Retro Puppet Master (1999)

In the late nineteenth century, an Ancient Egyptian sorcerer discovers the art of transferring the souls of the dead into inanimate objects.

Director:

David DeCoteau (as Joseph Tennent)

Writers:

Charles Band (original story) (as Robert Talbot), Neal Marshall Stevens (screenplay) (as Benjamin Carr)

Stars:

Greg Sestero, Brigitta Dau, Stephen Blackehart

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Greg Sestero	...	Young Toulon
Brigitta Dau	...	Ilsa
Stephen Blackehart	...	First Servant
Jack Donner	...	Afzel
Guy Rolfe	...	Elder Toulon
Robert Radoveanu	...	Second Servant
Vitalie Bantas	...	Third Servant
Sando Teodor	...	Latour (as Sandu Teodor)
George Calin	...	Valentin
Giuliano Doman	...	Vigo (as Juliano Doman)
Vlad Dulea	...	Duval
Dan Fintescu	...	Beggar
Serban Celea	...	Father
Elvira Deatcu	...	Margarette
Claudiu Trandafir	...	Leader

Storyline

It's 1892 and Sutekh is hopping mad. It seems a 3,000 year old Egyptian sorcerer has stolen one of the God's secrets of life - that of instilling the souls of the dying into inanimate things. Sutekh raises three mummified former high priests, led by the villainous "First Servant", and charges them with recovering both the Sorceror and his secret. There is no lack of victims for the 3 high-faluting, stylish villains as they pursue their prey to 19th century Paris, and the very young puppeteer, Andre Toulon. Toulon runs a puppet theatre in the heart of Paris, and meets the sorcerer (the mysterious Afzel) when he is found by the lovely Swiss Ambassador's daughter Ilsa, after being nearly killed. It is there and then that we find the seed of things to come, and the origin of the Puppetmaster series of tales.

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Plot Keywords:

year 1944 | year 1912 | year 1902 | year 1892 | 1940s | 

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Taglines:

The Legacy Begins...

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Genres:

Adventure | Fantasy | Horror | Romance | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for horror violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

At the time Greg Sestero was cast, he and Tommy Wiseau were both struggling actors trying to break into Hollywood. Although Wiseau was initially supportive, Sestero's long period away filming on location caused him to become jealous and sink into a deep depression. He ultimately broke himself out of it by beginning to work on a creative project, which evolved into the script for The Room (2003).

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Goofs

When Afzel helps Young Toulon bring the first puppet to life, a visible hand can be seen manipulating the puppet.

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Quotes

Vigo: To do? Well, since there is neither a bribe nor a loose moral, Mademoiselle, attatched to the complaint, I suspect they'll do nothing.

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Alternate Versions

The UK DVD release from Blackhorse Entertainment runs longer than the U.S. Full Moon Features DVD of the film.

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Connections

Followed by Puppet Master X: Axis Rising (2012)

User Reviews

Puppets With A Soul

I have seen only of one of the other Puppetmaster movies and remember that it was about an older man with his killing puppets. So I had no knowledge of the beginning of the old man but this Retro film gave me a feel for the man named Andre Toulon played by Greg Sestero. It was not a movie filled with overwhelming killing like the other film I saw but gave the characters a heart. Toulon was a young man that cared for the downtrodden. A man that was falling in love with a woman named Ilsa who likewise cared for people in need when she helps to save an old man attacked. This old man was Afzel, a sorcerer that stole the secret of life. Afzel is being hunted by servants of Sutekh because of this secret. These servants kill all of the friends and fellow puppeteers of Andre but they live again in the puppets of their own creations. Now it is a battle to the death between the servants of Sutekh and Andre and friends when Ilsa is taken hostage. The ending leaves you wondering why these friends would become so evil later in chronological time?

Details

Official Sites:

Full Movie on Hulu

Country:

USA Romania

Language:

English

Release Date:

November 2005 (France)

Also Known As:

Retro Puppetmaster

Filming Locations:

Romania

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Kushner-Locke Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color