There’s a chance some of you read that headline and are a bit confused. The rest of you are probably salivating with anticipation. Either way some very exciting news broke yesterday, ensuring the summer season will be a tad higher. Hot on the heels of the world premiere at the Overlook Film Festival, Puppet Mater: The Littlest Reich has secured North American Theatrical distribution through RLJE Films. Yes, a Puppet Master film is coming to theaters, for the first time since….well, this will actually be the first time any of them have made to to theaters. The original was supposed to get a run, but was ultimately released direct-to-video because creator/producer Charles Band believed he could make more money that way. 11-ish* films later, here we are, so he may have been onto something. Here’s the official synopsis of the new film as well as a movie still:
“In Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich, recently divorced and reeling, Edgar returns to his childhood home to regroup his life. When Edgar finds a nefarious looking puppet in his deceased brother’s room, he decides to sell the doll for some quick cash at a small-town convention celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the infamous Toulon Murders. Girl-next-door Ashley and his comic book shop boss, Markowitz, join Edgar for the doomed road trip. All hell breaks loose when a strange force animates the puppets at the convention, setting them on a bloody killing spree that’s motivated by an evil as old as time. “
If that wasn’t enough to get your excitement levels through the roof, then wait till you hear about the talent involved. Littlest Reich features the acting talents of Thomas Lennon (Reno 911), Nelson Franklin (Black-ish), Michael Pare (Streets of Fire), Matthias Hues (I Come In Peace) and genre legends Barbara Crampton and Udo Kier as Toulon himself. The script comes from S. Craig Zhaler (Bone Tomahawk & Brawl In Cell Block 99) and word on the street is that it lives up to the insanity of his previous films. Up-and-coming horror team of Sonny Laguna and Tommy Wiklund served as directors.
This go around is slightly different as Littlest Reich is being touted as a “re-imagining” of the original. That wording is very deliberate from producers Cinestate (who acquired Fangoria not too long ago). They stated that while they plan to make several Puppet Master films, they will be separate from Band’s iteration. While that may sound totally crazy, it does fall in-line with Band’slegacy and brand. Either way, this is all fantastic news and if the early reports from the first two screenings are to be believed, everyone is in for a glorious treat later this year. I know most of us here at the site will be there opening night, what about you all?
