By David Dent
Director Steven Kostanski, who earlier gave us 2020’s bonkers PSYCHO GORE MAN and, earlier, THE VOID (2016) here presents his tribute to the hand puppet creatures of Full Moon Pictures.
Nerdy Conor (Conor Sweeney) is a bland no-hoper at work; at home, he’s a dead loss in the bedroom, much to his gorgeous wife Kristina’s (Kristy Wadsworth) chagrin. When she leaves him for a weekend art trip, Conor’s idea of a wild 48 hours is dial-in pizza and non-stop TV antique shows.
But when he comes across a premium TV call line staffed by a tiny goblin, Frankie Freako (Matthew Kennedy), offering a unique party experience, Conor has the opportunity to switch gear and spice up his life. No sooner has he dialled and consented, than the fun begins; it’s just a shame that Conor can’t remember it.
Conor wakes up the next morning to a GREMLINS-inspired wrecked house and the presence of Frankie and his equally diminutive pals Dottie (Meredith Sweeney) and Boink (Adam Brooks). Worse is to come, for Mr Freako is an interplanetary traveller, and an unsuspecting Conor could be the answer to a pitched battle taking place on his home planet.
That Conor’s boss is named Beuchler (after puppet genius John Carl Beuchler) tells you all you need to know about the movies that inspired this cheap but cheerful (and fitfully funny) puppet action flick. This brings to mind the PUPPET MASTER and GHOULIES franchises; it’s silly but very colourful and inventive (in particular the scenes set on Freakworld).
Frankie Freako screened as part of Celluloid Screams 2024.
Bloody Flicks 