Full Moon Features are a big part of my horror upbringing. I would say they were my first exposure to direct-to-video movies. I remember going to the local video store and grabbing up every “Subspecies,” “Trancers,” “Robot Jox,” and “Dollman” release I could get my hands on. I never thought I’d see the day where these B-movie gems would get a high-definition transfer. That dream came true as I sat down to enjoy “Puppet Master II” on Blu-ray.
The evil puppets dig up their creator, Toulon, and bring him back to life. They need the mad puppeteer to concoct more of his formula to keep them alive. Thanks to a new group of paranormal investigators visiting the Bodega Bay Inn, the diabolical little creatures have a fresh supply of humans to use for the ingredients. Complications arise when Toulon becomes mesmerized by the leader of the group who resembles his late wife, Elsa.
“Puppet Master II’s” high-definition transfer gives the film a new lease on life. It’s safe to say the movie never looked this good. Charles Band admits that himself in the introduction of the film included on the disc. The coloring is beautiful and there’s no softness to the picture. Everything looks sharp and clean. It’s nice to see this get the facelift it deserves as an essential piece of B-movie horror history.
The movie gets a 5.1 surround sound upgrade from its original version. Richard Band’s score accentuates the dark fairy tale atmosphere of the film and feels fuller. All the sound effects, dialogue, and horrific shrills are given more room to breathe. Fans of these films will hear portions of the audio they won’t remember from the original video and DVD releases because of the improvements made here.
Special features for the Blu-ray include an introduction from the set of the new “Puppet Master” movie by Charles Band. He also provides commentary for the film. The original full length “Videozone” with the making of “Puppet Master II” is here as well. There’s also a montage of the killing scenes, a rare 1997 commercial for “Puppet Master” action figures, and Full Moon trailers to enjoy.
The “Puppet Master II” Blu-ray gives new and old viewers alike the chance to see the film the way it was intended to be. Although it’s cleaned up, it doesn’t lose any of its B-movie swagger. It’s a classic creature feature that will give you a fear of dolls and puppets if you don’t already have one. A combination of an entertaining feature and great bonus material makes this a must-own release for every B-movie horror enthusiast.
For more articles by Eric Shirey, check out:
20th Anniversary of ‘Subspecies’ Celebrated With Blu-ray Release
Blu-ray Review: “Werewolf: The Beast Among Us”
Interview: Actor Jodelle Ferland Discusses Her Role in “The Tall Man”
