I saw this movie as a kid,and it drove me BONKERS. For about 2 years, i slept with my Pillow taped to my nape AND i checked my mother's back with a awkward "hug" every night. True story.
The fact that they missed that reference makes me pretty sure they're the worst type of fake scammers, propaganda, shills. I wonder if this crap is even being written by an American!
Great review, Cecil, loved this flick but I always hated how they didn't even attempt to help Keith David's character, they could've pulled then off or something but they didn't lol, glad you pointed that out lol
Wow, I had totally forgotten about this little gem. Hadn't heard about it in decades. And yes, it was great to see Donald Sutherland in a film similar to The Body Snatchers.:)
Cool, another film I'll have to check out. Great cast too. I suspect the reason it may not have done as well as wanted was because the title reminds people of the horror film franchise about actual puppets from the 80s and 90s. That's why I clicked on this video because I was curious about how the series started and then low and behold here's a cool looking alien invasion movie. I hope these film studios are thankful for the attention you bring to their films because if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have ever heard of most of them. Keep up the good work!
I remember this movie coming on TV all the time when I was a kid or teen! Loved it then! XD Haven't seen it in years! Reminds me of another movie that the title escapes me but it was about this guy making genetically regrown limbs that were like living parasites!
It has a lot of problems, but I appreciated the way this movie got rolling almost immediately. That car chase out of town was, what, ten minutes in? And I like the encephalitis idea, although that was basically Heinlein’s.
It's funny they didn't use a variant of the garment the used in the novel. Not only did it expose the back, it also protected the wearer from being taken.
I was surprised I enjoyed it as much as I did. Classic 'bad things happen to lots of people' sci fi. The book was a different creature. And remember she didn't confirm they were taken over by aliens, just that their responses were 'off' and they were. Sure, one, maybe even two guys might not notice, but not a single man reacting sends up warning flares in an already strange situation. Body language isn't a guarentee in a one on one setting, but the generalities are indicative.
Wow, on POINT with the humor in this one, Cecil. A reference to The Burning Zone? Wow. makes me wish I had Deadly Games on home video. Or that they would have even RELEASED it on home video.
It's funny you mentioned they should all be shirtless; in the book they make everyone go nude by executive order. It's like a long drawn out war with the slugs rather than fairly quick like in the movie. Really good.
Yeah, definitely was getting Heinlein's book vibes during this - scene with aliens communicating while attached to hosts was taken straight form the book.
I just took the Puppet Master test to check whether I actually am a alien or not. On the plus side, I'm 100% human. On the minus, I'm being sued for sexual harassment.
Watching your video, i remember watching "The Puppet Masters" as a kid. Back then, the creature effects really freaked me out. I may give it another try someday.
+GoodBadFlicks I wish you had reviewed it ("Don't bother." Roll outro music), so I'd been warned. I actually sat through that recently, and saw more commercials on hulu than original footage.
"Shouldn't they be going around shirtless at this point." YES! That was a major part of the book. Poor poor Heinlein. Could be worse. Could be Starship Troopers.
Saw this in the theaters when it came out in 1994. I don't remember a lot about it, but I do remember Eric Thal kept doing that weird thing with his mouth. At the time, I thought it was supposed to be a sign that he was under the control of the aliens, but he did it after he was free of them. I guess he just has a weird tic. At least weird enough for me to remember 23 years later.
I kind of remember the composition of the shot where Thal is the front passenger seat of the car being briefed more than anything else in this movie after 23 years.
My main problem with this movie was how they said right off that Donald Sutherland and Eric Thal’s characters are father and son. In the original novel, this wasn’t openly acknowledged until maybe more than halfway through the book! Until then, they behaved as professionals, the spymaster and agent, until finally having an emotional and familial conversation later on.
The fact that the actors kept their clothes on was one thing about the movie I preferred over the book. The first act was the best part, but more than The X-Files, it reminded of The Brain Eaters with Ed Nelson. Like several movies of that era, the ads for the movie used James Horner's music from Aliens, so the actual music was kind of a letdown after that.
The Burning Zone!?!? I must watch this now. Great review, now I know what book/movie the kids in The Faculty were referrng to. ^_^ BTW, are you ever going to link us to the podcast you were on awhile ago?
So it's like that one Star Trek episode where an entire colony planet (and Spock) get taken over by puppetteer parasites, except with better creature effects.
I remember renting this in the 90s at like 12 for a sleep over. We were idiot and we thought this was like the other puppet masters. We were not scared and very disappointed. BUT i watched this on Cinemax a few years ago and liked it a lot. AND TGAT FALLOUT 4 REFERENCE WAS EPIC. But you shoulda seen me after a 24 hour Fallout 3 session using pot and adderall I was worse then that guy in alien withdrawal. I wound up getting the "blinking light of death" on my old fat PS3 because I played so long without shutting it off. lol
I find it weird how they establish getting rid of the alien gives you withdrawals and have Jarvis kill himself and then that is never a thing again. Another thing they weirdly set up and then quickly throw away is how the aliens make you stronger because after the woman who infects Sam, every time they're fought, they're dispatched pretty easily. Agree, you would think they would make everyone not wear shirts. I also dislike how the soldiers' heat vision is a box they have to hold up, which means they have to put it down in order to do anything else. Like, it's not just goggles that they wear over their eyes. And somehow, it doesn't detect the parasites when not on a host. They also briefly showed and forgot that they have satellites capable of detecting people on the ground and if they're infected, which could've been used to aid the soldiers on the ground. And why aren't the soldiers wearing some sort of armor that protects their neck? This threat should be pretty easy to deal with. I thought it was weird that they suspected Jarvis because literally all that happened was that they didn't see him smoke ONCE. As in, we see him smoke in a prior scene, and then we see him simply not smoking for a moment, and Sam's like "Why aren't you smoking, Jarvis?" Does Jarvis have to be smoking literally every second, or something's wrong?
1.58 maybe it's because they knew that there was really nothing substantial there worth looking at, and not because they had an alien on their back! A more buxom actress would have made the logic more convincing.
Glad you've covered this movie. I read the book a long time ago, something around 15 years, and wanted to see it ever since. Mostly to check if all of the actors walk naked through the whole second half. Never got to it, though. Now, finally, I have a sense of closure, but I feel a bit disappointed they wear clothes. It'd be funny to see Donald Sutherland trying to be serious and imposing with his bare butt shining on screen. I have to say, though, I prefer when you just talk about movies and show clips. Those fast cut photoshop bits felt disorienting and too much like youtube clips of younger reviewers, who try to cover their lack of writing skills with crap like that. You don't have to do that.
I like this film because it's one of the few times where we get Donald Sutherland as a good guy rather than the bad guy asshole he often plays these days.
The "two dollars" reference, will never grow old.......ever.
I still use it.
This film is GOLD. The concept is deeply unsettling it's a superb piece of science fiction. Scared the crap out of the 6 year old version of myself
R.I.P. Donald Sutherland.
I honestly didn’t expect to see him pass away this month, he will be missed by those who loved his work.
I saw this movie as a kid,and it drove me BONKERS.
For about 2 years, i slept with my Pillow taped to my nape AND i checked my mother's back with a awkward "hug" every night.
True story.
"I want my two dollars!" Nice Better Off Dead reference.
The fact that they missed that reference makes me pretty sure they're the worst type of fake scammers, propaganda, shills. I wonder if this crap is even being written by an American!
The paperboy chasing after the heroes wasn't an alien... he just wanted his two dollars! :-)
+MattHawes That voice over was worth watching the video for. Subtle humor best humor.
+Jeremy Osborne nice touch
TWO DOLLARS!!!
Lol. I try to take this channel seriously. But then when they missed that I was like, "oh no, fuck these guys, they're totally IDIOT shills!"
MattHawes don’t you think he’s being a little extreme about it?
I love this movie. classic 90s sci-fi horror, right there with Deep Rising and Phantoms.
Ah, Phantoms. Tough to believe that Rose McGowan was once less insane than she is now
Great review, Cecil, loved this flick but I always hated how they didn't even attempt to help Keith David's character, they could've pulled then off or something but they didn't lol, glad you pointed that out lol
That's not true. He tried to help David, but it was a ruse to get him closer. He even tried a second time, but it didn't work.
Keith David is cooler than the lead, but then again it's Keith David so you can say that about most movies he's in.
Wow, I had totally forgotten about this little gem. Hadn't heard about it in decades. And yes, it was great to see Donald Sutherland in a film similar to The Body Snatchers.:)
Cool, another film I'll have to check out. Great cast too. I suspect the reason it may not have done as well as wanted was because the title reminds people of the horror film franchise about actual puppets from the 80s and 90s. That's why I clicked on this video because I was curious about how the series started and then low and behold here's a cool looking alien invasion movie. I hope these film studios are thankful for the attention you bring to their films because if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have ever heard of most of them. Keep up the good work!
Your choices for movies and reviews are consistently great.
I think you're one of The Best critics on UA-cam.
Keep up the fantastic content, Sir.
I can't believe you didn't recognize Keith David in this film.
"That was a long time ago, Bonzo! I've moved on!" 😂😂😂
I remember this movie coming on TV all the time when I was a kid or teen! Loved it then! XD Haven't seen it in years!
Reminds me of another movie that the title escapes me but it was about this guy making genetically regrown limbs that were like living parasites!
This is not what I expected from the cover art! The space tornado threw me for a loop hahaha
4:44 NO MUNCH! I'll always remember you from Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order: SVU.
There are so many recognizable stars in this movie
The Paper Boy from Better Off Dead is the best running gag in a movie ever!
one of the only books I felt like getting a 1st edition of, not terribly rare or expensive or anything, I just wanted it out of love
I have the first one shown in the video, with the light-blue cover.
@@VonWenk Same! I guess it was probably the most recent cover at the time I read it, in the mid 90's.
It has a lot of problems, but I appreciated the way this movie got rolling almost immediately. That car chase out of town was, what, ten minutes in? And I like the encephalitis idea, although that was basically Heinlein’s.
It's funny they didn't use a variant of the garment the used in the novel. Not only did it expose the back, it also protected the wearer from being taken.
I've seen this movie like 3 times it's really great!
"I want my $2.00" - You are a legend!
RIP Richard Belzer.
Julie Warner! Underrated 90's actress.
❤!
Laughed really hard at the Law and Order noise hit!
:)
I was surprised I enjoyed it as much as I did. Classic 'bad things happen to lots of people' sci fi. The book was a different creature.
And remember she didn't confirm they were taken over by aliens, just that their responses were 'off' and they were. Sure, one, maybe even two guys might not notice, but not a single man reacting sends up warning flares in an already strange situation. Body language isn't a guarentee in a one on one setting, but the generalities are indicative.
Your commentary throughout the whole vid was hilarious!
Oh man! I remember seeing this as a kid and I loved it. Hadn't really thought about since though.
Wow, on POINT with the humor in this one, Cecil. A reference to The Burning Zone? Wow. makes me wish I had Deadly Games on home video. Or that they would have even RELEASED it on home video.
Bad Flick. GREAT cast.
Watched this movie when I was around 8 or 9 yo.. I F****** loved it! I thought it was one of the coolest movies I've ever seen!
"the xcom taskforce" ^_^ topical
It's funny you mentioned they should all be shirtless; in the book they make everyone go nude by executive order. It's like a long drawn out war with the slugs rather than fairly quick like in the movie. Really good.
Yeah, definitely was getting Heinlein's book vibes during this - scene with aliens communicating while attached to hosts was taken straight form the book.
I just took the Puppet Master test to check whether I actually am a alien or not. On the plus side, I'm 100% human. On the minus, I'm being sued for sexual harassment.
The puppet master - craftsman! Good one!
2:52 Now I know what to make for dinner.
Sorry I just love chicken and waffles.
When I saw the kid on the bike riding directly toward the car, I thought of the "I want my two dollars . . ." kid too, lol.
Watching your video, i remember watching "The Puppet Masters" as a kid. Back then, the creature effects really freaked me out. I may give it another try someday.
I clicked on expecting yet another puppet master movie review. only 7 more of those to go.
+Lance LeDuc well, I can skip the one that is just flashbacks
+GoodBadFlicks fair enough. i have the first 9 and have only sat through like 2. the crossover movie will need some backstory to it
+GoodBadFlicks I wish you had reviewed it ("Don't bother." Roll outro music), so I'd been warned. I actually sat through that recently, and saw more commercials on hulu than original footage.
"Shouldn't they be going around shirtless at this point." YES! That was a major part of the book. Poor poor Heinlein. Could be worse. Could be Starship Troopers.
happy to see this video...this has been a guilty pleasure of mine for a long time.
Judo chop!!!! Hahahahaha I laugh every time.
Also,
Thank you for your service.
You ever thought of doing one of these on Maximum Overdrive?
the better off dead reference was the best joke youve done EVER!!! two dollars
Thank you! 2 dollars!
That weird building that looks like a crashed spaceship in the last part is Fresno City Hall.
I can never remember... At 3:48, is that David Keith or Keith David? =]
What a cast!
I remember renting this flick several times on vhs back in the day.
"They're using children?"
"Do not think of them any longer as children."
RIP Donald Sutherland
The Bonzo-joke alone is worth a thumps-up.
Saw this in the theaters when it came out in 1994. I don't remember a lot about it, but I do remember Eric Thal kept doing that weird thing with his mouth. At the time, I thought it was supposed to be a sign that he was under the control of the aliens, but he did it after he was free of them. I guess he just has a weird tic. At least weird enough for me to remember 23 years later.
I kind of remember the composition of the shot where Thal is the front passenger seat of the car being briefed more than anything else in this movie after 23 years.
This was Before colur corrected eveything. When colours are natural its looks so...old and tv episode like.
Another superb video, pretty good-bad movie too.
Took me a minute (almost literally) to remember this film.
Excellent movie. Underrated.
i died at the stunt double part
I actually want so see this now.
Two dollars! XD Awesome tie-in!
+FelisDestructicus
I was hoping he would use that reference too. :D
If there ever was an origin story for the X-files...this was it.
At 09:03 in this video: _"Tail rotor"_ or _"anti-torque rotor,"_ *not* propeller.
I formally request a future episode about the House movies (the one with William Katt and Grorge Wendt starring in the first one)
4:30 thought the guy on the right was a cardboard cut out xD
Oh man can you please do one for golden child XD
When i first saw Avatar, that merging this instantly made me think of this movie.
The XCOM task force rolls in. lol
My main problem with this movie was how they said right off that Donald Sutherland and Eric Thal’s characters are father and son. In the original novel, this wasn’t openly acknowledged until maybe more than halfway through the book! Until then, they behaved as professionals, the spymaster and agent, until finally having an emotional and familial conversation later on.
“More like the Puppet Mastercraftsman.”
Strong joke!
Not being sarcastic
The fact that the actors kept their clothes on was one thing about the movie I preferred over the book. The first act was the best part, but more than The X-Files, it reminded of The Brain Eaters with Ed Nelson. Like several movies of that era, the ads for the movie used James Horner's music from Aliens, so the actual music was kind of a letdown after that.
"that was a long time ago bonzo I moved on!"
Could you review the Mothman Prophecies please?
The Burning Zone!?!? I must watch this now. Great review, now I know what book/movie the kids in The Faculty were referrng to. ^_^ BTW, are you ever going to link us to the podcast you were on awhile ago?
i love youre reviews, any chance you can do the death wish movies.
keep up the great work.
So it's like that one Star Trek episode where an entire colony planet (and Spock) get taken over by puppetteer parasites, except with better creature effects.
I remember renting this in the 90s at like 12 for a sleep over. We were idiot and we thought this was like the other puppet masters. We were not scared and very disappointed. BUT i watched this on Cinemax a few years ago and liked it a lot. AND TGAT FALLOUT 4 REFERENCE WAS EPIC. But you shoulda seen me after a 24 hour Fallout 3 session using pot and adderall I was worse then that guy in alien withdrawal. I wound up getting the "blinking light of death" on my old fat PS3 because I played so long without shutting it off. lol
Your humor is so unique lol. "Anti-Masturbation Cross." I'm dead hahah.
Thanks!
Damn Keith David and Yaphet Kotto.
Maybe hes gay or just polite. Best plot hole point out ever!!! (Or maybe youre not as hot as you think chick)
Richard Belzer, fuck yeah.
Finkle and Einhorn, lol
Ahahahaha! I may be late to the party but I just noticed the title card looks like it says "Good Bad Fucks!"
Great Scott!
There actually was a Ambrose, Iowa at one time.
I find it weird how they establish getting rid of the alien gives you withdrawals and have Jarvis kill himself and then that is never a thing again.
Another thing they weirdly set up and then quickly throw away is how the aliens make you stronger because after the woman who infects Sam, every time they're fought, they're dispatched pretty easily.
Agree, you would think they would make everyone not wear shirts. I also dislike how the soldiers' heat vision is a box they have to hold up, which means they have to put it down in order to do anything else. Like, it's not just goggles that they wear over their eyes. And somehow, it doesn't detect the parasites when not on a host. They also briefly showed and forgot that they have satellites capable of detecting people on the ground and if they're infected, which could've been used to aid the soldiers on the ground. And why aren't the soldiers wearing some sort of armor that protects their neck? This threat should be pretty easy to deal with.
I thought it was weird that they suspected Jarvis because literally all that happened was that they didn't see him smoke ONCE. As in, we see him smoke in a prior scene, and then we see him simply not smoking for a moment, and Sam's like "Why aren't you smoking, Jarvis?" Does Jarvis have to be smoking literally every second, or something's wrong?
1.58 maybe it's because they knew that there was really nothing substantial there worth looking at, and not because they had an alien on their back! A more buxom actress would have made the logic more convincing.
Love this flick!
This was actually one of HBO's first weekly "new movie" releases, ah yes, there was a time when HBO gave a Damn.
a documentary in the vein of "they live". What a coincidence Keith David is in both.
Glad you've covered this movie. I read the book a long time ago, something around 15 years, and wanted to see it ever since. Mostly to check if all of the actors walk naked through the whole second half. Never got to it, though. Now, finally, I have a sense of closure, but I feel a bit disappointed they wear clothes. It'd be funny to see Donald Sutherland trying to be serious and imposing with his bare butt shining on screen.
I have to say, though, I prefer when you just talk about movies and show clips. Those fast cut photoshop bits felt disorienting and too much like youtube clips of younger reviewers, who try to cover their lack of writing skills with crap like that. You don't have to do that.
I liked this movie
I like this film because it's one of the few times where we get Donald Sutherland as a good guy rather than the bad guy asshole he often plays these days.
So that's where Aqua Teen Hunger Force got the idea for that one alien.
Awesome review I haven't this one in years would like to re-visit it again sometime?
2:41-2:46 I love that film ROFL!!!!!!
That Jesse Ventura impression was fucking brilliant.
:)
5:43 🤣🤣
He doesnt have his cane, dammit!!
0:47 😂😂😂
Donald Southerlands character in this film was not as goofy as the one he played in Invasion of Body Snatchers. Maybe because he was older.
now i must be off to become a sexual Tyrannosaurus Rex. thanks, Jessie.