David Schmoeller directed "Puppet Master," initially released on video in 1989, and the story unfolds at a memorable old hotel along the California coast. The plot centers around four psychics who've come together to visit a former colleague and his wife, who owns the impressive inn. However, their colleague has died by suicide, and now puppets brought to life through Egyptian magic are systematically eliminating them. This film launched a series that currently boasts a dozen sequels—one more than the Friday the 13th series. Despite its clear low-budget status, I found myself enjoying the hotel’s atmosphere, the actors involved, and the plot's resemblance to "Ten Little Indians." The initial thirty minutes, though, felt slow and uninspired. Once it gets going, the movie delivers some solid puppet effects. Irene Miracle is remarkable as a psychic, and Kathryn O'Reilly and Robin Frates also perform well, but the filmmakers didn’t quite capitalize on their talents. Paul Le Mat brings a pleasant presence to his role as the lead male character, even with his unusual hairstyle, while Jimmie F. Skaggs makes an impact as the disturbed colleague. The film has a running time of 1 hour and 30 minutes and was filmed in California locations like Riverside and Pasadena. The credited writers include Charles Band, Kenneth J. Hall, Schmoeller, and J.S. Cardone. I’d give it a C+.

Source on TMDB