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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.

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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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‘Strange Darling’ Featuring Kyle Gallner and Willa Fitzgerald Lands Nationwide Release [Watch Clip]

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Strange Darling Kyle Gallner

‘Strange Darling,’ a standout film featuring Kyle Gallner, who is nominated for an iHorror award for his performance in ‘The Passenger,’ and Willa Fitzgerald, has been acquired for a wide theatrical release in the United States by Magenta Light Studios, a new enterprise from veteran producer Bob Yari. This announcement, brought to us by Variety, follows the film’s successful premiere at Fantastic Fest in 2023, where it was universally praised for its creative storytelling and compelling performances, achieving a perfect score of 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes from 14 reviews.

Strange Darling – Movie Clip

Directed by JT Mollner, ‘Strange Darling‘ is a thrilling narrative of a spontaneous hookup that takes an unexpected and terrifying turn. The film is notable for its innovative narrative structure and the exceptional acting of its leads. Mollner, known for his 2016 Sundance entry “Outlaws and Angels,” has once again employed 35mm for this project, cementing his reputation as a filmmaker with a distinct visual and narrative style. He is currently involved in adapting Stephen King’s novel “The Long Walk” in collaboration with director Francis Lawrence.

Bob Yari expressed his enthusiasm for the film’s upcoming release, scheduled for August 23rd, highlighting the unique qualities that make ‘Strange Darling’ a significant addition to the horror genre. “We are thrilled to be bringing nationwide theatrical audiences this unique and exceptional film with terrific performances by Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner. This second feature from talented writer-director JT Mollner is destined to become a cult classic that defies conventional storytelling,” Yari told Variety.

Variety’s review of the film from Fantastic Fest lauds Mollner’s approach, saying, “Mollner shows himself to be more forward-thinking than most of his genre peers. He’s clearly a student of the game, one who studied his forebears’ lessons with adroitness to better prepare himself to put his own mark on them.” This praise underlines Mollner’s deliberate and thoughtful engagement with the genre, promising audiences a film that is both reflective and innovative.

Strange Darling

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Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Barbarella’ Revival Forges Ahead

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Sydney Sweeney Barbarella

Sydney Sweeney has confirmed the ongoing progress of the much-anticipated reboot of Barbarella. The project, which sees Sweeney not only starring but also executive producing, aims to breathe new life into the iconic character that first captured audiences’ imaginations in the 1960s. However, amid speculation, Sweeney remains tight-lipped about the possible involvement of celebrated director Edgar Wright in the project.

During her appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Sweeney shared her enthusiasm for the project and the character of Barbarella, stating, “It is. I mean, Barbarella is just such a fun character to explore. She really just embraces her femininity and her sexuality, and I love that. She uses sex as a weapon and I think it’s such an interesting way into a sci-fi world. I’ve always wanted to do sci-fi. So we’ll see what happens.“

Sydney Sweeney confirms her Barbarella reboot is still in the works

Barbarella, originally a creation of Jean-Claude Forest for V Magazine in 1962, was transformed into a cinematic icon by Jane Fonda under the direction of Roger Vardim in 1968. Despite a sequel, Barbarella Goes Down, never seeing the light of day, the character has remained a symbol of sci-fi allure and adventurous spirit.

Over the decades, several high-profile names including Rose McGowan, Halle Berry, and Kate Beckinsale were floated as potential leads for a reboot, with directors Robert Rodriguez and Robert Luketic, and writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade previously attached to revive the franchise. Unfortunately, none of these iterations made it past the conceptual stage.

Barbarella

The film’s progress took a promising turn approximately eighteen months ago when Sony Pictures announced its decision to cast Sydney Sweeney in the titular role, a move that Sweeney herself has suggested was facilitated by her involvement in Madame Web, also under Sony’s banner. This strategic decision was aimed at fostering a beneficial relationship with the studio, specifically with the Barbarella reboot in mind.

When probed about Edgar Wright’s potential directorial role, Sweeney adeptly sidestepped, merely noting that Wright has become an acquaintance. This has left fans and industry watchers speculating about the extent of his involvement, if any, in the project.

Barbarella is known for its adventurous tales of a young woman traversing the galaxy, engaging in escapades that often incorporate elements of sexuality—a theme Sweeney seems eager to explore. Her commitment to reimagining Barbarella for a new generation, while staying true to the character’s original essence, sounds like the making of a great reboot.

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‘The First Omen’ Almost Received an NC-17 Rating

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the first omen trailer

Set for an April 5 theater release, ‘The First Omen’ carries an R-rating, a classification that was almost not achieved. Arkasha Stevenson, in her inaugural feature film directorial role, faced a formidable challenge in securing this rating for the prequel to the esteemed franchise. It seems the filmmakers had to contend with the ratings board to prevent the film from being saddled with an NC-17 rating. In a revealing conversation with Fangoria, Stevenson described the ordeal as ‘a long battle’, one not waged over traditional concerns such as gore. Instead, the crux of the controversy centered around the depiction of the female anatomy.

Stevenson’s vision for “The First Omen” delves deep into the theme of dehumanization, particularly through the lens of forced birthing. “The horror in that situation is how dehumanized that woman is”, Stevenson explains, emphasizing the significance of presenting the female body in a non-sexualized light to address themes of forced reproduction authentically. This commitment to realism nearly landed the film an NC-17 rating, sparking a prolonged negotiation with the MPA. “This has been my life for a year and a half, fighting for the shot. It’s the theme of our film. It’s the female body being violated from the inside outwards”, she states, highlighting the importance of the scene to the film’s core message.

The First Omen Movie Poster – by Creepy Duck Design

Producers David Goyer and Keith Levine supported Stevenson’s battle, encountering what they perceived as a double standard in the ratings process. Levine reveals, “We had to go back and forth with the ratings board five times. Weirdly, avoiding the NC-17 made it more intense”, pointing out how the struggle with the ratings board inadvertently intensified the final product. Goyer adds, “There is more permissiveness when dealing with male protagonists, particularly in body horror”, suggesting a gender bias in how body horror is evaluated.

The film’s bold approach to challenging viewers’ perceptions extends beyond the ratings controversy. Co-writer Tim Smith notes the intention to subvert expectations traditionally associated with The Omen franchise, aiming to surprise audiences with a fresh narrative focus. “One of the big things we were excited to do was to kind of pull the rug out from under people’s expectations”, Smith says, underscoring the creative team’s desire to explore new thematic ground.

Nell Tiger Free, known for her role in “Servant”, leads the cast of “The First Omen”, set for release by 20th Century Studios on April 5. The movie follows a young American woman dispatched to Rome for church service, where she stumbles upon a sinister force that shakes her faith to its core and reveals a chilling plot aimed at summoning evil incarnate.

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