It seems like only yesterday that Chucky’s was just a toddler…oh wait…he still is! 20 years and a handful of movies later, the lovable (but possessed) My Buddy doll with the foul mouth known as Chucky is still one of the most recognizable villains of all-time. And this, my horror movie loving friends is not only where the franchise took root, but also one of the scariest movies of the eighties.
For the unfamiliar, Chucky is a doll possessed by the spirit of a serial killer named Charles Lee Ray. His intent is simple, to transfer his soul via voodoo (as he did on his deathbed when he inhabited the doll) into six-year old Andy. I have to admit that I was surprised when watching this again. Child’s Play stands the test of time extremely well. The themes hold true (divorced parents, mom’s new boyfriend, abnormal relationship with a doll, etc.) and Chucky is as frightening as they come and the special effects used to animate him are every bit as creepy as anything out there today. Filmmakers have yet to raise the bar from here.
Obviously the draw here is going to be the bonus features and they are certainly worth purchasing this movie again, or, if you are like me, replacing your beat up VHS with. In addition to the standard audio commentaries that come with most DVDs nowadays (part of which can be done by specific scene with Chucky himself commentating), there are a number of featurettes that are fascinating. They boast new interviews with cast members (little Andy is all grown up!) and behind-the-scenes footage that has never been seen, among other things. One of the best pieces is the interview with the Child’s Play screenwriter, producer, and the writer of the original screenplay (which was hilariously renamed a couple of times, thankfully they ended up with the Child’s Play title). The footage goes back and forth between the three and their observations on each other’s work. I don’t think that the original writer was all that excited about the voodoo aspect of the film, and, in his defense, the movie would have been even more interesting with the original plot.
Overall, if you are a fan then there is enough bonus material here to make it worth the re-purchase. If you are a fan of horror films and are unfamiliar with the original movie then it is a must have. If you have only seen the movies that came after this then be forewarned that this one doesn’t have the goofy edge the others do. This is legit scary.
Reviewed by Mark Fisher
