FeatureR1994·109m·5.8

The Puppet Masters

Trust No One

HorrorScience FictionThriller

The Midwest USA is invaded by stingray-shaped alien slugs that ride on people's backs and control their minds in order to spread their dominion. Government agency reps Sam Givens, Andrew Nivens, and Mary Sefton must stop the aliens.

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Cast

Donald Sutherland

Andrew Nivens

Eric Thal

Sam Nivens

Julie Warner

Mary Sefton

Keith David

Alex Holland

Will Patton

Dr. Lawrence Graves

Richard Belzer

Neil Jarvis

Tom Mason

President Douglas

Yaphet Kotto

Ressler

Gerry Bamman

Viscott

Sam Anderson

Culbertson

J. Patrick McCormack

Gidding

Marshall Bell

General Morgan

Nicholas Cascone

Greenberg

Bruce Jarchow

Barnes

Benjamin Mouton

Higgins

Donna Garrett

Miss Haines

Andrew Robinson

Hawthorne

Bill Blair

Slugged Businessman (uncredited)

Eric Briant Wells

Vince Hayward

David Pasquesi

Details

Status
Released
Original language
English
Languages
English
Budget
$15.0M
Revenue
$8.6M
Age rating
R
Quality
4K UHD · HDR10 · Dolby Vision
Production
Hollywood PicturesBuena Vista Pictures

Crew

Director

Stuart Orme

Writers

Terry Rossio, Ted Elliott, Robert A. Heinlein, David S. Goyer

William Goldenberg

Editor

Colin Towns

Original Music Composer

Clive Tickner

Director of Photography

Daniel A. Lomino

Production Design

Gallery

Reviews

CinemaSerf

4/24/2022

5.0

Donald Sutherland has done some dross in his time, but usually only as a guest star. Here he commits himself to the whole thing and I wonder if now, he regrets it. The mind-numbingly daft plot involves alien creatures that resemble flounders with a proboscis, that ride around on the backs of people, whilst controlling what passes for their minds. "Nivens" (DS) is determined to capture one of these beasties and get it back to the lab for examination. It has all the production values of a solid television movie and hasn't an original bone in it's body. It is a sort of "Alien" meets "Doctor Who" themed enterprise that recycles the rather flawed plot far too often, with little sense of jeopardy and the most obvious solution to the extra-terrestrial invasion plan - just don't wear a shirt with an opaque back! It ends pretty much as expected, with a mediocre supporting cast and some unremarkable dialogue to support the flying jelly special effects. Nothing special, this film.