1987
MGM DVD
Made back in the 80's this film ,directed by Stuart Gordon,was produced by Charles Band's Empire pictures. I had first seen it years ago when the local ABC affiliate showed it late one Saturday night. And really enjoyed it. But forgot all about it till a few years ago when MGM released it on DVD.I kept putting off buying it. But a few weeks ago I found it for a price I couldn't pass up.
We start off with a man,his new wife,and his daughter from his first marriage. Their car gets stuck in some mud so they head out to a nearby house. After knocking on the door and getting no answer they enter through a cellar door. Once inside the owners of the house,an elderly couple,find them and invite them to come have some dinner and to stay the night. During dinner they find out that the husband loves making various dolls. And 3 more people show up,2 of them are some new wave/punk rock style girls. One of whom is the lady that was in the famous AH HA-take on me music video. The other is the man that had picked up the two girls while they were hitchhiking. Well everyone settles down for the night. And we start to see that the two hitchhikers and the stepmother aren't very good people. Well the AH HA girl starts snooping around the house for valuables to steal,and gets attacked by some of the dolls. And the story escalates from there.
The FX are all well done. They are a combo of stop motion and puppetry. The old man is played by the same guy that went on to play Toulan in the Puppet Master series of films. Now this film came out a few years before the first Puppet Master film. And you can see where Charles Band got the idea for the Puppet Master series.
I was very surprised at how well this film has held up. The acting,story,and FX don't seem dated. And really besides the outfits the two hitchhikers are wearing this film could be set in the modern time period. The DVD is great besides a nice looking anamorphic print,you get two commentaries. One with Stuart Gordon,and the other has most of the cast. Plus you get some behind the scenes photos and some trailers. Overall it is a great DVD. Dolls get a A.