On DVD: Shadow Puppets

Written and Directed by Michael Winnick

Starring Jolene Blalock, James Marsters, and Tony Todd

No one can remember anything, everyone’s half naked, and they all wake up alone in a cell to ominous sounds from something nonhuman. Eventually the eight strangers find their way to one another as they meander through an abandoned asylum trying to figure out what the hell has happened. However, there is a mysterious force threatening their lives while they try to find answers and freedom from the bowels of prison.

The Movie

Reminiscent of Cube, Shadow Puppets sounds promising, but the actual product is an abysmal attempt at a suspense chiller.  If this film were a college English paper, the graded result would have looked like a bellowing bison lanced through the heart. The film establishes mystery quite easily and interestingly with the amnesia all the characters seem to experience. However, supernatural hokey-ness disappointingly consumes any suspense this film tries to feed us. The supernatural, when done right, adds scare, fright, and a vitality to conflict in a plot. Unfortunately, the "Shadow Creature” lurking around the asylum is not even laughable; it’s appalling.

The plot of Shadow Puppets is has the tensile strength of aluminum, but even the most malleable story lines can be fleshed out with character development, psychological suspense, and studies in human life. While most horror/suspense films don’t pretend to be quite that high brow, they do rely on thrill, scare, and adrenaline. However, sometimes a little extra fleshing makes films simply better.

Shadow Puppets runs rather mutedly and slowly. Given that quiet quality, we could have been entertained by some depth. There is deceit involved, but it is too basic to even be noteworthy. Also, Michael Winnick could have written more moments of suspiciousness and could have woven elements of the archetypal quest to raise low caliber filmmaking to simply mediocre. 

The characters seem flat and un-relatable and  are about as interesting as watching weeds wither, which is unfortunate when you consider that this film somehow drew some good acting talent such as Jolene Blalock and James Marsters. Despite her character, Jolene Blalock creates believable fear and mixed emotion from the time she wakes up screaming all through her discovery of the facts surrounding everyone’s situation. James Marsters is not given much to work with. Especially after we’ve seen him play the tauntingly playful vampire Spike we are a bit disappointed.

Overall, Shadow Puppets has the potential to be much better. Even with a lower budget, a simple set, and no major special effects, more suspense, robust characterization, and a focus on the primal behavior of those trapped could have pulled this one out of the mud.

2/10

The Video

Presented in widescreen, the overall video quality is good as it feels a little better than made-for-TV quality. Many scenes take place in dark rooms and hallways, but the lighting is just enough to allow us to see but not miss out on important action.

6/10

The Audio

Presented with Dolby Surround 5.1, the sound is common quality. There are no major balance issues throughout the film and the dialogue comes across clearly.

6/10

The Packaging and Bonus Features

The DVD release of Shadow Puppets comes in a standard aramay case with a sleeve. The cover art—being the red herring that it is—suggests something very promising and hopeful. The design features a picture of Jolene Blalock’s frightened face as she crouches behind something to save herself from the “Shadow Creature”.

There are a few extras offered, including some behind the scenes stuff, audio commentary, and a video commentary from cast and crew.

6/10

Overall (Not an Average) 3/10

The Movie 2/10

The Video 6/10

The Audio 6/10

The Packaging and Bonus Features 6/10

Overall (Not an Average) 3/10

-Chuck Knight