The Puppet Masters (1994)

26% of critics liked it
(23 reviews)
37% of users liked it
(7,285 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 manipulating these… 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

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 36 min.
Directed By: Stuart Orme
Genres: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Horror

In Theaters: Oct 21, 1994 Wide
On DVD: Sep 3, 2002

Critic Reviews

, Variety
Only the most undiscriminating monster-pic buff will come away satisfied.
Stephen Holden, New York Times
A choppy, unsuspenseful succession of chases, melodramatic showdowns and routine special effects.
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.
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.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Despite accomplished special effects and a coolly intelligent script, this paranoid thriller never follows through on its eerie promise.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...generally as far-fetched and overwrought as its 1950s sci-fi brethren.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Lacked suspense.
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.
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness
About as nerve-wracking as a warm bath.
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
Not bad if you can get past the "Invasion of the Plot Snatchers" set-up.
Douglas Pratt, DVDLaser
its story logic is solid, its science is satisfying and its thrills are nerve-wracking
Dragan Antulov, rec.arts.movies.reviews
Some movies with great potential can be ruined or denied their greatness by a single detail.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
The special effects are low-budget, but effective. The creatures are disgustingly realistic.
Mark R. Leeper, rec.arts.movies.reviews
Robert Heinlein's 1951 novel comes to the screen in a film that takes little time away from the main plot to develop its characters, but does strike home with a story of a hard-fought battle with a fairly alien and devious enemy.
James O'Ehley, Sci-Fi Movie Page
This movie is so wonderfully archaic and reminiscent of 1950s alien invasion stories that one cannot help but like it -- despite rather lacklustre directing.

Read all 15 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

xGary X

Conspiracy sci-fi in which the human race is being infiltrated by aliens who can control the bodies of their human victims. On their trail are two FBI agents, one male, one female. One is a believer, the other a sceptic. Any of this sound familiar...? Yes, it's a total rip off of… More
Conspiracy sci-fi in which the human race is being infiltrated by aliens who can control the bodies of their human victims. On their trail are two FBI agents, one male, one female. One is a believer, the other a sceptic. Any of this sound familiar...? Yes, it's a total rip off of the X-Files, but it's adequately done, and Donald Sutherland is always worth watching.
Danny R

A captivating paraniod sci-fi thriller well directed by Stuart Orme, that features a outstanding lead star performance by Donald Sutherland, as Andrew Nivens the shrewd, sardonic head of a secret top-level U.S. Security Agency who leads his team consisting of agent Sam Nivens his… More
A captivating paraniod sci-fi thriller well directed by Stuart Orme, that features a outstanding lead star performance by Donald Sutherland, as Andrew Nivens the shrewd, sardonic head of a secret top-level U.S. Security Agency who leads his team consisting of agent Sam Nivens his disaffected son, Dr. Mary Sefton a specialist on alien biology from NASA, both roles are well played by Eric Thai & Julie Warner and agent Jarvis, nicely played by comedian and character actor Richard Beizer into an investigation of a alleged UFO landing in a small midwestern town, they quickly discover that small parasite-like extraterrestrials creatures have indeed landed and are taking control of the town residents and manipulating their bodies and minds like they were puppets, now Sutherland and his team face an escalating crisis as the creatures multiply and keep spreading to the point the the U.S. Army has to be brought in to stop the seemingly unstoppable alien menace. Solid supporting performances by Keith David, Will, Patton, Yaphet Kotto, Sam Anderson, Gerry Bamman and Marshall Bell, but its Sutherland superlative turn in itself that makes this motion picture worth watching. The film has several superbly staged action sequences, and an intelligent screenplay by Ted Elliott, Teau Russio, and David S. Goyer, which is based on Robert Heiniein's original story. Excellent visual effects with remarkable animatronic slug-like alien parasites creatures by Gred Cannorm, A solid piece of science fiction that has some genuinely creepy moments. Highly Recommended.
William G

Standard-issue alien-invasion thriller.

Cast

            Donald Sutherland as Andrew Nivens

            Eric Thal as Sam Nivens

            Julie Warner as Mary Sefton

            Keith David as Holland

            Will Patton as Graves

            Richard Belzer as Jarvis

            Yaphet Kotto as Ressler

            Sam Anderson as Culbertson

            Gerry Bamman as Viscott

            Marshall Bell as General Morgan

            Todd Bryant as Soldier

            J.Marvin Campbell as Soldier

            Nicholas Cascone as Greenberg

            Donna Garrett as Miss Haines

            Dale Harimoto as Anchorwoman

            Don James as Soldier

            Bruce Jarchow as Barnes

            Tom Mason as President Douglas

            Benjamin Mouton as Higgins

            David Pasquesi as Vargas

            Andrew Robinson as Hawthorne

            K.T. Vogt as Slugged Woman

            William Wellman Jr. as Doctor

            Eric Briant Wells as Vince Hayward

            Michael Shamus Wiles as Captain Earley

            Dale Dye as Brande

            Fabio Urena as Infantryman

            Tom Dugan as Operator #1

            John C. Cooke as Lt. Abbey

            Elizabeth Sung as Technician #1

            Benji Thall as Jeff

            Dinah Lenney as Technician #2
See full cast