Puppet Master II

Plot synopsis:
The film begins in 1991, when Andre Toulon's grave is being excavated in Shady Oaks, a cemetery in the backyard of the Bodega Bay Inn. We see Pinhead digging Andre’ Toulon's grave. Pinhead opens up the coffin, climbs out, and pours a vial of the potion on the skeleton, with Tunneler, Leech Woman, Blade and Jester watching. After pouring the formula, the skeleton raises its arms, indicating that Andre Toulon is alive again. A few months later, a group of parapsychologists, led by Carolyn Bramwell (Elizabeth Maclellan), are sent to the hotel to investigate the strange murder of Megan Gallagher and the lunatic ravings of a now insane Alex Whitaker. It is explained that Megan's brain was extracted through her nose (by Blade), and Alex, suspected of the murder, is now locked up in an asylum. While at the asylum, he begins to experience terrible seizures and premonitions.
That very evening, one of the investigators, Camille Kenney (Nita Talbot), decides to leave after spotting two of the puppets in her room. However, while packing, Pinhead and Jester attack and kidnap her. The next day, Carolyn talks to Michael (Collin Bernsen) about the disappearance of his mother, due to finding Camille's belongings and car still at the hotel. That very evening Carolyn's brother Patrick (Gregory Webb) gets his head tunneled by Tunneler. Another investigator, Lance (Jeff Weston) runs in, knocks Tunneler out, and kills him by crushing him with a lamp. After dissecting Tunneler, they realize that the puppets are not remote controlled, but rather that their gears and wood are run by a chemical. From this, they deduce that the chemical must be the secret of artificial intelligence.
The next morning, while still trying understand the puppet's motivation, a man named Eriquee Chaneé (Steve Welles) comes in, stating that he had inherited the hotel, and that he was in Bucharest while the investigators moved in. Afterwards, Camille's son Michael travels to the hotel, trying to figure out what happened to his mother. That very evening, Blade and Leech Woman go to a local farmer's house, where Leech Woman kills the husband, Matthew (George "Buck" Flower), but gets thrown into the fireplace by the wife, Martha (Sage Allen). Just before Martha shoots Blade with her shotgun, a new puppet, Torch, walks in and burns Martha with his flame-throwing arm. It is then revealed that Eriquee is really Andre Toulon and he created Torch after being brought back to life, and he believes that Carolyn is a reincarnation of his now deceased wife, Elsa.
Toulon then has a flashback of him (played by Steve Welles) and Elsa (also played by Elizabeth Maclellan) buying the formula of eternal life from a Cairo Merchant (Ivan J. Rado). The next morning, Michael and Carolyn go into town to find Camille and to find out more about Eriquee Chanee. During this, it is revealed that the puppets are killing because they are growing weaker and need the secret ingredient that makes that formula: brain tissue. Carolyn finds no records of Eriquee Chaneé, and starts to connect Eriquee to the disappearance of Camille and the death of her brother, Patrick. At the same time, she also realizes she has a crush on Michael. That same evening, Carolyn and Michael kiss, and have a little romantic interlude, as do Lance and Wanda (Charlie Spradling), the remaining two investigators. While Wanda goes back to her room, Blade kills Lance, killing Wanda afterwards. After killing them, he uses their tissue for the formula.
During this, Carolyn sneaks into Eriquee's room, and finds two life sized mannequins in the wardrobe. Eriquee sneaks up behind Carolyn, and still thinking she is Elsa, ties her up. Michael, hearing her screams, wakes up and goes to rescue her, all while fighting off Torch, Pinhead, and Blade. On his way up, the dumbwaiter opens, revealing Jester and Michael's dead mother, Camille. Toulon transfers his soul into one of the mannequins, and explains that after seeing Carolyn, he decided for them to live together forever. The puppets, upon hearing this, realize Toulon used them for his evil needs, and start torturing him. Michael then breaks into the room, saves Carolyn, and the two run out of the hotel. Up in the attic, Torch sets Toulon on fire, causing him to fall out a window and die. Afterward, Jester goes back to Camille's body with the remaining of the formula.
Several days later, it is revealed that Camille's soul has been put in the woman-sized mannequin, and is now running her own little puppet show. Blade, Pinhead, and Jester, are locked up in a cage, leaving Torch free. Camille takes them to the Bouldeston Institution for the mentally troubled tots and teens. Camille puts the puppets in the back of her car, and Torch up on the passenger's seat, and drives off, leaving this movie as a cliff-hanger.

Tags: revenge, murder, violence, flashback

Review:
The murderous puppets from part one (plus a new, fire-jetting doll named Torch) resurrect the long-dead corpse of their original puppet master, Andre Toulon.
The puppets return, this time they hunt down some locals and paranormal researchers to assist their master in his evil plan.Charles Band's story and David Pabian's screenplay is almost a remake of the first film.
Effects wizard David Allen in the directing chair exceeds the 1st certainly in terms of effects and atmosphere.While this installment reduces Andre Toulon / Eriquee Chaneé to a walking nod to the Invisible Man and other Universal classic characters, in contrast to how he is presented in the later adventures, it is by far the creepiest of the bunch.
Steve Welles performance is wonderfully over the top and steals every scene.Veteran Nita Talbot is on fine form and the remaining cast are a mixed blessing, Charlie Spradling and Elizabeth Maclellan give solid performances while here at least Collin Bernsen and Jeff Celentano are as mechanical as Tunneler's innards.Despite it's editing and story flaws Allen gives us a darker faster paced and eerier film than it's predecessor.
There are many stand out moments in part 2, Leech Woman's demise, Torches encounter with a toy whipping boy and the unworldly human puppets reminiscent of the aliens in Carpenter's (1988)They Live to name a few.As with all the films in the Puppet Master series they always leave you with one burning question, in two's case: Why didn't Julianne Mazziotti/Nita Talbot's Camille get her own sequel with your favorite little puppets?.
There's just something really strange about this film, I think it's because towards the end of the film it gets really really far out and creepy.After mutilating there selfish and evil Puppets Master, The puppets Blade, Pinhead, Jester, Tunneler and Leech Woman are back to resurrect there sweet and kind Puppet Master Andre Toulon but he's no longer sweet and kind, he's a psychopathic, evil, and greedy zombie that wants to kill the investigators of the Bodega Bay Hotel and in Andre's insane mind, he thinks one of the investigator is his wife incarnated.The film introduces us to a new puppet by the name of Torch, who is a robot puppet that shoots flames out of his right arm, I still think Blade is the best though..
The life-size puppets were a very eerie, and gave the film a new twist.While still under Paramount, Full Moon was able to present a decent Horror movie, with a much bigger budge than any of their $50,000 "wonders" they are putting out now.
The puppets return, this time they hunt some paranormal researchers to take their brain fluid for the living-dead puppet master, Andre Toulon (Steve Welles).This film has some good things going for it: first, more exposition on the background of the puppets.
I must say that I enjoyed this second installment to the series better than I enjoyed the original PUPPET MASTER.
Which I believe, would be followed up by the best entry of the series "Puppet Master III: Toulon's Revenge", as after that film I didn't particularly care for the rest.
The second film of the franchise keeps pretty much the same structure of the original, as a group of government paranormal researchers head to the ocean facing cliff top hotel to look into Alex Whitaker's stories (the survivor of the original now in a mental hospital) and soon become targets of the puppets and the resurrected Andre Toulon (dressed in bandages) from the dead in the quest to collect enough brain fluid for his reanimation serum to keep them alive.
But when Toulon encounters Carolyn, he's quickly reminded of his dead wife Elsa and the plans seem to change.Director / visual effects wizard David Allen does a resourceful job with his low-budget, instilling a clean-cut Gothic atmosphere with an underlining eeriness and donning sensational puppet creations (a newly added one too -- Torch) and stop motion effects.
Welles is the life of the party (getting plenty of screen time --- where a little more is explained about his character), as the rest of the cast (Elizabeth Maclellan, Collin Bernsen, Gregory Webb, Jeff Celentano and a perky Charlie Spradling) are immensely one-note.
The story is good, the acting isn't great and the special effects are good...well for its time.This is definitely a fun film to watch, especially with friends and a keg of beer, or not depending on your taste.Like other great cult horror film classics you are introduced to a lot of corny moments, but that is what makes this film so amazing.
It manages to get away with it- the grand hotel at Bodega Bay is after all a fantastic setting, so it is a joy to return there, and though it may initially feel like a complete retread (paranormal investigators returning to the hotel rather than psychics etc etc) it does have a few interesting plot developments to draw the audience in.Toulon is brought back from the dead, with his own maniacal plan that involves human sacrifices- he is no longer the sweet, paternal toymaker we met in the first film, but a monstrosity wrapped in bandages with his own sinister desires.
We get an interesting insight into the origin of the living puppets, and there are also some scenes that will definitely make you smile- for once in a film the annoying kid actually gets it!
The Puppet Master series is great, and this is a very satisfying sequel.
I had a good time watching the film and I would totally recommend it to fans of campy horror pictures..
An improvement over the limp original, this direct sequel to the 1989 cult classic isn't exactly grand cinema but it's got that Full Moon Entertainment charm - namely, an ominous musical score, an enthusiasm for the genre and charmingly lowbrow special effects.
Featuring more likable characters than the original, a tighter pace and better actors, this one has memorable moments that make it worth a watch for the undiscriminating horror fan..
Arriving at a rural estate, a team of researchers studying the psychic connection of the facility learn that the series of strange deaths surrounding them are the responsibility of a group of malicious puppets working for their master and must stop his deadly plans.This one proved to be a rather enjoyable sequel.
This is played out over the course of several rather enjoyable action scenes here where they get into several rather fun moments, from the first abduction in the bedroom to the encounter with the psychics in their own quarters which gives away their presence to the others when they capture it after the brutal kill involved, though the film's greatest set-piece is the encounter in the couple's shack which is a great deal of fun with the shock kill being committed before the whole thing gets started, the chillingly suspenseful stalking scenes against the first puppet before bringing in the newest creation which gives this a strong action- packed moment.
There is a few flaws to be found with this one, which mainly stems from the fact that there's a rather sizeable portion of the film that doesn't really get anything of much interest going for it as this here is filled with the couple's romance that isn't in the slightest bit interesting or enjoyable as they go about their brief and rather flat escapades that take up time away from the killer puppets.
For those who enjoyed the original "Puppet Master", the first sequel offers thrills and spills on an ever so slightly larger scale.When a group of paranormal investigators arrive at the deserted hotel from the first movie, they find themselves pursued by the blood-thirsty puppets and their back-from-the-dead creator, Andre Toulon (who looks very much like the original Claude Rains "Invisible Man").
The film introduces a charming new character to the puppet cast, Torch, a vicious looking 12" Nazi doll who's gimmick is a nifty flame-thrower device instead of a hand.The film is simply good fun.
I didn't think the first was that good however I thought it was decentThis sequel was start of really good, As the Puppets brought back the Master of the Dead.I liked this movie just a bit a better then first movie, I liked the fact that show a lot more of the Puppets.The movie didn't take to long to get started, i found most of really entertaining but however after second half, some parts did drag on a little and found those part a little boring,The ending was just really odd and a bit Creepy,I give this movie 6 out of 10 __________________.
The guy who plays Andre Toulon - he can act, but his character just gets too boring and stupid at the films climax.
Pinhead there beating people up, Blade's there slashing away, Jester's there twisting his head and there's a new guy, Torch, who burns his victims - including a little boy (moron Full Moon guy Charles Band's son) who is playing with an action figure.
The next film in the series is cool, however: Puppet Master III: Toulon's Revenge in 1991.
This sequel to the original puppet master is very well made - Ok so the acting is pretty atrocious but other than that it's a fun way to spend 90 minutes in the company of the killer marianettes, this time they resurrect their master - Toulon so they can live forever.
Puppet Master II (1991) ** 1/2 (out of 4) This better than average sequel finds the puppets from the first movie back in action.
At the start of the film they're digging up their master Andre Toulon (Steven Welles) and bringing him back to life.
At the same time a group of paranormal investigators arrive at the house and it's good for Toulon because he needs their brain tissue in order to keep living.
PUPPET MASTER II is certainly a notch above the previous film as director Dave Allen really tries to keep the action going and he also creates some pretty nice moments with the killers.
I think one of the best things going in the film are the killers, those from the original return but we also get another puppet who can blow fire from one of its arms.
The main female has her brother killed early in the picture and her determination to find out why he was killed makes for some light entertainment, although her "troubled" past really brings the film down a little towards the end and especially when she gets into a silly love story with another character.
The violence this time out isn't all that graphic but we get a couple fun kills including Blade doing his throat-slashing, Pinhead drilling some holes in heads and the new guy gets to set a few people on fire.
PUPPET MASTER II really surprised me because it's actually a well-made picture that people should enjoy even if they're not fans of the series..
Still enthusiast after the unexpectedly pleasant surprise that was "Puppet Master", I quickly watched the first sequel but found it slightly less imaginative than the original, yet still entertaining and recommendable enough.
What I liked about part 2 is that certain plot enigmas of the first film are clarified and finally start making sense, like for example how André Toulon managed to bring his puppet creations to life, and that the stop-motion effects and make-up art are truly sublime.
William Hickey's role as Toulon in the first film was brief but legendary, and I'm very curious to see what Guy Rolfe will do with the role in "Puppet Master III", but Welles (most of the running time dressed up like "The Invisible Man") doesn't add the raw and grim edge the Toulon character desperately needs.
The obvious thing to love about "Puppet Master II" is the gory killings, and personally I also very much liked the totally demented climax with life-size mannequin dolls..
The second in Charles Band's incredibly long-running PUPPET MASTER series, following on from the distinctly average horror B-movie thrills of the original.
PUPPET MASTER II features less of a story than the first; the story sees the evil toymaker Toulon brought back from the grave by his creepy puppets to hassle and harass a group of paranormal researchers from a US university.What this all boils down to is another series of gory murders perpetrated by the inimitable living puppets from the first film.
There are some fun flashback scenes thrown into the mix, and given that the actor playing Toulon didn't come back for the sequel, the villain is dressed up as Claude Rains in THE INVISIBLE MAN and looks good.
Inevitably the characters are all one-dimensional and the dialogue is poor enough that this would have been better as a silent film, but the plethora of low budget effects work is actually pretty decent, particularly the inventive climax with those ultra-creepy life-size dolls..
The same puppets (Blade, Pin Head, Tunneler, Leech Woman & Jester) return on the same location (the Bodega Bay Mansion) - in fact, they never left there - and manage to resurrect the corpse of their beloved master André Toulon.
A group of paranormal investigators takes up residence in the mansion to investigate the past events of the first film and the nightmare begins all over again, this time with Toulon having an evil scheme up his sleeve, commanding the puppets to do his bidding, even creating a new doll, named Torch (armed with a highly effective mini-flamethrower).
"Puppet Master II" is directed by Dave Allen, the special effects artist also responsible for the stop-motion bringing the dolls to life.
The real Pupper Master (as in the man who created the puppets) Dave Allen directs this film and does so well but perhaps struggles to take control of his amazing creations in a way aside from animating them.
Tunneler, Jester, Blade, Pinhead & Leech Woman are back to kill some more paranormal investigator types, this time once again under the thrall of the original Puppet Master, Toulon, after the puppets resurrect him, however zombie Toulon is a bit of a nut-case.
Puppet Master was a classic B-Movie about some Puppets that can move without string and go around killing people in the Inn. The sequel to Puppet Master is even more fun since we get a little bit more of the Puppets and Andre Toulon since they bring him to life again.Set a while after the first film a group of paranormal investigators go to the inn trying to figure out what happened to cause Alex to go mad, the other psychics to be killed and the owner to have her brain removed.
Andre Toulon needs brain fluid to make more liquid to re-animate the Puppets again but he has plans of his own has Carolyn is his wife Elsa reincarnated.So Andre gets his Puppets to keep collecting brain fluid from the investigators to complete the fluid and use it to be with Elsa again but the Puppets don't take to that.A very good sequel that has a new Puppet: Torch, a mechanical Puppet that has a flamethrower attached to his arm.
Puppet Master II is a sequel that is great to watch on a night..
Great sequel to the original Puppet Master.
Now, if you're just a horror film watcher and not a fan of Puppet Master, good ol' Charles Band or Full Moon films, I don't really recommend this film.
"Puppet Master II" Blu-ray breathes new life into the classic horror B-movie.
The murderous puppets exhume the rotting corpse of their long dead master Andre Toulon (a lively and colorful performance by Steve Welles) and bring him back to life so he can continue to produce the special serum they all need to continue living.
It is often a tie between the first film and this one and the first one for me, and although I love them both, I think I like this one a little better.The film has a relatively creepy and unsettling vibe to it that neither the original Puppet Master nor the ones that followed ever seemed to portray.
They use the last of the elixir which gives them life to reanimate their old master, Andre' Toulon (this time, for the most part, played excellently by Steve Welles).
Puppet Master II is a fantastic film that is so much fun to watch during those late stormy nights.
I love all the homages it pays to classical horror films, such as The Invisible Man. Many of my friends and fellow horror fanatics who love the Puppet Master series have always noted the second as "too creepy and weird" for them to enjoy.
Even in Puppet Master III Toulon was shown as a hero unlike the villainous creature from this movie.
It's just sad, that Puppet Master II: His Unholy Creations doesn't bring anything really new to the concept, and felt like a remake of the first film.
One thing, I didn't like, about this film is how the puppets are now control, by a new owner called Eriquee Chanee (Steve Welles), whom in no surprised to anybody, turn out to be the reanimation body of Andre Toulon; looking for a new body to take over.
Anyways, like the first movie, what was Toulon's plan on betrayal his puppets.
Made in 1991 this is the first sequel to the original and highly enjoyable Puppet Master.
We open in a cemetery where the killer puppets from the first film dig their creator Andre Toulon (this time played by Steve Welles) up.
Again the puppets are great and I felt sort of sorry for the ones that were killed, much more sorry than any of the human characters in the film.
Meanwhile, the puppets, including a new one called Torch(a blow torch on it's arm sets victims on fire), decide to take up where they left off from the previous movie, killing people.