Tiny Terrors Day 9: Puppet Master Origins (Retro and 3)

Back when I first began Tiny Terrors, I had the idea of covering the Puppet Master films in chronological order instead of release order. This was a new way to view the franchise. It would have been a good one. However, looking back now I realize that viewing the films in themes, that's another solid way of doing it. It allows one to treat the films as an anthological approach. It also helps with the later films as Puppet Master 4 and 5 feel vastly different than 1 and 2. 

So join me today as I take a look at the franchise's beginnings - Retro Puppet Master and Puppet Master 3.

Retro Puppet Master was released back in 1999. It was something that I hadn't even heard of back then. The only thing that I had seen was the lineup of figures that were being released by Full Moon Direct. It just felt like an offshoot toy lineup as the 90s had been known to produce. 

It wasn't till about 2001 that I had finally discovered it was a film. My Dad and I were having family dinner at my Aunt's. We were just waiting for dinner to be ready and we're browsing through channels. We stopped on the Sci-Fi channel and lo and behold, a Puppet Master marathon was on. The last ten minutes of 3 were running and the coming up next display showed Retro was on next. My Dad and I looked at each other and were like Huh, a new movie. Safe to say, we kept watching.

Retro Puppet Master is a different kind of film. It's a more fantasy feel to it. By this point, we had seen the Puppets as the good guys in 4 and 5. And here again, we see them as heroes. 

But this time it was much different. There was hardly any gore to the film. And if there was, it was like a green to achieve the PG-13 rating. 

Retro opens with Andre Toulon and his large chest full of the usual lineup of Puppets. They were waiting for an opening in the morning to pass into Switzerland, I believe. So they were staying at a rundown house. 

Guy Rolfe returned as the older Toulon. He always delivered a very heart felt performance, similar to how Donald Pleasance as Dr. Loomis. He became a bit of the face of the franchise for a little while. And I believe that this is the last time he would play the role. In the wraparound story, Toulon is reflecting on his journey to his puppets. 

It's 1892 and Sutekh (demon from 4 and 5) is hopping mad. It seems a 3,000 year old Egyptian sorcerer has stolen one of the God's secrets of life - that of instilling the souls of the dying into inanimate things. 

Sutekh raises three mummified former high priests, led by the villainous "First Servant", and charges them with recovering both the Sorceror and his secret. There is no lack of victims for the 3 high-faluting, stylish villains as they pursue their prey to 19th century Paris, and the very young puppeteer, Andre Toulon (Greg Sestero). 

Toulon runs a puppet theatre in the heart of Paris, and meets the sorcerer (the mysterious Afzel) when he is found by the lovely Swiss Ambassador's daughter Ilsa, after being nearly killed. 

We see Greg Sestero as young Toulon. Sestero does a decent job in this role. His accent feels a little over the top, but it does feel a bit like a younger version of Guy Rolfe's Toulon. And Sestero does a good job of making the character likeable.

Fun Fact: James Franco had originally auditioned to play the young version of Toulon. This is a huge thing as one can imagine what that would have been like. Actually it'd probably been like his performance in Oz the Great and Powerful. 

This film is actually interesting. We see the beginning of the franchise - especially as Toulon's young friends end up becoming the retro puppets. The downside of the retro puppets are that this the only time we see them. It would have been awesome to see them later on as well. All the retro versions are interesting. I think the biggest one being Dr. Death. Visually this is the Puppet with the strongest appearance. Cyclops is also pretty cool. And yes, we have prototypes of the fan favorites from the previous lineup, Pinhead, Six Shooter, Drill Sergeant (Tunneler) and Six Shooter. These are also interesting takes on the characters. The coolest of these probably being Pinhead. 

Again, the film is light on gore. It's more toned down. Probably as an attempt to appeal to a much broader audience. And for the most part, it works. 

To me, I appreciate what they were going for with Retro. They were attempting to showcase a prequel film, maybe to jump start the franchise again. But unfortunately, most people tend to overlook this one. I would say this is the most underappreciated of the franchise. Which is saying something since we later got The Legacy. 

I would recommend checking this one out. 

Rating: 4 out of 5.

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Next up, we have the film that's probably considered to be the best of the franchise, Puppet Master 3: Toulon's Revenge.

Puppet Master 3 was released in 1991. 

Set in Berlin during WWII, the Nazi regime is attempting to develop a drug that will animate the dead, in order to use in the war effort. Toulon arouses suspicion as a Nazi dissident, and his secret is discovered. 

During a Nazi raid on his home, Toulon's beautiful wife is murdered. Toulon vows revenge, with the help of his animated puppets. This movie gives a new perspective on Toulon and his "friends".

Now, this was a major change in the franchise when this was released. By this point, we were used to seeing the Puppets acting in the force of evil. This was the turning corner stone as it established that they could also be used for good.  It really establishes that what decides how they act is the Puppet Master themselves. If they are a good person, then the puppets tend to act in the service of good. If they bad, well then we get Puppet Masters 1 and 2. 

Another huge point for this film was that it was the first to feature the World War setting. This was huge as it gave us a whole new perspective to see the Puppets in. Plus who doesn't like seeing the Puppets go up against the Nazis. At first, I was going to lump this film with the Axis Trilogy. However, placing it with Retro it provides even more context to that film. 

Both of these films were used to establish the beginning of the franchise in a way. There's also some interesting parallels. The biggest parallel being Toulon using his friend's essences for the Puppets. Both films utilized this approach and helped the puppets find their justice. 

Guy Rolfe is also incredible. He is the heart to Toulon. It's his heartbreak for his beloved Ilsa that fuels the film. He wants justice for his friends. And he will do what it takes to ensure that. 

Plus, we get to see the origins of Leech Woman and Six Shooter. Now looking back on things, it makes sense with Toulon's interactions with Leech Woman. It's also a very tragic love story. And sad that we don't see Leech Woman interact with Decapitron. I would say that the biggest fact was discovering who Blade is based off of. And then seeing Blade enact justice on that person. That was pretty incredible. 

Its safe to say that I think this film is among the best in the franchise. It's also one that I highly recommend. Plus, it's fantastic to see the techniques used to bring the Puppets to life. 

Rating: 5 out of 5. 

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