“Hi, I’m Chucky. Wanna Play?”
Essential viewing for fans of the horror genre? Not quite. However, I would recommend that parents of young children view this film on Black Friday before heading to the malls and kicking off the Christmas shopping season. You may think twice about shelling out big bucks for the latest hot item, or at least will spray it down with Lysol before wrapping it up. “Child’s Play,” originally released just in time for the holidays in 1988, isn’t quite the “jolting roller coaster ride” the Los Angeles Times described it to be, but a few moments will make you jump in between the easily predictable sequence of events.
The film opens with an action sequence; Detective Mike Norris (played by Chris Sarandon) is attempting to bring down the Lakeshore Strangler, Charles Lee Ray (Brad Dourif) in a late-night street gun battle. Wounded, Charles breaks into a toy store, where he is shot several times and is on the brink of death. He crawls near a display of “Good Guy” dolls, intones some voodoo phrases, clouds and lightning build outside, and presto! Charles’ spirit inhabits the doll, with the lightning-struck store exploding from the force of this switch. The Good Guy doll is the star of a 1980s marketing scheme, complete with television show, accessories, dolls, cereal, and apparel, and is presented as a hybrid of My Buddy and Teddy Ruxpin. The scene shifts to a small boy, Andy (played by Alex Vincent), who clearly has fallen prey to Good Guy doll marketing. On a sunny morning, he’s preparing breakfast in bed for his mother (Catherine Hicks) and eyeing a stack of presents. Upon opening his birthday gifts, Andy is disappointed that no Good Guy doll has arrived to be his friend until the very end, but his mom explains that one hundred dollars was unaffordable that month. Desperate to please her son, she learns from her dear friend Maggie that a back-alley peddler is selling this very same doll—what luck! Thirty dollars later, she’s purchased her son’s new best pal. Parents: if there’s a dude in an alley with this year’s hot Christmas item, I would recommend passing on this seemingly golden opportunity. Andy, however, is thrilled, and sets in for a night of good times as he’s watched by Maggie. Bedtime arrives prior to the nine o’clock news, which Chucky tells Andy he wants to watch. Here’s where the creepiness begins: The t.v. turns on, small feet are heard running, and Chucky’s back in the living room. Maggie becomes more and more spooked as the evening wears on, and eventually becomes Chucky’s first victim. But alas, nobody believes Andy when he claims that Chucky is the culprit. Can it be that this kid suffering from a mental disorder, is he crying out for attention in the midst of a barely-mourned tragedy, or can Chucky really have come to life? While we all know the answer to that question, it’s still fun to watch the events unfold.
As a huge fan of movie soundtracks, I must say that if I could give that aspect of the film a negative rating, I would. Sure, it gets a bit louder when someone is going to get cut, but a lot more could be done audibly to increase the suspense. In terms of late 80’s special effects, robotics and fake lightning storms may seem slightly dated, but they remain quite enjoyable. Let’s also look at the key players. Catherine Hicks as distraught mother working to create domestic bliss in less-than-stellar conditions: decent. We can certainly see the beginnings of the seasoned matriarch into which she blossoms during the “7th Heaven” television series. Who doesn’t love her dedication to family? Her son, played by Alex Vincent, is a mixed bag. Adorable: check. Innocent: check. Ability to trip at the most critical moment: double check. Sadly, he didn’t fully portray the unholy terror that’s required upon finding that the toy over half his size has a homicidal streak. I don’t think I’m alone in having been raised in an area full of children who capable of producing unbridled shrieks at decibels detectable from space. The film really needed that ear drum-splitting scream factor to convince the audience that no, demon dolls aren’t any fun, especially on your birthday. Chris Sarandon as skeptical, aloof law enforcement officer was just that as a character—a little bland. This calls for a remake!
So, what have we learned? The next time Junior pitches a fit for the latest unaffordable toy on the market, show your kid where the lawn mower or the snow shovel are located in your home. A little elbow grease will not only teach them the American value of a strong work ethic, but will also keep you from purchasing possessed playthings in back alleys. Who knew?
Here’s Chuck!… and his features
Special Features—even more interesting than the film itself:
– Audio commentary with Alex Vincent, Catherine Hicks and “Chucky” designer Kevin Yagher
– Audio commentary with Producer David Kirschner and Screenwriter Don Mancini
– Scene Specific Chucky Commentary
– Evil Comes in Small Packages Featurette
-The Birth of Chucky—the creators call this a “dark satirical look at the world of the children’s marketing.” Don Mancini finds the addition of the concept of voodoo to his film “hilarious,” and for that admission, Don, I tip my hat to you.
-Creating the Horror—Harken back to the days of robotic technology and vertically-challenged stand-in actors in lieu of present-day CGI. This is interesting, albeit short.
–Unleashed Chucky: Building a Nightmare Featurette
– A Monster Convention Featurette—brief reunion of the cast. Alas, Wolfman and Frankenstein don’t make cameos.
– Introducing Chucky: The Making of Child’s Play Vintage Featurette
Still Photo Gallery
