Giocattoli assassini - Scontro finale

Between Puppet Master 4 and 5, you'd have one full movie's worth of plot. Maybe.

PM5 here picks up almost exactly where PM4 ends, to the point where it kinda feels more like the next episode of a television series. It's a lot of the same actors, a lot of the same sets even, and an extended (we're talking like 5-10 minute) recap of the previous movie.

Unfortunately this makes it less of a movie than even the last one. I was shocked to look down at the runtime and see 25 minutes remaining even though basically nothing had happened yet. It spins and spins and spins its wheels, retreading a lot of the action of the previous movie, but with fewer puppet scenes and less effects.

So while I was willing to forgive Puppet Master 4 as simple "dumb fun", Puppet Master 5 isn't nearly as charming or as weird. It's just kind of tiresome.

Having escaped from the hotel, the new puppet master and the remaining dolls find their encounters with the demon cult aren't over as they launch another attempt at protecting their ancient secrets forcing them all into one last battle to finally defeat the beings.

This here wasn't all that bad of an effort in the series. As this one manages to follow-up on the story-line from the previous effort, in effect leading through the events of the last film to start this one off with as it deals with the ramifications of their actions dealing with the police, this one feels the most logically connected and cohesive entries here by finally giving some answers as to what's going on. There's a lot to like here about how that in itself corresponds to the different elements of the past movies with the connection found between the serum's mechanical frequencies and the gateway into the other dimension which finally solves the riddle of how they worked and why they were initially targeting the computer group from before. That also leaves the film with some enjoyable action scenes as the confrontations that arrive here come into play quite nicely against the story-line here with the majority of the film afterward dealing with the robbers' attempt to snatch them up inside the hotel and resorting to plenty of great encounters protecting themselves, leading to the demon puppet arriving along the way which generates not only their encounters with the puppets but also with the demon-puppet creature getting involved with the series of encounters in the hallways as it tracks down the group in some fun, chilling stalking scenes. Still, the majority of this time is used with the puppets in control leading to some suspenseful stalking scenes of them looking for the puppets throughout the darkened hallways of the house, the fun of the kitchen encounter with the robbers or the great sequence in the lab trying to resurrect the main doll to help them fight off the creatures, providing the big finale battle with the puppets and the demon puppet being that ends up resolving the entire story-line quite nicely. These here give this one enough to like to hold out over the few minor flaws here. The main problem here is the fact that there's quite a large amount of time here spent without bringing the demon- puppets as there's very little screen-time here that it almost makes the film forget they're even involved much in the film. There's a point where it could've easily brought them into play here as they're attacking the puppets for the main story-line and the entrance into the dimension happened quite early, so there's little excuse as for what there's little need for it to be as uninvolved as it is in that manner. That also highlights the fact that the main puppet doesn't have a whole lot of screen-time anyway as the entire film comes off like the last one where they spend the whole film trying to reanimate it when it was already alive, so it all builds up to that fight. It's a little repetitive, which is what holds this back somewhat from the previous effort.

Rated R: Graphic Violence and Graphic Language.

Certainly not the 'final chapter' and though sometimes subtitled 'the latest chapter' this is also true of Puppet Master 2, 3, 4 and the other sequels. Filmed concurrently with Chapter 4 (NOT back-to-back as often mis-claimed) this has the same director (Jeff Burr) and most of the main cast - though yummy Teresa Hill is in a coma and Gordon Currie beefcakes his way through police questioning and whatever with the help of sex interest (not love) Chandra West. English actor Ian Ogilvy joins the English (and frankly quite amazing) Guy Rolfe as Toulon. Ogilvy plays a villainous doctor wanting to steal the puppets secret but of course has to battle with the lovely puppets, their saviour Gordon Currie and the Egypyian God, Suketh and Mr Totem from the third film. Many of the extras in this one (including the thugs that Ogilvy hires to steal the puppets) are actual animators and special effects people so its fun to see them acting alongside that which they normally create. Toulon barely features again and its truly a pity that the team at Full Moon couldn't produce a stronger story and one where Toulon could truly feature (Guy Rolfe was deceased before any demanding sequel was made). Not sure why this seemed better than volume four but it is less dull and the English/Canadian cast make good viewing. Top scenes include menacing Six-Shooter fires the fingers from Totems' claws and a dream sequence (usually so tedious) where Teresa Hill (the psychic from number four who is in a coma now) is orgasmic in a blood filled bath tub as Pinhead holds her head as Tunneler drills her skull - it's a job to explain why this scene is so great but see it and you'll probably agree. Special mention for Jester because he rocks and in a way his head rolls!..!

PUPPET MASTER 4 was a lot better, but this movie is still satisfying. It is about a scientist who gathers three guys to enter the abandoned hotel to try and capture the puppets. But the survivors from PUPPET MASTER 4 are going to try to stop them. This makes a cool movie.

It is not as good as any of the predecessors except for PUPPET MASTER III: TOULAN'S REVENGE. That was the crappiest of the series. So, with that crap there in the middle, this movie makes a worthy fifth addition.

Not much of a shock factor here unless you are very easily frightened. There is not that much gore either. So, if you want a nice, mellow horror film that will most likely satisfy your appetite for horror, this is probably the best movie to pick.

PUPPET MASTER 5 gets 3/5.

The final chapter… ah where have I heard this before? "Sorry your reservation has just been cancelled!" Well we know that's definitely not the case, as Full Moon's killer doll franchise is still kicking on. Chapter 5 pretty much follows on from the fourth film (as they were virtually shot back-to-back by director Jeff Burr with the same cast and crew) and I found it a little more enjoyable than previous instalment. After recapping what had already occurred, again the new puppet master Rick Myers must face up against the ancient Egyptian God Sutek who wants to destroy any sort of evidence about its reanimated ancient magic that Toulon had stolen and also cope with an interfering scientist played with devious glee by Ian Ogilvy.

The outlandish story layout is simply as before, repeating what happened in the fourth chapter (even with a storm brewing) but the pacing is a lot better and energy much more spruce with the Gothic seaside hotel having a little more of an impression. The thing was that the sequences involving Sutek just didn't seem to work (with its unconvincing voice reciting ridiculous dialogues and the dramatic body movements). It looked good it detail, but I preferred when it wasn't focusing on that demon. Director Jeff Burr ably constructs some atmospheric set-pieces, creating more a nightmarish tone like a very odd, but jarring dream sequence that was just as darkly unpleasant as any of the scenes from the original. Quite uneven in mood, due to its unbalanced material of humour and horror, but at times the goofiness does take away from it. Like some of the attack / death set-ups follow a formula; run, fall on ground, begin crawling and wrestle than die a bloody death. Not much else to it.

The illuminating special effects are just as potent as before with it colourful optical work and masterful puppet creations. The creativity shows in the puppet work forming their own characteristics, from the animation and the effective movements of the puppets. All the iconic puppets return, also with the new creation Decapitron that's inhabitant by the spirit Andre Toulon when resurrected by electricity. Modest acting by returning leads Gordon Currie and Chandra West. Teresa Hill returns in a lesser part and Guy Rolfe. Ian Ogilvy is great and Clu Gulager makes a cameo appearance. There's good support by Nicholas Guest, Willard E. Pugh and Duane Whitaker.