Child's Play (1988)
#MRFLIXTER
What's your favourite scary movie? Child's Play is easily one of my favourite horror franchises only 2nd to Scream. I'd even place it above Saw, Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Halloween. It has better continuity than most franchises largely due to Don Mancini writing the 7 original films and the new Chucky TV series. Executive producer David Kirschner produced all 7 films in the franchise too. In honour of the upcoming 2nd Season of the show, I'm going to review all 7 Chucky films and the show's 1st season. I won't be covering that awful remake. This is my first SPOILER REVIEW of the bunch. Does this pint-sized slasher have what it takes to rival the giants of horror?
Directed by Tom Holland, the story is about how a man in a foot chase is gunned down by a cop in a toy store and transfers his soul into a Good Guy doll, a high-demand toy based on a popular fictional children's TV show. He implements several filmmaking tricks to make this an appealing treat.
The scene where Chucky kills Aunt Maggie is a great example of how to build suspense. He plays with the idea of hearing random noises in the background. Sound is a big part of it. Minimal music is used to rely on the different noises going on in the apartment as she investigates. I like how the sound of footsteps or a chair banging against something is shown being done by Chucky before showing her reaction. It focuses on other small details too like the footprints in the flour on the counter and the same flour on Chucky's shoes later. She gets more anxious the more she walks through the seemingly empty apartment. Eventually, every little noise makes her scream in terror. Chucky cleverly distracts her by moving a houseplant before his first kill. She gets bludgeoned with a toy hammer, falls out the window, and smashes into a car below. That's how the sound design effectively enhances the intensity of the suspense.
I like the way a first-person POV is used to show Chucky walking around the apartment or going into Eddie Caputo's house. Again, different noises are used to amplify suspicion, fear, and tension. It's smart how Chucky knew Eddie would shoot first and ask questions later. He's very calculated about turning the gas stove on. The voodoo doll scene when Chucky kills John is brutal. The way he tortures him to extract information makes me cringe every time. The pain is felt through his screams and the sounds of his bones cracking. It's another exemplary use of sound design but it's used differently than before.
One of the most famous scenes is the big reveal when Mrs. Barclay threatens to throw Chucky into the fire if he doesn't start talking. He shows his true colours to her for the first time. His facial expressions change, he uses his regular voice, and he attacks her leaving a bite mark. What a way to formally introduce Chucky to her.
To this day I'm still mesmerized by how they made Chucky move around with the puppetry, animatronics and other movie magic. A great example of this is the scene with the electric shock machine kill or Chucky running around the facility looking for Andy right beforehand.
Written by Don Mancini, John Lafia, and Tom Holland, I like how this film is set up as a whodunit, making you question whether or not the doll is alive. Despite Andy knowing information a 6-year-old couldn't possibly know, the adults give realistic reactions to his claims. Even scarier, Chucky knows no one's gonna believe him so he uses that to his advantage.
The scene where Mrs. Barclay finds the batteries in the toy box is a very clever writing choice. Checking his back compartment to confirm he has no batteries is a good way for her to come to the horrific realization that the doll has been active on his own accord and her son was telling the truth all along. His head spinning around to ask if she wants to play is one of the creepiest scenes. The amount of sheer fear built up as she looks underneath the couch to retrieve him is tremendous.
I always had a problem with the scene when Chucky tries to kill Detective Norris in the car. He could have easily hit the brakes or pulled the emergency brake to stop. He could have also put the car in neutral. He didn't have to keep driving. It seems an unnecessary, over-the-top ridiculous scene I can't take it seriously.
Brad Dourif is Chucky aka Charles Lee Ray, the most serial killer-sounding name ever. The iconic actor lends his voice to create a fearsome horror villain who's small in stature but has a big personality and a bad attitude. I'm so grateful he's stuck with the role for all the films except the awful remake and the new show. Nobody, not even the great Mark Hamill, can replace him.
Alex Vincent is Andy Barclay. He does well at capturing the sweet innocence of childhood. He also shows his frustration well when no one listens to him. Not to mention at that age he was the most adorable child actor ever. I've always had a close personal connection with the Andy character because we share a birthday. This movie also takes place on and around my birthday. I think Andy has a nice story arc. He starts off being very scared of Chucky but by the end, he's facing off against him with a bat, eventually setting him on fire.
Catherine Hicks is his mom Karen Barclay. I like how she is written as a smart, strong-willed woman capable of doing anything for her son out of love. She plays her so confidently and convincingly that I can't help but feel for her. The chemistry between her and Andy is uncanny. I like how it instantly establishes the healthy relationship between Andy and his loving mom. It's the heart of the film and is a relatable, driving force for her character. I like how she refuses to be a victim, taking matters into her own hands.
Chris Saradon is Detective Mike Norris. If the other 2 are the heart, he's the backbone to support them. When they're down he holds them up when he ultimately shoots Chucky in the heart as instructed earlier. He plays him with a hard-edged attitude but remains likeable because as he pieces things together he knows he needs to do the right thing. His motivation is clear because he needs to finish what he unintentionally started.
I love the score by Joe Renzetti. He perfectly sets the mood for the darkly playful horror slasher that unfolds.
Overall, this pint-sized slasher surely has what it takes to rival the biggest horror giants. Strong direction, crisp writing, and phenomenal performances all contribute to what makes this film iconic. I like how Chucky uses toys as his weapons of choice. It becomes a common thing in these films twisting the very idea of what toys stand for, innocent fun. The opening scene is such a classic villain origin story. It starts with a foot chase and ends with an explanation of the significance of the doll. The middle is the mystery of it all building to the climax when Chucky is trapped inside the fireplace. It's a perfect way to end the film, giving Chucky an even creepier new burnt to a crisp look. The proceeding final showdown is just epic. Chucky's last words of "Wanna Play?" is haunting nightmare fuel. It's as campy and cheesy as it gets and I love every second of it. I highly recommend this quintessential horror classic if you haven't seen it yet or if it's been a while since your last viewing. And remember, this IS the end…friend!
Grade: Extra Extra Extra Large Popcorn
