Child’s Play
Child’s Play is an influential horror movie from 1988. It signifies both the downfall of slasher films and the beginning of the watered down horror formula that would reign throughout much of the nineties. The formula I’m talking about is the mix of the action star ethos combined with the early 80’s slasher mythology. No longer are our killers silent mysteries, but now they are unstoppable, one-liner spitting, killing machines. The prime example of this is the Child’s Play series, where a little red headed doll would start out making audiences chuckle and then groan.
For those that don’t know Child’s Play is the story of a serial killer named Charles Lee Ray. After a shootout in which he is mortally wounded, Ray transfers his soul into the body of a doll. He then continues killing by manipulating his child owner and fooling the disbelieving adults that populate the film. Soon, Chucky finds out that his doll body is turning human and he must transfer his soul into the body of the 6-year old boy that owns him.
The plot of this story is stupid, but the director manages to bring it to life and make the concept of a killer doll actually seem to have merit. Any viewer that hopes to have a chance of enjoying this movie is going to have to suspend their disbelief, because to an adult, the idea of a killer doll was and always will be laughable.
Tom Holland (Fright Night, The Langoliers… blech… I just threw up even mentioning that movie) crafts this movie with a practical, if uninspired eye. Holland manages to turn the Chicago backdrop into a neverending series of alleyways and apartment buildings. The rest of the film is told with little attention to the visual aesthetic, instead relying on the story to carry the film. Sure you have some slow motion scenes and a car chase… but this was filmed in the eighties; if you didn’t have those things your film would probably end up getting shelved. Tom Holland’s direction isn’t bad, but considering that the movie is about a killer doll, which is a hard sell for most people, you would think that he would have taken a few more chances to convince people.
The acting in the movie is alright. Chris Sarandon (Fright Night) actually does quite a nice job as the doubting detective Mike Norris, who simply refuses to believe that a doll is committing murders. Catherine Hicks also stands out, mainly because 70% of the movie has her in it, as the mom in the tale. Alex Vincent (Child’s Play 2) sucks… like most children do. He plays the annoyingly cute Andy Barclay, whose voice is like nails on a chalkboard. There were few times in this film where I didn’t want Chucky to spread this little bastard’s guts all over the room.
The violence in this movie is severely lacking. The plot has a lot of dead spots which could be filled with bloody glorious violence, but the director chose a different, plot-focused route. What violence there is, is minimalist in nature. The movie never revels in its gore, but moves on quickly as if embarrassed of its own violent tendencies. Again, a movie based on a killer doll probably should have ramped up this aspect of the movie.
The special effects were serviceable. I still can’t quite figure out what is creepier… a little person in a Chucky mask running around or a puppeteered Chucky. Either way the doll in this movie is outstanding. Cult icon, Brad Dourif brings his considerable talents to voicing the murderous doll, as he would for the entirety of the Chucky series.
I am still undecided as to whether Chucky is a horror icon or a complete joke… at least in this film. Sure, later on Chucky would turn into a campy, one liner machine… but in this film he is toned down and actually a little creepy. I think if the Chucky films had stuck with the original doll personality, the sequels would have been a little more successful. As it is, Chucky keeps the original film from being a complete stinker.
Final Synopsis: The original Child’s Play, like it or not, is a horror classic. It signifies the cusp and crest of the slasher genre. If you like your slashers a little more serious than ridiculous, this is a good film for you. If you’re looking for stupid, juvenile Chucky one-liners then check out the rest of the series.
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