Puppet Master
A group of psychics confronts a murderous occult puppet collection inside a haunted coastal hotel.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- eerie
- campy
- foreboding
- late night horror marathon
- cult movie night
What critics said
Critics generally found the atmosphere, puppet designs, soundtrack, and practical animation appealing despite a weak script, uneven acting, and inert opening.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Toulon's puppets come to life and stalk the investigators, with each puppet possessing a strange trait such as a drill head or leech-spitting mouth.
The psychic group gathers at an isolated grand hotel on the California coast, where the killings unfold.
The living puppets are realized through distinctive puppet designs and stop-motion animation praised in reception excerpts.
Alex and his psychic friends, including practitioners with varied supernatural abilities, investigate Gallagher's death together.
Films like Puppet Master, and why
Dolls
supernatural killer dolls, haunted-house atmosphere, and campy horror entertainment
Child's Play
possessed toys, dark fairy-tale imagery, and practical-effects horror
House
old-house investigation, occult menace, and escalating supernatural violence
Movie Details
- Director
- David Schmoeller
- Release Date
- 1989-10-12
- Runtime
- 88 min
- Rating
- 5.9 / 10 (408)
Cast
- Paul Le Mat
- William Hickey
- Irene Miracle
- Jimmie F. Skaggs
- Robin Frates
- Matt Roe
- Kathryn O'Reilly
- Mews Small
- Barbara Crampton
- David Boyd
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Shudder Amazon Channel, Full Moon Amazon Channel, Shudder Apple TV channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Howdy Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video
- Buy
- Amazon Video
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Puppet Master about?
- A group of psychics confronts a murderous occult puppet collection inside a haunted coastal hotel.
- What is Puppet Master like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Puppet Master as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Puppet Master violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Puppet Master as moderate.
- What did critics think of Puppet Master?
- Critics generally found the atmosphere, puppet designs, soundtrack, and practical animation appealing despite a weak script, uneven acting, and inert opening.
- Which films are like Puppet Master?
- Films with a similar feel include Dolls, Child's Play, and House.
- How long is Puppet Master?
- Puppet Master runs 88 minutes.
- Where can I watch Puppet Master?
- In United States, Puppet Master streams on Amazon Prime Video, Shudder Amazon Channel, Full Moon Amazon Channel, Shudder Apple TV channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Howdy Amazon Channel.
