Entertainment
Forget Chucky: The Real Creepiest Killer Doll Movie Of The ‘80s Is Now Streaming Free
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Charles Lee Ray (better known as Chucky) really has a stranglehold on one of the craziest genres in film history: the killer doll movie. Whenever people imagine murderous toys, they imagine the Child’s Play films that first brought Chucky to life. Since the success of those earlier outings, the Chuckster has headlined several sequels and even three seasons of the delightfully chaotic TV show, Chucky.
However, there’s more to killer dolls than Chucky, and there’s an entire world of evil doll movies out there for you to discover. The best alternative to Child’s Play is Puppet Master (1989), a late ‘80s shlock horror classic that inspired decades of sequels, prequels, and spinoffs. To discover the film that started an unlikely franchise, all you have to do is stream the first Puppet Master movie for free on Tubi!
Never Too Old To Play With Toys
The plot of Puppet Master begins when a brilliant man who has learned to bring puppets to life is killed by Nazis. Half a century later, a group of psychics is summoned to the same inn where the deceased genius hid his puppets. The man who summoned them is dead, and they want to learn his secrets; however, they are running out of time, because it doesn’t take long before evil puppets are picking them off, one by one!
The cast of Puppet Master includes Paul Le Mat (best known for American Graffiti) as a professor who can see the future in his dreams. The film also stars William Hickey (best known for National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation) as the man who originally created these fascinating puppets. Finally, Jimmy F. Skaggs (best known for Lethal Weapon) plays the titular puppet master, using these terrifying toys to wreak havoc among his so-called friends.
Thrills, Kills, And Drills
Puppet Master was made on a relatively shoestring budget of $400,000, which is astounding when you consider how great this film (especially the puppets) looks. It was released direct-to-video, where it soon became a cult classic among horror fans who were looking for something new to scream about. Afterward, the franchise ascended to new bloody heights with five sequels, five prequels, two spinoffs, one reboot, and an unforgettably bonkers crossover film with the Demonic Toys franchise.
When Puppet Master premiered, it weirded out reviewers in all the wrong ways. It has a 40 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics complaining about the complex plot, odd pacing, and strangely serious tone. However, even the film’s biggest critics noted that the puppet effects are absolutely awesome throughout, making this a great movie for anyone hoping to see these killer dolls dispatching humans in bloody and hilariously inventive ways.
Sex And Violence (The Two Major Food Groups)
Personally, I think the critics are being way too harsh on Puppet Master. Admittedly, the movie’s plot probably is a bit too complex, especially when we’re all here to see a bunch of creepy killer dolls do their thing. At the same time, so many horror movies are completely mindless and have almost no plot whatsoever, so I don’t think it’s worth holding it against this quirky classic that it gives us too much story.
Aside from the focus on killer dollars, Puppet Master also shares something in common with Child’s Play: great practical effects make the whole thing worth it. Even if this tangled tale of killer psychics doesn’t tickle your fancy, you’ll be on the edge of your seat once the titular puppets start turning everyone into mincemeat. By the time it’s over, there are buckets of blood courtesy of some truly iconic ‘80s monsters, and that makes the whole thing worth the price of admission.
A Guilty Pleasure (No Strings Attached)
Finally, while the franchise admittedly goes off the rails over time, the very fact that this first movie inspired so many sequels and prequels is proof of just how entertaining Puppet Master really is. It’s a movie that terrified the imagination of audiences in the world by showing them fear as they had never seen it before. That fear is still very real, and you are very likely to see these murderous puppets in your nightmares shortly after you watch this legendary horror movie.
Is Puppet Master a cult classic creepshow that will haunt your dreams forever, or is this one killer toy movie that will have you wanting to put away childish things? The only way to know for sure is to stream it for free on Tubi and experience these pint-sized terrors for yourself. Trust me: by the time the credits roll, you’ll never look at a drill the same way ever again!
Entertainment
The Bears Gary cliffhanger explained: What just happened to Richie?
There’s only one thing more shocking than The Bear dropping surprise episode “Gary,” and that’s the ending of the episode itself.
Written by The Bear stars Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Jon Bernthal, “Gary” flashes back to a work trip Richie (Moss-Bachrach) and Mikey (Bernthal) once took to Gary, Indiana. Their worst impulses soon derail their mission, culminating in Mikey drunkenly (and publicly) dressing down Richie’s penchant for fucking up, and Richie missing the birth of his daughter.
The entire episode takes place long before The Bear Season 1, except for one somber coda that could have massive repercussions for The Bear Season 5. “Gary”s final scene cuts from Richie and Mikey sitting in Mikey’s car to Richie sitting alone in his car in the present day. He stares at his empty passenger seat, reminiscing about Mikey. Then, as he pulls forward into an intersection, another car careens straight into him. Cue the credits, along with my incredulous yell, “Did Richie just die?”
So, did Richie really just die in The Bear?
Ebon Moss-Bachrach in “The Bear.”
Credit: FX
Here’s the thing: The Bear probably isn’t going to kill off Richie, one of its most beloved leads, during a surprise episode that dropped between seasons. Especially not when the show is gearing up for its fifth and final installment. However, Richie’s car crash could be the major event that sets Season 5 in motion.
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At the end of Season 4, Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) quit The Bear, choosing to step away from the kitchen in the hopes of healing himself. He turned full control of the restaurant over to Sydney (Ayo Edebiri), along with Richie and Natalie (Abby Elliott). What does Carmy’s upcoming journey of self-discovery look like? Even he’s not sure. He just knows it should take place far, far away from the stressful environment of any restaurant kitchen. That includes his family, both work and blood-related.
But you know what could bring Carmy back into the fold in Season 5? A need to be there for an injured Richie, and to support the rest of the reeling restaurant staff. Basically, the end of “Gary” appears to be a bridge to the start of Season 5, and the catalyst that will reunite Carmy with the people he walked away from in Season 4.
It’s a bit of a bizarre move on The Bear‘s end, in no small part because a car-crash cliffhanger sends the show skidding into soap territory. But it’s also a strange choice heading into Season 5. Why relegate such a key incident to a standalone episode, instead of keep it as part of the season itself? Plus, in tacking such a shocking moment onto the end of “Gary,” the episode loses some of its power. Instead of leaving viewers contemplating Mikey and Richie’s dynamic, they’re left with the WTF factor of the car crash and questions about what’s next. There’s no meditation on The Bear‘s past, just a collision with its future.
“Gary” is now streaming on Hulu. The Bear Season 5 premieres this June on Hulu.
Entertainment
Pennsylvania is suing Character.AI for allegedly practicing medicine without a license
Pennsylvania has taken the unusual step of suing an AI company for practicing medicine without a license.
In a lawsuit filed May 1, the state is targeting Character.AI after an investigator found a chatbot on the platform posing as a licensed psychiatrist and providing what the state characterizes as medical advice.
According to the complaint, filed by the Pennsylvania Department of State and State Board of Medicine, a Professional Conduct Investigator for the state created a free account on Character.AI and searched for psychiatric characters. He selected one called “Emilie,” described on the platform as a “Doctor of psychiatry.”
The investigator told Emilie he had been feeling sad, empty, tired, and unmotivated. The chatbot mentioned depression and offered to conduct an assessment to determine whether medication might help.
When pressed on whether she was licensed in Pennsylvania, Emilie said she was and even provided a specific license number. The state checked and found that the number doesn’t exist.
The complaint also states Emilie claimed she attended medical school at Imperial College London, has practiced for seven years, and holds a full specialty registration in psychiatry with the General Medical Council in the UK.
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In a similar case, 404 Media reported last year that Instagram AI chatbots were pretending to be licensed therapists, even inventing license numbers when prompted for credentials by the user.
Pennsylvania is seeking an injunction ordering Character.AI to stop allowing its platform to engage in the unlawful practice of medicine. The company has more than 20 million monthly active users worldwide and hosts more than 18 million user-created chatbot characters, according to the complaint.
In an email to Mashable, a Character.AI spokesperson declined to comment on the lawsuit. Further, they added that “our highest priority is the safety and well-being of our users. The user-created Characters on our site are fictional and intended for entertainment and roleplaying.”
The spokesperson added that the company “prioritizes responsible product development and has robust internal reviews and red-teaming processes in place to assess relevant features.”
A much bigger legal battle looms over AI health
The Pennsylvania lawsuit lands in the middle of an already messy legal debate over what AI is actually allowed to tell you — and whether any of it is even admissible in court.
As Mashable’s Chase DiBenedetto reported, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has publicly advocated for “AI privilege,” arguing that chatbot conversations should be afforded the same legal protections as conversations with a therapist or an attorney. Courts have so far been split, with two federal judges reaching opposite conclusions on the question within weeks of each other earlier this year.
The stakes are high on both sides. Legal experts warn that sweeping AI privilege protections could effectively shield companies from accountability, making it harder to subpoena chat logs and internal records when something goes wrong. Meanwhile, health AI is booming — $1.4 billion flowed into healthcare-specific generative AI in 2025 alone, according to Menlo Ventures — and much of it operates outside of HIPAA protections.
Pennsylvania is one of several states to have introduced an AI Health bill this year, following a trend of states that aren’t waiting for Washington to act.
Entertainment
How to watch Bayern Munich vs. PSG online for free
TL;DR: Live stream Bayern Munich vs. PSG in the Champions League for free on RTÉ Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Bayern Munich vs. PSG would have made an amazing Champions League final, but we should be happy that we’re getting two matchups between these electric teams. The first leg finished 5-4 to PSG. We’re not expecting the same again, because that was probably one of the best games of all time. If we get half that level of entertainment in the second leg, we’ll be delighted.
Expect more of the same from the likes of Michael Olise and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as these teams battle it out for a spot in the showpiece event. The winner will meet Arsenal at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest.
If you want to watch Bayern Munich vs. PSG in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Bayern Munich vs. PSG?
Bayern Munich vs. PSG in the Champions League kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on May 6. This fixture takes place at the Allianz Arena.
How to watch Bayern Munich vs. PSG for free
Bayern Munich vs. PSG is available to live stream for free on RTÉ Player.
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RTÉ Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock RTÉ Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Bayern Munich vs. PSG for free by following these simple steps:
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Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
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Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
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Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland
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Visit RTÉ Player
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Watch Bayern Munich vs. PSG for free from anywhere in the world
$12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn’t a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Bayern Munich vs. PSG (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.
If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services from around the world, you’ll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPn for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.
What is the best VPN for RTÉ Player?
ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on RTÉ Player, for a number of reasons:
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Servers in 105 countries including Ireland
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Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
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Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
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Fast connection speeds free from throttling
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Up to 10 simultaneous connections
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30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).
Live stream Bayern Munich vs. PSG in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.
The Bears Gary cliffhanger explained: What just happened to Richie?
Pennsylvania is suing Character.AI for allegedly practicing medicine without a license
