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‘Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich’ Is A Line-Crossing Gorefest!

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Horror has always been considered line-crossing. Able to rattle the sensibilities of the public with tales of abject terror and acting out taboos unheard of in civilized society. Going as far back as Universal’s Frankenstein featuring a minute long warning of how disturbing the film could be to viewers. Nowadays, with the advent of the internet and shock value lacking the punch it used to, it seemed more and more like there was less of an ability for horror to earn the picketing from the PTA or similar morality groups again. Until now. Until Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich.

Image via Youtube

The title alone should give an indication of what’s to come, and answers the age-old question; “How do you make monsters scarier?” By making them Nazis! The film is a reboot or parallel universe to the main Puppet Master series. Where in the original, the titular ‘Puppet Master’ and sorcerer, Andre Toulon was a fighter of The Third Reich, this time he’s a hardcore fascist. And played brilliantly by genre mainstay, Udo Kier! The film opens in Texas, 1989 where Toulon continues his prejudiced mayhem until finally being put down for good by cops raiding his mansion.

 

In the present, struggling comic-book artist Edgar (Thomas Lennon) returns to his family home following a difficult divorce and discovers one of Toulon’s dolls in his late brother’s room. As luck should have it, there’s a convention for the auction and sale of these rare and valuable puppets near Toulon’s estate coming up. In need of cash, Edgar travels with his new girlfriend Ashley (Jenny Pellicer) and his friend Markowitz (Nelson Franklin) to a hotel hosting the con, only to discover to their horror that every Toulon puppet in the vicinity is coming to life and killing all in their path in the goriest ways imaginable!

Image via IMDB

If Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich has anything going for it, it’s the sheer amount of excess and memorable bloodshed. Considering the script was written by S. Craig Zahler of Bone Tomahawk and Brawl In Cellblock 99 infamy, that should come as no surprise. As well the sheer offensiveness! Because these Nazi puppets don’t just seek out any innocent victims to snuff out. Following their racist master’s orders they target gay people, interracial couples, and Jews among their hit list. Leading to some absolutely grotesque yet theatrical kill scenes so over the top and offensive, it turns comical. And with around 60 different Toulon puppets running around, it’s a veritable army of foot tall-fascists! There are some new spins on old classics like Blade, Torch, and Pinhead, but also new ones like The Happy Amphibian, Mechaniker, among others you have to see to believe. While prior films had audiences rooting for the puppets, they have absolutely zero sympathy this time around. The film is almost entirely special effects, and with a budget to really highlight the blood and do the puppet chaos justice. For gorehounds and fans of the ‘tiny-terror’ sub-genre, this will be a delight.

Image via IMDB

The cast is large, but mainly for a high bodycount once the bloodshed begins. But with Zahler behind the tale, almost everyone gets their moment to shine if only briefly before being brutally gutted, sliced, ripped, or burnt. Including Barbara Crampton as the officer that killed Toulon and now runs a tour of his bloodstained estate. And the boisterous hotel bartender Cuddly Bear, given a stand-out performance by Skeeta Jenkins. While the sheer theatrics and skilled SFX of the kills make them entertaining to behold, the motivation of the Nazi puppets is enough to make you cheer when they get smashed, shot, blown up, or in one memorable case, thrown into a burning oven. While the characters, monsters, and gore are quite memorable, the overall story is a little flat. With the first half of the film building up to the massacre at the hotel, which once it unfolds is spectacular, leading to attempts to escape and a rather anti-climactic finale.

 

But overall, for what Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich is, it delivers and delivers well. And I hope we get a continuation of the marionette mayhem! A shocking well casted gorefest that will cross your sensibilities! It’s worth at least one watch… if you think you can handle it.

 

Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich  hits limited theaters, VOD, and digital August 17th, 2018.

Image via IMDB

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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