The Puppet Masters (1994)
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26% of critics liked it
(23 reviews) -
37% of users liked it
(7,403 ratings)
Robert A. Heinlein's 1951 novel The Puppet Masters comes to the screen 43 years later. Sharp-eyed viewers will recognize similarities to Invasion of the Body Snatchers, but Heinlein's book came first. Parasitic space aliens invade the Midwest, taking over the bodies of humans and… More Robert A. Heinlein's 1951 novel The Puppet Masters comes to the screen 43 years later. Sharp-eyed viewers will recognize similarities to Invasion of the Body Snatchers, but Heinlein's book came first. Parasitic space aliens invade the Midwest, taking over the bodies of humans and manipulating these unfortunates to do their bidding. US security agent Donald Sutherland and his team of troubleshooters attempt to squash the extraterrestrial scheme before everyone in the world is turned into Howdy Doody. Adding an extra layer to this familiar scenario is the fact that Sutherland doesn't get along with everyone on his side-in particular, he has a lot of trouble relating with his son Eric Thal. Stuart Ormes' perfunctory direction is not up to the standard set by the actors and special effects. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Stuart Orme
- Genres
- Science Fiction & Fantasy, Horror
R,
- In Theaters
- Oct 21, 1994 Wide
- On DVD
- Sep 3, 2002
Critic Reviews
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, Variety
Only the most undiscriminating monster-pic buff will come away satisfied.
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Derek Adams, Time Out
There's no suspense (ETs rampage from the word go); no frissons (loud hailers telegraph the shocks); and it's insufficiently bright to be an hommage.
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Stephen Holden, New York Times
A choppy, unsuspenseful succession of chases, melodramatic showdowns and routine special effects.
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Richard Harrington, Washington Post
The Puppet Masters occasionally lives up to its reputation, but the delay between story conception and celluloid conversion has clearly wilted its power and potential.
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James Berardinelli, ReelViews
Attempts at detailed characterization don't work particularly well, and there's a love story that feels as forced as it is superfluous - although even that isn't as unnecessary as the film's final ten minutes.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
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Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Donald Sutherland
as Andrew Nivens
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Eric Thal
as Sam Nivens
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Julie Warner
as Mary Sefton
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Keith David
as Holland
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Will Patton
as Graves
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Richard Belzer
as Jarvis
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Yaphet Kotto
as Ressler
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Sam Anderson
as Culbertson
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Gerry Bamman
as Viscott
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Marshall Bell
as General Morgan
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Todd Bryant
as Soldier
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J.Marvin Campbell
as Soldier
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Nicholas Cascone
as Greenberg
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Donna Garrett
as Miss Haines
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Dale Harimoto
as Anchorwoman
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Don James
as Soldier
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Bruce Jarchow
as Barnes
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Tom Mason
as President Douglas
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Benjamin Mouton
as Higgins
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David Pasquesi
as Vargas
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Andrew Robinson
as Hawthorne
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K.T. Vogt
as Slugged Woman
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William Wellman Jr.
as Doctor
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Eric Briant Wells
as Vince Hayward
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Michael Shamus Wiles
as Captain Earley
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Dale Dye
as Brande
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Fabio Urena
as Infantryman
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Tom Dugan
as Operator #1
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John C. Cooke
as Lt. Abbey
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Elizabeth Sung
as Technician #1
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Benji Thall
as Jeff
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Dinah Lenney
as Technician #2
