Practical puppetry turns a child’s dream into a technicolor nightmare in Terror Films’ The Fuzzies. Jim Henson-style creations cause horror and panic in a retro 70s setting, bending your childhood memories into freaky frights.
Childhood friends reunite at the eerie and spooky estate of their famous friend to mourn her passing. They experience what nightmares are made of as grotesque puppets and sinister stop-motion creatures make them fight for their lives.
The Fuzzies, IMDB
Shirley (played by Gordy Cassel) has passed away, leaving fans of her puppet-led children’s show (and favorite felted friend “Sunny Smiles) in shambles. Following directions from her estate, Shirley’s (human) friends Rose (Rocío de la Grana), Mary (Baylee Toney), and Mick (Dustin Vaught) travel to her home to find that the dolls of Sunny Smile’s world are alive — and that’s not a good thing.
Fun, nostalgic, and deeply unsettling, The Fuzzies makes you think twice about your own childhood fascinations: the friends you kept, the shows you watched, your dreams, your fears. The Fuzzies‘ stylized aesthetic alone is bright and cheery on one hand, and chaotic and loud on the other — a perfect mix of safety in an unsafe space. Even the setting being 30-40 years ago was a smart move; it’s an instant callback to Millennial youth, but has that sting of danger lurking behind each corner.
But I think the stars of the show are Shirley and her menagerie of murderous muppets. When you least expect it, hiding in the background, they start to move. They are otherworldly, cuddly culprits with death on their mind. The puppetry and insane stop-motion action is both hilarious and terrifying, like an early Tim Burton film on LSD; even moments of human action can sometimes be tainted by stop-motion, making it all the more frightening. The Fuzzies makes you think you’re losing your mind in a swirl of colors, shapes, and textures — but no, it’s only your imagination, right?
The Fuzzies is magnificent. It’s profound in some aspects. Its practical scares are masterful and unlike any I’ve seen for some time. The whole vibe is unnerving in the best way possible. For monster kids who never grew up, The Fuzzies is sure to give you just that: fuzzies from the past with scares from the future.
The Fuzzies is streaming now on Vudu, Amazon, Tubi, Chilling, and more. Visit the film on Instagram and web, and see Terror Films for more!
