Paramount Home Video released Puppet Master on 12 October 1989. It was one of the earliest Full Moon Features releases. At that time, they weren’t distributing films. But they would soon.

I’ll be honest. I’m not a huge fan of the original Puppet Master. Puppet Master II is better. The third film, Toulon’s Revenge, is the best. And it created a franchise of 15 films — every one of them at least watchable. I know of no other franchise that is so dependable. But Full Moon is good at that. The reason I’m not fond of most of their other franchises is that I don’t much care for the bases of them. That would include Evil Bong and The Gingerdead Man.

But Puppet Master does a great job of setting up the base characters: the puppets. Blade, Jester, Pinhead, and Leech Woman are iconic. The only really memorable one who wasn’t in the first film is Six Shooter (who appeared in the third film).

The problem with Puppet Master is that they kill off André Toulon (William Hickey) at the beginning of the film. Unfortunately, he’s a great character. And the franchise has spent a great deal of energy to bring him back from the dead — either by creating prequels or through metaphysics.

The plot of the film is pretty simple. It is basically an Old Dark House film. People come to a remote place and start dying. (I know that isn’t what happens in the original or remake, but it’s what the format has become.) And all the murders are done by adorable puppets. What’s not to like?!

So let’s celebrate the first film of this amazing film franchise by watching it! After that, watch the third film. Then watch the seventh film. And you’ll be golden!

Other 12 October Psychotronic Birthdays and Releases

Filmmakers

• Josephine Hutchinson (1903-1998): Actor best known from Son of Frankenstein.
• William Marshall (1917-1994): Director of The Phantom Planet. Not to be confused with the star of Blacula.
• Art Clokey (1921-2010): Animator who created Gumby.
• Lin Shaye (1943-): Character actor known for roles in many horror films including A Nightmare on Elm Street and Dead End.
• Deborah Foreman (1962-): Actor known for Waxwork, Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat, and more.
• Hugh Jackman (1968-): Best known for the role of Wolverine in a bunch of Marvel films but he’s been in a lot more like Swordfish.
• Josh Hutcherson (1992-): Actor known for The Hunger Games but more recently starred in Five Nights at Freddy’s and The Beekeeper.

Films

• Count Dracula (1970): Christopher Lee gets to do Dracula the old fashioned way.
• Dr Alien (1989): Sexy substitute turns nerd into lady’s man.
• Warlock III: The End of Innocence (1999): A woman inherits a house and releases the warlock who isn’t Julian Sands.
• Bandits (2001): Bank robbers deal with personal issues.
• Sinister (2012): Reporter discovers a serial killer’s Super-8 films
• Mother Krampus (2017): A witch takes a child each of the 12 days of Christmas.
• Look Away (2018): Teen switches places with her evil mirror image.

Puppet Master poster via Wikipedia under Fair Use.