Puppet Master: Axis of Evil (2010)

Puppet Master: Axis of Evil (Otherwise known as Puppet Master 9: Axis of Evil ) directed by David DeCoteau (Puppet Master III: Toulon's Revenge) is the 10th entry into the Puppet Master series of horror films but the ninth entry that's canon to the series made by Charles Band's Full Moon Features.

Plot
The film begins at the Bodega Bay Inn, 1939. Danny Coogan (Levi Fiehler) is making wooden chairs for a wedding reception for his Uncle Len (Jerry Hoffman), who owns the Inn. Danny tells his uncle that if it was not for his limp, he would be able to go to war, along with his brother Don (Taylor M. Graham), and tells his Uncle that he's going to help Andre Toulon. Toulon is guest at the inn, whose wife was killed by the Nazis because they wanted a formula, a formula that allows his puppets to come alive. After escaping Berlin to Geneva, Toulon came to America to hide from the Nazis. As Danny's heading over to Toulon's room, he hears a gunshot and goes to see what happened. Two men dressed in black leaving Toulon's room push Danny aside, and as they leave, he manages to get a glimpse at one of their faces. He enters the room and finds Toulon dead with a gun in his hand. Danny, whom Toulon showed his puppets to, grabs them out of a wall panel and finds that all the puppets are still there, along with unanimated Six Shooter and another puppet, named Ninja.

The next day, Danny goes to visit his mother, Elma (Erica Shaffer) and his brother Don. Don is being shipped off to war the following week. Meanwhile, the two Nazi assassins: Klaus (Aaron Riber) and Max (Tom Sandoval), are heading to a Opera House in Chinatown, under orders from the boss, where they meet a Japanese saboteur named Ozu (Ada Chao Fang). She tells them that she's under orders from her commander, which are for her and the Nazis to work together to take out an American bomb manufacturing plant, destroying America's war efforts. To obtain this goal, it requires Max to go undercover and pretend to be of American descent and work at the plant, and has to get close to the girl who runs the plant's office, Beth (Jenna Gallagher), who is coincidentally Danny's girlfriend. The next day, after bringing the puppets to life, Danny walks into the plant to show them to Beth, and sees Max there. Recognizing him as one of the hitmen, he tries to warn Beth away from him, but she doesn't believe him.

After Max leaves the plant, Danny follows him back to the Opera House, and uncovers their plan. Danny is seen by Max, and quickly leaves. Max breaks back into the plant to uncover Danny's profile and sends Klaus to Danny's mother's place where Elma and Beth are planning a bon voyage party for Don. Klaus shoots Elma, and kidnaps Beth, and also shoots Don when he unexpectedly comes home. Danny comes home to find Don bleeding to death, and after telling him what happened, thanks to Toulon's diary, puts his brother's soul into Ninja's body. Danny and the puppets head out to the opera house to get Beth and prevent the bomb from exploding. Tunneler and Leech Woman kill Ozu's men and Blade and Pinhead kill Klaus. Max badly hurts Ninja, but Ninja, with what little left of life he has, buts Ozu's sword into his back killing him. Danny manages to save Beth, and Blade disables the bomb, but Ozu has taken off with the puppets inside the bag, leaving behind Blade, Pinhead and Ninja behind. Danny swears that Ozu has a war coming to her.

Cast

 * Levi Fiehler as Danny Coogan
 * Jenna Gallagher as Beth
 * Taylor M. Graham as Don
 * Tom Sandoval as Ben / Max
 * Jerry Hoffman as Uncle Len

Puppets

 * Blade
 * Pinhead
 * Jester
 * Tunneler
 * Leech Woman
 * Six-Shooter
 * Shredder Khan
 * Gengie (Indian Puppet)
 * Ninja (New Puppet)

Production
In late 2009 a rather vivid teaser trailer was released. The production values looked very reminiscent of the original 3 Puppet Master movies.

Release
Puppet Master: Axis of Evil was released on July 27, 2010. Upon its release, Full Moon also released Puppet Master: Axis of Evil in a collector's set with the original Puppet Master in its original widescreen format on June 15. The set includes packaging resembling Toulon's trunk, a poster for Axis of Evil, mini-poster cards for all of the films in the series, and stickers featuring each puppet. The set is available on DVD and Blu-ray, marking Full Moon's first foray into the Blu-ray market, including both the original Puppet Master and Axis of Evil.