• Pop Culture
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Comic Books
    • Video Games
    • Toys & Collectibles
  • Features
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Articles and Opinions
    • Interviews
    • Exclusives
    • Flickering Myth Films
    • FMTV
  • About
    • About Flickering Myth
    • Write for Flickering Myth
    • Advertise on Flickering Myth
  • Socials
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • Bluesky
    • Instagram
    • Flipboard
    • Linktree
    • X
  • Terms
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

Flickering Myth

Geek Culture | Movies, TV, Comic Books & Video Games

  • News
  • Reviews
  • Articles & Opinions
  • Write for Us
  • The Baby in the Basket

Movie Review – Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich (2018)

August 25, 2018 by James Turner

Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich, 2018.

Directed by Sonny Laguna and Tommy Wiklund.
Starring Thomas Lennon, Michael Paré, Nelson Franklin, Barbara Crampton, Udo Kier, and Jenny Pellicer.

SYNOPSIS:

Recently divorced and reeling, Edgar (Thomas Lennon) returns to his childhood home to regroup. Finding a nefarious-looking puppet in his deceased brother’s room, he decides to sell the doll for quick cash at a small-town convention celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the infamous Andre Toulon murders. Girl-next-door Ashley (Jenny Pellicer) and his comic book shop boss Markowitz (Nelson Franklin) join Edgar for the doomed road trip, where all hell breaks loose, a strange force animates other puppets at the convention, and a bloody killing spree begins motivated by ancient evil.

Okay, full disclosure: I haven’t seen all twelve of the previous Puppet Master films. I know, I know, I’m a disgrace on film journalism, but I promise to do better in future. But for now, we’ll all have to make do.

Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich is the thirteenth movie in the puppet master franchise. However, rather than being a straight up sequel, it’s more of a reimagining. The film takes place in a slightly different universe, apparently (for all that matters) but otherwise it’s still a film about puppets that kill people.

There’s a little more to the plot than just puppets killing people, however. These puppets kill people you care for! Which is more can be said for most slashers. They also kill some people you don’t care for, but do so in ways that are so ludicrous and gory that you have to either laugh or cringe, depending on how you deal with blood.

Blood’s not the only thing you’ll have to deal with. With the film’s antagonists being a collection of creative Nazi puppets, you’ll have to contend with a slew of offensive jokes. Some are obvious, but there are a few that you will Nazi coming (really, James? Fucking hell). Fortunately, for the most part, these jokes are actually funny, rather than being solely offensive.

The Littlest Reich is better produced than you might anticipate. It’s hardly stylish, but it’s editing, directing, and cinematography are all very competent. Not that this has any real impact on the film – no one will pick this up to marvel at its beauty – but it’s worth a mention. The acting is also good all round. The main characters have distinct personalities, and their shared dry wit really adds to the impact of the jokes.

As an added bonus, occasionally the film ventures away from gory slapstick and Nazi jokes and pokes fun at millennials. There a couple of nods to the hilarity of outrage culture, and there’s a fair dose of hipster bashing. Nothing to complain about there.

Look, there’s little more I can say about The Littlest Reich. It’s a film about Nazi puppets slaughtering people. If that appeals to you, you’ll like it. If it doesn’t, you won’t. Simple as that. It’s good for what it is, but it is what it is.

Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★

James Turner is a writer and musician based in Sheffield. You can follow him on Twitter @JTAuthor

Filed Under: frightfest 2018, James Turner, Movies, Reviews Tagged With: Barbara Crampton, frightfest 2018, Jenny Pellicer, Michael Pare, Nelson Franklin, Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich, Sonny Laguna, thomas lennon, Tommy Wiklund, Udo Kier

FMTV – Watch Our Latest Video Here

WATCH OUR MOVIE NOW FOR FREE ON PRIME VIDEO!

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

13 Underrated Horror Franchise Sequels That Deserve More Love

10 Great Forgotten Movie Gems Worth Seeking Out

Ten Action Sequels The World Needs To See

Takashi Miike: The Modern Godfather of Horror

7 Forgotten 2000s Comedy Movies That Are Worth Revisiting

Great Mob Movies You Might Have Missed

The Most Shocking Movies of the 1970s

7 Kick-Ass Female-Led Action Movies

The Goonies at 40: The Story Behind the Iconic 80s Adventure

Speed: The Story Behind the Pulse-Pounding Action-Thriller

Top Stories:

3 Spectacular Performances in James Gunn’s Superman That Stole The Movie

Movie Review – Eddington (2025)

Movie Review – I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025)

Movie Review – Saint Clare (2025)

Comic Book Review – Zombie Tales: Complete Collection

First look at Samuel L. Jackson and Sylvester Stallone in Tulsa King season 3 as NOLA King gets series order

Meet the kombatants with Mortal Kombat II red band trailer and character posters

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 Episodes 1 & 2 Review

STREAM FREE ON PRIME VIDEO!

FEATURED POSTS:

The Most Obscure and Underrated Slasher Movies of the 1980s

7 Great Life Affirming Robin Williams Movies

10 Essential Frankenstein-Inspired Films

7 Rotten Horror Movies That Deserve A Second Chance

Our Partners

  • Pop Culture
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Comic Books
    • Video Games
    • Toys & Collectibles
  • Features
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Articles and Opinions
    • Interviews
    • Exclusives
    • Flickering Myth Films
    • FMTV
  • About
    • About Flickering Myth
    • Write for Flickering Myth
    • Advertise on Flickering Myth
  • Socials
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • Bluesky
    • Instagram
    • Flipboard
    • Linktree
    • X
  • Terms
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

© Flickering Myth Limited. All rights reserved. The reproduction, modification, distribution, or republication of the content without permission is strictly prohibited. Movie titles, images, etc. are registered trademarks / copyright their respective rights holders. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. If you can read this, you don't need glasses.


 

Flickering MythLogo Header Menu
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Articles & Opinions
  • Write for Us
  • The Baby in the Basket