Puppet Master X: Axis Rising (2012)

   

Produced, Directed & Story by: Charles Band

Written by: Shane Bitterling

Starring:


Kip Canyon .... Danny
Jean Louise O'Sullivan .... Beth
Brad Potts .... Sgt. Stone
Oto Brezina .... Freuhoffer
Scott King ....
Moebius
Kurt Sinclair .... Major Collins
Stephanie Sanditz .... Uschi

Release Date:
Direct-to-DVD: October 2, 2012

 

Rating:

 

Danny (Kip Canyon) and Beth (Jean Louise O'Sullivan) must battle the Nazis after they use the puppets' life-giving serum to create a race of immortal soldiers, as well as some Nazi puppets.

 

A great beginning to the story which involves an asian woman whom is Ozu cautiously walking the dark alley only to be stopped by an evil Nazi leader Moebius in which this looked slightly creepy by what he does as well as strong shocking and deadly actions including one of the other puppets Tunneler who springs into action and killing one of Mobius' soldiers. Plus the puppet leader Blade is watching all of this. In which this is a nice touch to all that happens before the opening credits start to occur.
Afterwards, we spot a teenage couple Danny and Beth with their conversations together in which some of the other puppets are watching them within their discussions. This offered some decent camera shots throughout all of this.
Blade comes into the scene using his hand signals as to what had happened since none of the puppets can speak. This was nicely drawn in.
Then their place is broken into with a somewhat obnoxious Sgt. Stone and another goon and being sent to theior leader in which this leaves off a nice mysterious feel as to what will happen later on.
Meanwhile in Chinatown, there's an aggressive situation in a laboratory with Moebius and a lusty but crazy
Uschi in which they get demanding towards some sort of an elderly scientist Freuhoffer in which this leaves a feel that it's someone taking Toulon's place by reanimating dead bodies into puppets.
Of course when Freuhoffer introduces them to his newest creation which is a machine to revive dead bodies. Moebius as coldblooded as he is wants someone dead in order to see if this object works. With what we spot here we see as to how insane and evil that this head Nazi really is. Definetely adds a nice horror touch to the story. This scene was well done.
Then we go back to Danny and Beth whom are taken to headquarters in which they are greeted by Major Collins in which things don't seem as intimidating as we would all seem to happen here. He compliments them on their tasks from the previous flick and helps them out with so called arrogant Stone to protect them. This scene looked believeably uplifting and natural by what went on here.
Back at Moebius' headquarters, we spot the lusty and evil Uschi coming on to him as this looked strongly done and well focused. This was a nice touch to the story as to what unfolds later on and it doesn't look good for this broad.
While both Danny and Beth adjust to Stone's sarcasm and sexist remarks we see that he is not such a bad guy after all and makes you want to like him as this moment is well done. Plus there's a well focused scene at the dinner table with Stone stuffing his face. Offers some fair humor here.
The teenage couple introduce him to the puppets especially Blade in which all of this looked well focused and good camera takes on all of this.
Freuhoffer is working on the machine to get it to work. Uschi gets flirtatious with him which looked cringing when Moebius enters and gets enraged as this looked intense by what he does towards her. This moment looked perfectly powerful.
A surprise happens for Moebius when
Freuhoffer introduces him to his newest puppet named Bombshell as he shows another way to bring the dead to life. He introduces him to his other puppets too in which one of them is a werewolf type along with a combat type of robot. These characters looked quite clever while seeing the outcome of them all.
Danny and Beth are at an awards ceremony hosted by Collins as this looked powerful to watch. Then, Freuhoffer's puppets go in for the kill with a surprise attack as this looked shocking and energetic. Toulon's puppets start to do battle against them which was action packed as well as a hilarious catfight scene with Leechwoman and Bombshell as I laughed my ass off.
While the good puppets are outnumbered due to the others carrying heavy killer weapons it made me think of one missing from the previous flicks. Yes you got it! Sixshooter as there's a nice surprise for this puppet coming into action. This looked great and heroic by what he does later on.
Stone and Moebius go into a brawling battle as this looked well choreographed as well as fairly powerful to watch the outcome of this. ALso a good sad moment with Stone in which looked very dramatic and touching too.
Bottom line is that this was a well done flick in which it blends with horror, action, fantasy and comedy all in one. Some of the puppets were rebuilt which I guessed was to look good for the time period. I enjoyed this flick in which at the end opens a door for another sequel offering an exciting moment.

The acting is not too bad. However, Kip Canyon (Danny) was very stiff in his role and seemed to just say his lines and not getting into character. He had the right looks and appeal for his part. Just didn't seem to make much effort into all that he did here.
Jean Louise O'Sullivan
(Beth) seemed to pull her weight fairly well. Shows off a nice charming personality. Also shows off some great energy especially when the terror happens and goes into battle offering some great aggressions.
Brad Potts (Sgt. Stone) had the best role in this flick and does it was terrific style. Shows off a somewhat arrogant attitude and was believeable with his sarcastic and cocky personality. Also shows off a likeable and heroic attitude too which he brings to life big time. Had the perfect brawny looks and appeal. Two thumbs up.
Oto Brezina (Freuhoffer) seemed to study this part quite well as the scientist in which he had a nice soft spoken type. Has a good seriousness within everything that he did here. Plus had the good elderly looks too which was a nice plus.
Scott King (Moebius) lived to play an evil Nazi leader of his tribe. Has the mad dog looks and being perfectly wild and cold blooded. Terrific actions with his violent behavior as well as knowing on how to kill his victims with dark style too. Has a great German accent and was excellent by speaking strongly and powerfully.
Kurt Sinclair (Major Collins) really shines off within what he does here. Offers a good outgoing type of fellow. He was believeably likeable within all he does here and shows off some nice spunk, energy and enthusiasm. Another worthy character actor.
Stephanie Sanditz (Uschi) shows it off with her lusty and creepy atttiude. Definetely knew on how to behave sleazy as well as approaching others and getting down and nasty too. Has a nice hissy speaking. She for sure acted slutty like and does it with great style.

Head is drilled.
Slashed throats.
Bullets in the head.
Burned bodies.

Richard Band as always, composes this piece. He uses many other elements than his previous flicks in which there's the odd different synthesizer classical sounds with drum beats in an army type of fashion which isn't too shabby. Also some icy keyboard sounds. Plus some chiming sounds when it focuses on the puppets as this works fairly well. Alot of this is from his previous work which sounds fairly decent since they are low budgeters including this one. Yet some if it is surprising in which it sounds loud and strong with drum rolls too for when the puppets fight one another as this is a perfect touch. For the opening credits he uses stronger classical violin sounds for the traditional theme song of all the flicks along with some vocal chantings in the mix. However, I liked the original score even if it doesn't include more than some waltzy synthesizers but that's just me.