and with ease. In addition to running his shows, Toulon has a crush on Ilsa (Brigitta Dau), the young daughter of the Swiss ambassador. While times seem peaceful for Toulon, he will soon find himself in the middle of a supernatural battle for survival. It seems as though a sorcerer has stolen the secret of life from Sutekh, who sends out some thugs to recover the goods and put the sorcerer to rest once and for all. Before the sorcerer is killed, he manages to pass the secret on to young Toulon, just before Ilsa is kidnapped by the baddies. Toulon uses his newfound knowledge to animate his creations, and then leads them into battle to rescue Ilsa and defeat the evil Sutekh.
While some might think seven movies is too many for this series, I am pleased this one was made. I’ve always wanted to see the events that surrounded Toulon’s discovery of the secret, and how his puppets had changed over the years, so I really enjoyed this movie. The movie also shows us how deep and strong the bond is between Toulon and his creations, which makes it easier to grasp why the puppets were so protective of his secrets. The puppets look much different in this movie, they have a very cool crude style, which is awesome I think. The puppets are so basic in design, which allows us to see the progression of Toulon’s skills as he advanced in years. While the puppets look different, they sure do act the same, at least once they’re juiced with the magical formula. We get to see some old school ass whipping, thanks to the lovable little guys. Considering their age in later films, they sure do get around really well. If you’re a die-hard Puppet Master fan, then this is a must have. It gives a glimpse into the process that started it all, and is vital to series. This would also make a nice film to start with if you’re wanting to explore the series for the first time.
Once again our director is David DeCoteau, and once again that rascal has used a different name, this time Joesph Tennant. You might think you’ve pulled one over on us Dave, but we can tell your work when we see it. This is DeCoteau’s third movie in this series, making him the most prolific of all Puppet Master directors. You can find more information on DeCoteau by reading my reviews of Curse of the Puppet Master and Puppet Master 3, both of which deserve your time. After you’ve read those and you want to see more DeCoteau films, try on Alien Arsenal, American Rampage, and Dr. Alien for a good time. Also making a return in this movie is Guy Rolfe (Uncle Silas, Prelude To Fame), who plays the older version of Toulon. The younger Toulon is played by Greg Sestero, who manages to turn in a decent performance. This is his feature film debut and I don’t believe he has gone on to any other films as of yet. This film’s cast also includes Stephen Blackehart (Blast From The Past, Tromeo and Juliet), Brigitta Dau (Skeletons), and Jack Donner (Stigmata, Hotel).
Video: How does it look?
Retro Puppet Master is presented in the original 1.33:1 or full frame aspect ratio. This is the most visually striking of the series, due to the use of color filters and other visual tricks. This transfer comes across well, with little grain and less edge enhancement than I expected. The colors are based on a natural scale but retain some vibrance, and flesh tones appear natural and distortion free. The contrast seems a little dark at times, but never to an obscuring degree.
Audio: How does it sound?
If you’ve heard the other Puppet Master releases on DVD, then you know what to expect from this one. This isn’t a powerful track, but since the movie doesn’t need it to be, all is well. The music is as creepy as ever and it sounds good in this mix, distortion is non existent. The effects are minimal outside of the attack scenes, but they sound clear and distinct whenever they do appear. The main focus here is the dialogue, which sounds crystal clear and error free.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This release contains a weblink to the Full Moon website, a Full Moon merchandise guide, a trailer for the movie, and a VideoZone behind the scenes featurette. This twenty minute featurette is filled with previews, cast and crew interviews, and even behind the scenes footage.
