Puppet Master 3: Toulon's Revenge (1991)

3.5 / 5
Tagline:  When good puppets go bad
Directed by:  David DeCoteau
Written by:  Charles Band
Actors include:  Guy Rolfe, Richard Lynch, Ian Abercrombie
Genre:  Horror
Length:  86 minutes
Banned:  Nope

Review:

This is sort of an odd twist in the series as it's set during WW2 in Berlin.  The Nazi's are trying to work out that reanimation drug to use for the war.  Toulin catches their attention with his magical puppet reanimation secrets.  The Nazi's kill Toulin's wifey then revenge must be had with the help of our little puppet friends.  It's at least something different in the franchise, and it was colorful and fun.  Still the original flick was better but this is probably the second best in the series!

Availability:  On DVD

In A Glass Cage (1987) aka Tras El Cristal

4.5 / 5 Nov '10
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: Agustí Villaronga
Written by: Agustí Villaronga
Actors include: Günter Meisner, David Sust, Marisa Paredes
Genre: Horror, Drama, War, Thriller
Length: 105 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Egads, this must have been the feel bad movie of the year. That being said, it's really an amazing picture about the atrocities of war and their lasting effects even after and it's told in a different way then I've ever seen before. It's so bleak and difficult to watch in places, this one will test and disturb, I doubt I'll ever forget it. The story is about a former Nazi/pedophile named Klaus who tormented little boys but is now clinging to life at home in an iron lung. His wife seems harsh and awful as well, and their poor little girl Rena lives with them too. A young Man called Angelo shows up at their house wanting to take care of Klaus but something isn't quite right with this arrangement. It's brutal, violent, explicit, humorless and in no way should this be watched by everyone. Still it's an impressively made and acted film that leaves one hell of an impression and does more than makes it's point. It's rare to see such a combination of exploitation/drama and horror but this is effective and worthwhile to the right viewer.

Availability:  On DVD