In 1941 Berlin, a puppeteer named Andre Toulon runs a successful puppet theater, which strongly alludes to anti-Nazi sentiments. This catches the unwanted attention of the Gestapo, which leads to a tragic assault on Toulon’s house where his wife Elsa is killed. Toulon escapes with the help of his living puppets, whom he animates using an ancient Egyptian formula. Devastated by his wife's death and fuelled by hatred for the Nazis, Toulon plans to exact his revenge. He conceals himself within the wall of an abandoned building in a ghetto, continuing to master his puppet-making skills for the purpose of vengeance.

Meanwhile, the Nazis are interested in Toulon’s secret of reanimation for their own nefarious purposes. They aim to use the formula to create a new army of undead soldiers that would be undyingly loyal to the Third Reich. Major Kraus, a cruel and obsessive Gestapo officer, leads the charge to uncover Toulon's secrets. As Toulon's puppets begin carrying out his revenge against those who wronged him, the puppets demonstrate unique personalities and methods, highlighting Toulon’s ingenious craftsmanship and the deep bond he shares with his creations. This personal vendetta soon intertwines with the broader Nazi interests, setting up a confrontation between Toulon's animatronics and the Nazi war machine.