Puppet Master Complete: A Franchise History

by Nat Brehmer

This book is a comprehensive history of the most successful straight-to-video horror franchise of all Puppet Master. It provides an in-depth exploration of all 14 films to date--including a made-for-TV crossover and a theatrical reboot--and the action figures, comics, and other merchandise that have helped to keep the brand alive for the past 30 years. Puppet Master was the first film for independent producer extraordinaire Charles Band's Full Moon Entertainment, launching a franchise and a micro-budget studio that have both continued to this day. What led to the film's success? How did a little movie about killer puppets, designed to cater to the then-booming video market, wind up surviving video stores themselves? How did a series that had never even had a theatrical entry wind up with an unusually successful toy series? All of these questions are answered within these pages. Featuring new interviews with some of the biggest creative minds behind the franchise, as well as dozens of behind-the-scenes photos, this book is the ultimate guide to horror's most murderous marionettes.

254 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 27, 2021

Reviews

[Trevor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wouldn’t call this a particularly well-written or edited book. There are a lot of typos, and very often the author repeats the same point in one paragraph that he just said in the last paragraph. But still, if you get over the fact that it really another editorial pass, let’s face it - if you’re reading a book about the entire Puppet Master franchise, it probably means you’re as passionate about the subject matter as the author is…and that also probably means you’re willing to accept enthusiasm over quality (which isn’t me throwing shade - I’m one of those people who love the franchise enough to buy and read this book). I definitely did learn some interesting stuff about the series, so all in all, I’d say it’s a decent enough read for anyone who actually WANTS to read a Puppet Master history book, you know?

[mabuse cast · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic companion piece to a very strange, yet oddly comforting series of b-horror films written by a fan of said series that looks at the behind the scenes of each movie,comic books, etc in the series!

Do the puppet master movies really deserve a deep dive book like this? That depends on what your opinion of these movies are but I personally love/like them for the most part so I ended up enjoying this book quite a bit but horror fans who want to take a deep dive into an odd little niche in horror film-dom should enjoy this book too!

[extraflux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched and entertaining, Nat Brehmer's love for the franchise is evident on every page. It doesn't prevent him from seeing these films for what that are, warts and all.

Recommended for any fan of the diminutive horror icons. Word of note, it was published before the release of Doktor Death and the upcoming Furnace Leech Woman film.

[Dustin McNeill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nat approaches the subject matter with a certain passion and focus that can only come from a true blue Puppet Master fan. It’s beyond high time these movies were given such respectful treatment and thoughtful analysis. A must-read.