Puppetman opens on a fairly positive note, tapping into familiar horror themes with a husband brutally murdering his wife though someone else seems to be controlling his actions and body movements like a "puppet"
The film then moves on and quickly began to give me some vintage original Nightmare on Elm Street vibes with a pleasant female lead (Alyson Gorske) in its group of young, enthusiastic, modern college students. It sets up the atmosphere well, but the film quickly falls victim to several limitations. One of the more frustrating aspects is how reminiscent it feels of Final Destination, especially with the over-the-top, sometimes ridiculous deaths. This similarity makes it feel far less original and more like a patchwork of what has been seen before.
The standout moments for me were definitely the library fire and gym scenes-those were gnarly and had the right intensity you expect from a horror film. Unfortunately, beyond these, Puppetman fails to deliver in almost every other aspect. One of its biggest weaknesses is the drawn-out beginning. It takes nearly 30 minutes before anything significant happens, leaving the audience waiting far too long for the built-up suspense or horror elements to kick in.
The plot is simple, and yet again has no heart or soul in it, as it comprises of a family's ritual to bring forth a demon to somehow better the world, but it ultimately ends up controlling and killing indiscriminately as the main lead Michal is its vessel in the mortal realm.
The film tries to establish some very weak lore to ground the story, but the attempts feel extremely flimsy, and it is scarcely explored. It comes off feeling rather meaningless, which is a huge, missed opportunity for adding much needed depth. The engagement and fear never truly take hold. While there are moments of tension, but they dissipate before making any real impact, so you're never fully immersed in the story.
Scenes like the séance, which should have been a something that really stands out, however it felt quite tiresome and overdone. It was one of those moments where I found myself thinking it would be the perfect time for a snack or bathroom break. As for the acting, unlike vintage films of the 80s where a lot of actors go on to become starts (aka Johnny Depp) nothing about the performances genuinely stands out. Even Alyson Gorske's portrayal of Michal, the daughter dealing with mental health and trauma, was underwhelming because the film never takes the time to vividly explore her complexity.
Ultimately, Puppetman goes far into the supernatural route, but it does so without building a compelling or immersive narrative. If you go in with expectations of something innovative or gripping, you'll likely end up truly disappointed. It's a forgettable film that had slight potential but never realized it.
3/10.
