"Retro Puppet Master" Blu-Ray Review

When “Retro Puppet Master” was released on blu-ray, I was kind of surprised that this got a blu-ray release considering not many of the post paramount films have been hitting blu-ray. Also, this film was released before “Curse of the Puppet Master” on blu-ray. The film is the seventh film of the “Puppet Master” and most different from the others.

The film focuses on a young Andre Toulon (Greg Sestero) who is running his puppet shows with the help of his friends. During one of his shows, he meets the daughter of a Swiss diplomat whom he falls for. His life is turned upside down when a mysterious sorcerer on the run shows up on his doorstep with the ancient secrets of Sutekh. Now with the secrets, Toulon and his puppets must stop Sutekh and his servants before he carries out his evil plans.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen “Retro Puppet Master”. I remember first seeing this on DVD through the local video and feeling happy that it was better than the abysmal “Curse of the Puppet Master” where I was outraged at that film’s lazy attempt at making a horror film. This film holds up from the last time I saw it.

One of the reason that I enjoyed this was David Decoteau’s direction. He does a good job making sure this feels different from all the other Puppet Master films. Decoteau does that by making sure the dialogue scenes move at a good pace and not rely heavily on stock film like the sixth Puppet Master” did. It made this entry more enjoyable as it felt like a real film and something that would fit the crazy mythology. I also liked how the film’s villains also had a nice creepy look to them. Even though they feel practical and cheap, it has a nice zombie/ creepy “Dark City” vibe to them. Decoteau also did a good job making sure the acting is good here. I liked how he manages to make sure the performances have a different feel from previous films. It’s more low-key but effective as I was into them.

The screenplay written by Benjamin Carr was good. What I liked about this screenplay was that it had a different tone compared to the other films. The other films felt it had more of a horror tone to them with the way its focuses on the blood. This film however focuses more on the backstory of the series main character Andre Toulon and how he met his wife. It was a nice change of the pace from the first six films. The other thing that I liked about it was the fact that we got to the beginning years of Toulon and how he acquired the magic to make the puppet walk and kill. It gives more background information of the character. It’s nice to have a different kind of “Puppet Master” film considering the sixth one really sucked. The extras on the blu-ray starts off with the film’s commentary track featuring director David Decoteau and the film star Greg Setero. This was a very good one. I liked how the both of them do into detail about the making of the film and stories that had happened on set. It’s one of the better full moon commentaries that they’ve done. The disc then wraps up with the film’s original videozone and two hours of raw behind the scenes footage with or without commentary from David Decoteau.

This is seventh best film in the series as I have this just behind “Axis Termination”, but it’s still a good film. “Retro Puppet Master” is different from the other entry from the other films in the series but it was nice to have a different entry that focuses on Toulon and not the puppets so much.

Review Rating: Three and a Half stars

Extras: Three Stars

"Curse of the Puppet Master" Makes It Blu-Ray Debut.

Full Moon Features recently released information for their upcoming blu-ray release of "Curse of the Puppet Master". The sixth entry in Full Moon most popular franchise stars George Peck, Josh Green and Emily Harrison.

Special features on the blu-ray includes director's commentary from director David DeCoteau, original videozone and trailers.

"Curse of the Puppet Master" hits retail on June 23rd.

Press Release:

Those malevolent puppets are back in Curse of the Puppet Master, the sixth installment in Full Moon’s legendary fright film franchise. This time, Andre Toulon’s diminutive assassins take up residence at The House of Marvels, a traveling doll circus run by Dr. Magrew (George Peck) who has been trying to create a living doll of his own with little success. When Magrew and his daughter Jane (Emily Harrison) meet a talented young man named Robert (Josh Green) who has a gift for wood carving, the good Doc asks that he use his natural gifts to sculpt him a puppet. But as Robert gets deeper ingrained into the family’s weird world, Magrew’s darker and more monstrous plans reveal themselves an once more, Blade, Pinhead, Tunneler, Six Shooter and the rest of the gang are fighting for their master’s honor…to the death!

Director David De Coteau (Puppet Master III) returns to the series for this strange, thrilling and violent entry, presented here for the first time, fully uncut in HD using a composite of the original 35mm negative, original SD release and Digi-Beta videotape master, making this the definitive version of this classic film.

Full Moon's "Retro Puppet Master" Makes Blu-Ray Debut

Full Moon Features recently released information for their upcoming blu-ray release of the seventh film in the "Puppet Master" series "Retro Puppet Master". This entry of the "Puppet Master" series David DeCoteau (Puppet Master III, Creepozoids) and stars Greg Sestero (The Room).

Special features on the Blu-Ray includes Director’s Commentary, 2 hours of behind the scenes footage (with commentary), vintage Videozone special and more.

"Retro Puppet Master" hits retail on May 16th.

Press Release:

Get ready for the seventh spellbinding entry in Full Moon’s iconic Puppet Master series: Retro Puppet Master! Directed by insanely prolific genre legend David DeCoteau (Puppet Master III, Creepozoids) and produced by Charles Band (Puppet Master, Hideous!), Retro Puppet Master dials back the clock, serving as both a thrilling prequel to Puppet Master III and as one of the most unique, evocative films in the franchise.

Actor and author Greg Sestero (The Room) stars as the young Andre Toulon, living a peaceful life as a puppeteer in pre-World War I Paris and courting the lovely Ilsa, the Swiss ambassador’s beautiful young daughter. But the strings of fate that guide Toulon’s destiny are about to pull him into an unexpected direction after he encounters the renegade sorcerer Afzel, who has stolen the mysterious secrets of life from the dark god Sutekh. When Sutekh’s sinister servants arrive, and make Ilsa a part of their diabolical plans, it’s up to Toulon and his army of custom made puppets to stop them at any cost!

Featuring the final appearance of actor Guy Rolfe as the elder Toulon and boasting rich production values, a fine score by John Massari and a much stronger emphasis on human drama, Retro Puppet Master is a trip back in time with a very different pack of puppets.

Full Moon is proud to premiere this picture on Blu-ray completely remastered from the original 35mm camera negative.

Retro Puppet Master is available on May 16th. Special features include New Director’s Commentary, 2 hours of behind the scenes footage (with commentary), vintage Videozone special and more.

Blu-Ray Review: "Creepozoids"

When I first discovered “Creepozoids”, I was looking into some Linnea Quigley work after liking her in films like “Night of the Demons” and “The Return of the Living Dead”. When I came across “Creepozoid”, I also noticed that it was David Decoteau who directed one of my favorite Full Moon films “Puppet Master 3: Toulon’s Revenge”. It was a no brainer to check this film out.

The film is about five people who deserted the army during a nuclear war. They come across an abandoned building to avoid the acid rain. They soon discover that they are not alone as there are mutant monsters lurking from every corner turning people into hideous creatures. Can they survive the storm before they become monsters themselves?

I enjoyed “Creepozoids” from start to finish. Decoteau’s direction was very good from start to finish. What makes his directing good was the way that he makes the action move at an intense pace. Whether it was the way that he makes sure the action has an intense feel to making sure this film has an energy to it, Decoteau makes sure the action is there to keep the film moving and keep you engaged with everything on screen. It helped made this a fun and intense film considering its budget. The other thing that makes his direction so good was the fact that the acting is good enough to keep you interested in the performances. He makes sure that his cast is making their performances good enough so that it makes you interested in the characters and the gory action that takes place. It helped with my enjoyment of the film, as it this was one of those fun 80’s B-movies.

The screenplay written by Decoteau and Buffalo Hauser was a fun one. One of the things that I liked about the screenplay was the fact that it builds up the suspense and terror. They made sure that they build up every intense scene. Whether it was through the false scares or making sure the creatures are terrifying, it was done in a way that it didn’t rushed. When that happens, it allows for good build up and development. The other thing I liked about this was the fact there was some good action sequences. The writers did a good job making sure that those scenes had an intense and gory feel to them. It gave that intense feel that I like seeing in low budget horror films where it makes you forget the cheap scenery.

If there was one thing that I didn’t like about this, it was the fact this film is short with its seventy-two minute running time. It was one of those films that I wished was a little longer because the running time flies by and like this film a lot. It’s the only complaint that I have with this film. The extras start off with the director’s commentary track from director David Decoteau. It’s a rarity for a Full Moon release to have one of these but it very welcomed here as there wasn’t any interviews on this disc. Decoteau does a good job going into the various facts about the production on this. It makes up for the lack of any interviews. After that, there’s rare production stills for the film and trailers for this film and other Full Moon releases. It was better than previous releases.

Creepozoids” was one of those films that I enjoyed a lot and made me want explore more of David Decoteau films as I would’ve never seen and enjoyed films like “Nightmare Sisters” and “Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama” which also starred Linnea Quigley. “Creepozoids” is a fun an intense 80’s B movie that will creep you out.

Review Rating: Four Stars
Extras: Two Stars

David DeCoteau's Creepozoids Makes Blu-Ray Debut

Full Moon Features recently send us over information for the upcoming blu-ray of David DeCoueau's cult sci-fi horror film "Creepozoids". The cult film stars Kim McKamy aka adult film superstar Ashlyn Gere and Linnea Quigley (Return of the Living Dead, Trophy Heads).

Special features on the blu-ray includes the original trailer and a vintage Videozone behind-the-scenes featurette.

"Creepozoids" will be available on Full Moon Direct on April 11th.

Press Release:

From legendary cult filmmaker David DeCoteau (PUPPET MASTER III, SORORITY BABES IN THE SLIME BALL BOWL-O-RAMA) and producer Charles Band (RE-ANIMATOR) comes one the most beloved B-horror/fantasy films of the 1980s: CREEPOZOIDS!

Blending key elements of genre hits MAD MAX and ALIEN (while also incorporating elements of Band's PARASITE and METALSTORM) but produced on a tenth of their budgets, CREEPOZOIDS tells the tale of five Army deserters who wander the post-apocalyptic, post-industrial LA landscape seeking shelter from an increasingly toxic environment and poisonous rain. They end up in an abandoned laboratory where they explore, have sex and eventually run afoul of a cavalcade of genetically engineered creatures including mutant rats, a monstrous baby, a massive, bloodthirsty H.R. Giger-esque beast…and something even more malevolent.

Co-starring adult film superstar Ashlyn Gere – appearing here as Kim McKamy - and horror movie legend Linnea Quigley (RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD, TROPHY HEADS), CREEPOZOIDS is a fun, weird and bloody trash classic and appears here for the first time on Blu-ray, remastered and restored from the original 35mm camera negative and armed with a new 5.1 surround sound mix. Your flesh will crawl right off its bones

! CREEPOZOIDS is available on Special Edition Blu-ray for the first time on April 11th. Special features include the original trailer and a vintage Videozone behind-the-scenes featurette.