Following the 2010 Puppet Master: Axis of Evil, Full Moon Features’ Charles Band continues the famed saga with Puppet Master X: The Puppeting. Two questions immediately spring to mind: 1. Holy crap, there’s already been nine Puppet Master movies?! (Answer: yes.) 2. “The Puppeting”, really? (Answer: no. I made that up.)
Having confessed that minor sin, I will reveal to you (because I am so very, very nice) the title of the tenth movie in the PM franchise… Puppet Master X: Axis Rising.
PMX takes off where the ninth installment left us, following secret-Japanese agent Ozu down China Town alleys as she flees the opera house with a puppet in a bag.
What, you didn’t see the ninth Puppet Master? What’s wrong with you? To fill in this sad lack of knowledge…
In 1939, puppet master Toulon was gunned down at the Bodega Bay Inn, leaving behind his hidden puppet stash which the crippled woodworker, Danny Coogan, recovered and brought back to his hometown of Los Angeles to do some illegal puppet dealing. Or, possibly, to find out what made the puppets tick.
While Coogan is mucking about in the puppets’ insides, World War II is launching and Los Angeles finds itself infiltrated with Nazis and Japanese agents. Through a somewhat likely partnership, a Nazi and Japanese agent plot to destroy a Los Angeles arms factory, in order to cripple the war effort. The wily…ish Danny Coogan finds out about the plot and, with puppets and sexy girlfriend in tow, puts an end to the Axis’ machinations, killing the Nazis as the Japanese agent (Ozu) escapes, having kidnapped one of the puppets.
Got it? Great. Continuing.
Ozu runs through China Town with her miniature hostage in tow, only to run into an entirely new Nazi foe, the sadistic Moebius. After gunning Ozu down, Moebius snatches the puppet, Tunneler, and gives the pointy-headed puppet to his imprisoned scientist, Dr. Freuhoffer. See, Moebius is obsessed with gaining the secret to eternal life, and he’s convinced that the good doctor can somehow grant his dream.
Dr. Freuhoffer, on the other hand, is obsessed with puppets. Who knew puppets were so popular in the 1930s? Seriously.
It is now up to Danny, his girlfriend, and their suddenly-found sidekick and comedy relief, Sergeant Stone, to save Tunneler from the evil German clutches and make sure America has a fighting chance against the Axis!
Full Moon Features’ Puppet Master X: Axis Rising releases later this Fall, but you can catch the premiere at Stan Lee’s Comikaze, the night of September 15th.