I like this more every time I watch it, and it’s still pretty effectively scary. I love how the story builds and that you don’t even hear Brad Dourif’s iconic voice performance until just past the halfway point, and that weirdly it's frequently the job of adorable child actor Alex Vincent to sell the scares in the first half. But when Chucky finally reveals himself to Andy’s mom in one of the greatest profanity-riddled explosions of all time, the movie really kicks into high gear. The ending is a bit much, with one or two too many “we got him”s. But this movie spawned a franchise for a reason. Classic 1980s horror.
Trailers: Friday the 13th Part 2, Toys
The concept is already getting a *bit* repetitive here, but I appreciate that the early movies take seriously what would actually happen to the characters who cross paths with Chucky. It feels pretty logical that Andy would be separated from his mom (who was put away because no one believed her about the murderous doll) and end up a ward of the state. While I like the original more, the second film has several memorable sequences, such as the opening reassembly of the original doll, Chucky beating the teacher to death with a yardstick and basically the entire third act in the doll factory. Also, Kyle rules. Can’t wait to see her again later in the series.
I appreciate that this is a wholly new setting, but it’s not a very interesting one. Putting a now teenaged Andy in military school is, again, a refreshingly realistic development given what has happened to him and the fact that no one could possibly believe his reality. Much like Freddy in *his* third installment, this is where Chucky’s personality and one-liners start to wear thin (it will get much worse, I’ve heard). The climax in the dark ride is kind of fun, but you have to wonder where all the other people are and how no one else is seeing what’s going on (also why a ride in a pop-up carnival is so dang huge). I didn't think this was terrible, but I can understand why the movies went in a completely different direction after this.
So between the third movie and this one, Scream happened and this was creator Don Mancini’s response to horror's new self-awareness trend. I know it’s super-cheesy and messes with the series continuity in some annoying ways (Since when does Chucky need an amulet to transfer his soul? Why is Charles Lee Ray buried in New Jersey when he died in Chicago?). And it has maybe the most boring and annoying human/non-killer characters in the entire franchise. But it *does* bring in the best new addition to the series so far — Tiffany Valentine, as played by Perfect Queen Jennifer Tilly. Every moment she or her doll counterpart are on screen is a gift. Okay, maybe not the wackadoo ending. For all its flaws (doll sex, wtf? — also criminal underuse of John Ritter), it’s still incredibly fun and takes the series in a welcome (to me) new direction. I loved it.
Trailers: It’s Alive, Demon Seed
Even more ludicrous than its predecessor, this one introduces super-accelerated voodoo pregnancy, Jennifer Tilly as herself *and* as Tiffany, and Tiffany and Chucky’s nonbinary offspring named Glen/Glenda (in a nod to Ed Wood’s film), voiced by Billy Boyd. Just when you thought they couldn’t take the possessed doll concept even further, there is this insane but still very fun hot mess of a movie. Having said that, as much as I loved the change of pace of this movie and Bride (and props for the gender fluidity themes), I’m rather glad this was the last of the self-aware Scream-influenced yuckfests.
Trailers: The Pit, Devil Doll
The series changes direction *again* with this early 2010s movie. It’s much more a return to horror, with more gore than previous installments and a tone that’s more serious while still having a hint of humor, like the original film. It also has an unmistakably modern vibe, particularly in its "old dark house" setting. We’re introduced to our final girl Nica (played by Brad Dourif’s real life daughter Fiona Dourif), and she is another great addition to the series. This installment is a breath of fresh air, while still bringing together most of the mythology that’s been built up through all the previous films. Notably, it brings back both Jennifer Tilly as Tiffany (still possessing Jennifer Tilly’s body per the previous film’s events) and Alex Vincent, reprising his role as Andy from the first two movies. I genuinely dug this.
Trailers: Dolls, Asylum
Like its predecessor, it continues the more serious tone and more traditional horror tropes. It also very effectively plays on the gaslighting themes of the original film, with most of the action taking place in a mental institution, where no one believes the patients when they try to tell anyone about Chucky because everyone just thinks it's a product of their illness. (Side note: Brad Dourif does a nod to his first film One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest that had me HOWLING.) Fiona Dourif returns as Nica (and eventually a new manifestation of Chucky). We get to see Jennifer Tilly *and* Alex Vincent again (the latter with a much larger role). Not to mention a cameo from the awesome Christine Elise as Kyle. The ending of this movie, beginning with the multiple Chuckys (and his anger over the cancellation of NBC’s Hannibal, which delighted me to no end), is bazonkers and great. I sincerely hope this is a foretaste of where the TV series is headed. But I have to watch the 2019 reboot first.
