Written by: Lexicon
It's a rare occurrence that when I review a film for this site, it's a series I'm truly a fan of. I mean, all the films I even bother with are ones that interest me in the first place, so there's always a good chance that I'll like what I'm watching. However, it's usually a film I'm "taking a chance on" via my local Redbox kiosk, and I'm always upfront and honest with each film I review. I must confess, in full disclosure, that I am a fan of the Child's Play series. Or Chucky Series. Call it whatever you want. "Child's Play" sounds classier, so I'll use that. However, that fact does not protect it from any harsh criticisms. Instead, the film does a fine job of protecting itself. Here's my review...
It's a rare occurrence that when I review a film for this site, it's a series I'm truly a fan of. I mean, all the films I even bother with are ones that interest me in the first place, so there's always a good chance that I'll like what I'm watching. However, it's usually a film I'm "taking a chance on" via my local Redbox kiosk, and I'm always upfront and honest with each film I review. I must confess, in full disclosure, that I am a fan of the Child's Play series. Or Chucky Series. Call it whatever you want. "Child's Play" sounds classier, so I'll use that. However, that fact does not protect it from any harsh criticisms. Instead, the film does a fine job of protecting itself. Here's my review...
There have been rumors, as far back as 2008, that the original Child's Play film was getting a reboot. It was even mentioned in the commentary of the 20th anniversary DVD release. Years went by, however, and no news had been released. No news until just about a year ago, that is, when Universal announced Curse of Chucky, the 6th film in the long running series. It was set to be penned and directed by Don Mancini, the writer of the original Child's Play script. So, was it a good move to go for a direct-to-market sequel instead of a theatrical remake? The short answer for me is: Yes.
Curse of Chucky is mysterious and methodical to start. The film thrusts you into a large, gothic house where Sarah and her daughter Nica (a paraplegic) reside. They receive a package and yep, you guessed it, there's Chucky. Sarah is mysteriously murdered that very evening, and the rest of Nica's immediate family (sister Barb, brother-in-law Ian, niece Alice, and nanny Jill) come to the house for the funeral. Chucky begins picking people off one-by-one, and everything comes to a head. Sounds like the usual, and for the most part, it is. But there's a lot more to this plot than I can explain without spoiling too much. What I can tell you, however, is that Curse of Chucky is good. How good? Allow me to explain further.
Right off the bat, I need to commend Don Mancini on his direction of the film. Mancini was slaughtered by critics, and even fans, with Seed of Chucky (the last entry in the series before Curse). He took the response and used it as fuel to make "Curse." Not only is the plot sharply written, the camera work is stylish and elegant. Don't let the gore and special fx deceive you, this is a classy film. It's a classy film because Mancini respects film in genreal and isn't out to just cash in another check. Not only does he respect film, but he respects what he's built and the fanbase as well. This could have been a really boring, mundane 90 minutes in the hands of another director, but Mancini scratches the visual itch just as much as he does the itch for the series lore.
There's a scene involving a game of Russian Roulette with a bowl of poisoned chili that is made up of beautiful shots and great suspense. Being a direct-to-market film, the budget on this movie was low. In fact, it was the lowest budget in the series. Yet Mancini was able to hold a professional look. Unfortunately, the thing that looks the most cheap at times is the doll. This is my biggest gripe of the film. Depending on the shot, Chucky goes from looking like the plain ol' Good Guy Doll, to having a feminine chunk-face. It's weird, and some will get caught on that for sure, but it was a small gripe in the grand scheme of things.
There's a scene involving a game of Russian Roulette with a bowl of poisoned chili that is made up of beautiful shots and great suspense. Being a direct-to-market film, the budget on this movie was low. In fact, it was the lowest budget in the series. Yet Mancini was able to hold a professional look. Unfortunately, the thing that looks the most cheap at times is the doll. This is my biggest gripe of the film. Depending on the shot, Chucky goes from looking like the plain ol' Good Guy Doll, to having a feminine chunk-face. It's weird, and some will get caught on that for sure, but it was a small gripe in the grand scheme of things.
The majority of the film takes place in the aforementioned gothic house. I didn't mind this, but it was good when we got a shot from outside. That's what a small budget will do to you, though. And like I stated above, Don Mancini masks this with good writing and interesting characters. Fiona Dourif (the daughter of Brad Dourif, the voice of Chucky) does a masterful job of playing Nica. Obviously, playing a paraplegic isn't the easiest of tasks, so I give Fiona a lot of credit. Each of the other actors give their characters a genuine feel, and Brad Dourif kills (no pun intended, I swear) as Chucky once again.
By the end of the movie, I was like a giddy little girl. All the references in this film to past films is genius. It's like a treasure hunt for Chucky fans. It all wraps up together. From musical queues to old camera shots; from one liners to flat-out old footage... this film drips of a love letter to the fans. Curse of Chucky is rewarding, fulfilling, jaw dropping, and just a damn good film. A lot of people have complained about it being a direct-to-market film, and I know the stigma that has with it, but I love that it's direct-to-market. I no longer go to the theater, as I don't believe sitting in a room with 50 or more other people is the way to watch a movie in this day and age. I loved watching this on my living room TV by myself with only my thoughts of past films and their connection to Curse to distract me. Kudos to Universal for this call and kudos to Mancini for taking on (and kicking the shit out of) that challenge. When Curse of Chucky was over, I felt satisfied. Satisfied as a longtime Child's Play fan. Satisfied as a horror-enthusiast.
I find myself struggling to write this review, because I want to spill the beans about all the great stuff jammed into this film, especially the stuff jammed in for the fans of the previous 5 films. But I want to keep this as spoiler-free as possible. So, if you're interested in hearing my thoughts on the MASSIVE SPOILERS, I will be writing another article soon containing all the juicy details.
To wrap this up, not only can I recommend Curse of Chucky to fans of the series, but I can recommend it to horror movie fans in general with complete confidence. It's a perfect flick for Halloween, but I suggest you watch it before then as well. Curse of Chucky is currently available through digital download, with the DVD and Blu Ray coming out on 10/8.
Reason to Stay After the Credits: YES!! DON'T MISS THIS SCENE!!!
Reason to Stay After the Credits: YES!! DON'T MISS THIS SCENE!!!
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