#32 – A Horror Movie Which Proves The Original Is Still The Best – (89%)

Released in November 1988 this possession bases slasher movie was directed and co-written by Tom Holland. Note Fright Night and the Langoliers. Produced by David Kirschner, screenplay credits that were shared with Tom were also shared with Don Mancini and John Lafia. The story of ‘Child’s Play’ was by Don Mancini it stars Catherine Hicks and Chris Sarandon, but includes Brad Dourif, John Franklin, Dinah Manoff and Alex Vincent as the incredibly young Andy Barclay character. Credit should also be shared with Brock Winkless the puppeteer for Chucky. Made on a budget of $9m it went on to return $44.2m and set up a whole franchise to follow including a direct sequel in Childs Play 2 and a further step away with the third before they slid into the quirky fast speaking slasher movies we see today. A reboot happened last year, and I was really surprised that it was better than I thought it was going to be. There are a couple of ropey scenes but worth a try. This however is a different kettle of fish with critics giving it 6.6/10 and 71% from IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes respectfully. This was hot on the eighties trail of 80’s people like horror movies lets make another one. In the UK this was only a 15 certificate and was never deemed that gory or scary. That is probably mainly because all the gore is for a plastic doll. On the subject of the story should I dive straight in?

Single mum Karen Barclay is on hard times whilst looking after her son Andy Barclay. She is desperate to get her son a present he really wants for his birthday so buys the Good Guy Doll from a homeless guy who has managed to get hold of one. The way he got hold of it is a shadier story. Charles Lee Ray is a serial killer being hunted down by the cops in Chicago. Detective Mike Norris has Charles in his sights and manages to shoot him Charles accomplice Eddie Caputo escapes taking the escape vehicle leaving Charles to his fate. Knowing that he is dying Charles performs a Haitian Voodoo spell transferring his dying soul into the only thing close by a Good Guy Doll. The transfer causes a lightening strike and an explosion. The cops come in to find Charles ‘Chucky’ Lee Ray dead on the floor surrounded by dolls. This Doll possessed by soul of a fugitive and serial killer now lives with a six-year-old boy. What could possibly go wrong. Chucky has two things in mind firstly get revenge on Eddie for dumping him there and secondly work out a way of getting out of the doll and back to the living. Skipping to the second part he seeks a voodoo priest who tells him he must possess the soul of the first person he revealed his existence to. Names Andy the six-year-old owner of the doll. The same six-year-old that no one believes when he tells them that Chucky is real and the little naughty things going on aren’t really him but the doll. The chances of this ending well are getting smaller and smaller aren’t they.

What a truly clever and smart horror movie which was always a 15 certificate over here so was never that gory to worry the censors but scared so many people. I still know people that are terrified to put this on and watch it. This is a great evil character movie and because the audience already know where the character has come from, we already know this beast within the centre of everything. The characters involved in the story are completely unaware of what is already with them. You end up fearing for them as you know there is a killer in the midst and they just continue as normal. The evil character is fantastic as he uses smart wit and words as he slashes his way through the characters. I found this movie funny and scary all at the same time. This character is great and that is proved by the number of sequels that leant on it just to make more cash and milk it. I admit the others that followed this one was never close to this one’s quality and greatness. However, the others luckily for me does not reflect on this one at all. This is a beacon on its own and what followed should not affect it. Go enjoy this fun, scary, slashy romp!

Next up is a complete opposite type of movie as we go from slash happy killer to a beautiful and lovely Christmassy movie…