The Shape of Water (2017)

The Shape of Water

After an average opener and one needless sequel in PUPPET MASTER II, PUPPET MASTER III: TOULON'S REVENGE is something of a surprise. The producers are still trying to find out a way to continue the franchise after the actor who played Toulon in the original died, so they opt here for a prequel format set in Nazi Germany, no less.


The biggest twist this time around is that Toulon and his puppets are presented as the good guys - I guess those Nazis trump everybody in terms of 'evilness', even homicidal mass murderers. Yeah, it's best to forget about the first two films when watching this. In TOULON'S REVENGE, the puppet master has his wife murdered by the corrupt regime, so he sends his dolls on a rampage of revenge against the Nazis.

Most of the film consists of various Nazis being murdered by the dolls in creative ways. The special effects are shoddy but mildly charming, and there seems to be a little more originality here than in other B-movies; this is a huge step up from the previous movie, for example. The cast is studded with the expected likes of Richard Lynch and Michelle Bauer, although the most surprising scene comes when Bond's Walter Gotell shares a bath with a bevy of topless beauties. There's something else you weren't expecting...

One of the better films in the franchise digs deeper in the past of Andre Toulon and his puppets. The puppets already alive in well are vindicating the loss of Andre's wife Elsa who is murdered by Nazi Major Kraus, a menacing villain in the movie. The characters and puppets in this movie are very defining and have strong character development. 

The quarrels between business partners Major Kraus and Dr. Hess provide a great subplot meanwhile the puppets and Toulon are trying to put an end to their master plan. The movie also introduces two of the main puppets that play large roles in later movies and explains who each puppet truly is. 

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The film's timeline doesn't totally mesh with the movies that come chronologically before and after this third film and it was hard to look past that for myself. Otherwise Toulon's Revenge is a very enjoyable entry to the franchise and one of the shining gyms of the series.