Puppet Master: Axis of Evil
Year: 2010
Director: David DeCoteau
Stars: Levi Fiehler, Jenna Gallaher, Taylor Graham
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Full Moon Features
Running Time: 83 Mins
It’s been twenty-two year, since the original “Puppet Master” came out on VHS. I remember back, when I first discovered this series on the Sci-Fi channel and when it was cool to watch the Sci-Fi Channel. Those films would sometime run in prime time, making it easily accessible for young people like me to watch it without having to get your parents to rent you these film. It’s amazing how time files. Now fast forward to today, where Full Moon Features have released the ninth film in the Puppet Master series.
“Puppet Master: Axis of Evil” follows Danny Coogan, a young man who dreams of joining the war efforts. While working in Bodega Bay Inn, he discovers the dead body of Andre Toulon, who died of an apparent suicide. In his room, Coogan finds an old crate that contains his deadly puppets and the secrets that Toulon was trying to hide from the Nazis. Now he's picking up where the original puppet master left off when he discovers the hitmen that tried to kill Toulon along with a beautiful Japanese saboteur plan to attack an American manufacturing plant. Now it’s up to Danny and the puppet to stop this axis of evil from carrying out their plan.
The “Puppet Master” films were some of the horror films that got me into the horror genre, when I was in junior high . After seeing the last three films in the series, I was wondering, if the whole series had run it course. Considering the fact that there hasn’t been a Puppet Master film in the last ten years, I believed that the franchise was dead . Thankfully I was wrong and this latest entry has gotten me back into the franchise.
“Puppet Master: Axis of Evil” returns Full Moon Features back to it’s glory days that it had under the Paramount banner. One of the reasons that this was enjoyable, the fact that the direction was a lot better from the last three previous films. David DeCoteau, who directed the third (the best of the series) film of the series, does a very good job with the direction here. I liked, how he was able to capture the World War II time period with the limited amount of resources at his disposal. It really helps the film, in the way the film looks, as it feels like a direct sequel from the third film. Another thing the DeCoteau does very well along with his editor Danny Draven, was intergrading the footage from the beginning of the original film with the beginning of this film. It works very well in establishing the backstory to this film, as it sets up the main story and new character. DeCoteau also does a good job with the way that he handles his actors. The performances are solid enough that it doesn’t become a distraction and take away from what is a good entry in the series.
I also liked, the puppet effects in this film. Even though it’s not perfect from the Paramount films, it’s a whole lot better from the last three films that featured awful effects. DeCoteau does a good getting his special effects team to make the puppet movement look decent enough that it doesn’t distract you from watching this film.
The screenplay is written by August White, who has written most of Full Moon’s newer films, does a very good job resurrecting the franchise. One of the things that this screenplay does for me, the fact there is a central story here It was lacking, in the last couple of films. I liked, how White actually spends time introducing the new puppet master before the carnage hits the fan. It’s gives the film a chance to set up a story, which was definitely lacking in the sixth and eighth installments of the series. That’s probably why they were the worst films in the franchise and hated by Puppet Master fans. I also liked the direction that he’s taken the series, with the ending to this film. It has a cliffhanger ending that's the perfect starting point, if Charles Band decides to make further installments. This is the first Puppet Master film since five, where I actually was excited about the franchise and wanted to see another installment made.
Besides the enjoyment over the direction and screenplay, the fact that the film’s score was very good. It was done by Richard Band, who did most of the film’s scores for Full Moon back in the earlier days including the Puppet Master films. It had that same magic feeling that made the Puppet Master series popular in the late eighties and early nineties. It was very nice to hear that score again along with the new tweeks in the theme music, as it really brings the magic that the earlier Full Moon films had.
“Puppet Master: Axis of Evil” is a return to form for Full Moon’s flagship series and a must for Puppet Master fans.
Review Rating: Four Stars
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