Jeu d'enfant

No need to echo consensus points on this outstanding horror movie production. My only gripe is with the recurring anti-climaxes that cheapen the original infernal effect. As a result, movie buffs are again shown that knowing when to stop can be as important as knowing how to start; at the same time, the horror flick certainly knows how to slam-bang start.

To me, two themes in the script's subtext stand out. First, key to many ace horror flicks, such as The Thing (1951), and Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), is not just the horror of the menace but the frustration in getting dis-believers to finally come around to confront the para-normal menace. Here, understandably, no one believes stories about an infernal kid's doll that's somehow alive. This, fortunately, adds to audience sense of engagement with Mom and little Andy as they're forced to grapple with the horror of the para-normal that no one else believes can be real.

Second is the poignant portrayal of Mother Love as that natural bond confronting the infernal doll in its death dealings. Ironically, it's the distance between mother and son at the outset that drives young Andy into the arms of what seems a friendly doll that will then be his needed companion. Thus Mom in particular must learn a lesson about family ties that the doll ironically provides. Happily, the growing bond between them is developed in a non-sappy way that's unusual for most any kind of movie. And that is largely thanks to actors Hicks and Vincent, respectively. In fact, I'd be inclined to award them special Oscars for their moving performances, as though the snooty Oscars ever took note of little horror flicks.

Anyway, these are two notable aspects of the screenplay neither of which has directly to do with the scary effects, but do merit mention. All in all, except for the anti-climaxes, the movie's superior of its kind, so catch up with it if you can.

Child's Play (1988)

*** (out of 4)

A single mother (Catherine Hicks) buys her son Andy (Alex Vincent) a Good Guy doll. Chucky becomes the young kid's best friend but after a few bizarre things happening the kid is convinced that the doll is alive. The mother doesn't believe him at first but soon she realizes the truth but she can't convince the police detective (Chris Sarandon) that the doll is alive and killing.

CHILD'S PLAY certainly wasn't the first movie to deal with killer dolls but there's no question that it has become the best known and most loved. It's really amazing how well the film has held up after nearly thirty-years and it's clear that there's no slowing down as the series continues to get sequels. With that said, as good as some of the sequels are, they can't compare to the original film, which had Chucky being one evil maniac.

The film works on many levels but the best thing about it is that it goes against the majority of the slasher films that were out around this time. Instead of just trying to come up with creative kills, this film instead plays out like a thriller and on this level it works. The story of the single mother and her son is a great set-up and this really adds to the drama. Even better is the relationship between the cop and the mother as this added even more drama that plays itself out well against the horror elements. Then you've got a great killer in the Chucky doll but there's also the entire story dealing with the serial killer played by Brad Dourif.

The special effects are also another major plus and especially how perfectly blended the mechanical Chucky was as well as the moments where he's being played by an actor. THe film manages to have some nice suspense and is certainly very well directed by Tom Holland. The film is certainly one of the better horror films from the later day slasher era.

I've seen this brilliant horror movie over twenty times so far and it is still great."Child's Play" is wonderfully original-a great concept(the soul of a serial killer in the puppet)and villain(Chucky!)are perhaps the keys to it all.Plenty of shocks and scares,pretty good acting and lots of violence.The direction and editing are so tight and carefully done.Now I can see why this movie was such a huge success in 1988.Managing to be both frightening and classy,this is a nerve-wracking experience.I actually found "Child's Play" to be a very scary film.I did not find it too gory,but what gore there is it was done to heighten intensity levels to the extreme.All in all,I wholeheartedly recommend it to any open-minded viewer,who likes to watch horror movies.The hammer in the head scene still gives me goosebumps.

Director Tom Holland does quite a good job scaring us with this cliche-ridden, unoriginal story of a serial killer transferring his soul to a toy store doll. The doll is incredibly eerie with its red hair and deep eyes, and goes by the name of Chucky saying things like, "My name's Chucky...wanna play?" Although much of the plot is very predictable(especially the ending), the execution of the plot is first-rate. Add to this some earnest acting from CatherineHicks, Chris Sarandon, and especially Alex Vincent playing a six-year old, and you have a pretty entertaining feature. The special effects are also first-rate, and the doll seems to actually be alive. Brad Douriff adds his voice to the demented Chucky, and his voice is evil personified. Dinah Manoff has a small role, but it is an important role which she plays very well. The atmosphere is definitely set on suspense and it is a rollercoaster of a ride as we see the doll slowly become human and seek out his only murderous hope for salvation. Good scares!

Child's Play is usually categorized with other definitive horror films of the 70's and 80's, such as Friday the 13th, Halloween, and A Nightmare on Elm Street, while it's a lot different, in ways I'll get into later.

Charles Lee Ray (Brad Dourif) is a serial killer who is finally killed by Mike Norris (Chris Sarandon). However, he performs a chant right before he dies. Karen Barclay (Catherine Hicks) is a single mother who works in a jewelry department in a department store. She lives in an apartment with her six-year-old son Andy (Alex Vincent), who is like any normal six-year-old. He loves the television show `Good Guys', and they have lots of toys and dolls that you can buy. When his birthday comes around, he doesn't get a $100 Good Guy, but Karen buys one from a peddler off the street for $30. However, that doll, whose name is Chucky, is actually filled with the spirit of Ray, who tries to kill everyone.

At times this can be pretty effective, even scary, even when they add to it with predictable, cheap scares. When Maggie (Dinah Manoff, who overacts throughout the entire movie) is slowly walking through the kitchen with no music, with the phone in plain sight, do you think it's going to ring? Thankfully, there aren't too many of them. The entire plot is pretty clever, not just a `Craven' or `De Palma' theme. Also, the puppetry of Chucky was pretty good, for it being 15 years ago. The cinematography was good, with many first person shots, which were effective.

Dourif, who played a gentle man in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, was very good, especially in the beginning, when we actually saw him. Why he isn't a big name now is beyond me. Hicks was good for what she was required to be: panicky and caring to Andy. Sarandon didn't do anything for me, as the obligatory police officer. Vincent talked like stereotypical movie children did, enunciating every syllable.

The music really helped, with it booming to prove its point of being a horror movie. It could have had some humor, like other horror movies do, to help it out some. Since it's less than 90 minutes and a horror films, they didn't worry about anything like plot holes or continuity errors. A few I noticed: how DID he go into Chucky, besides the chant, why would the Chucky doll be burned up, the dates continuously change. That scene with voodoo was very cool. That's about all I can say, so I won't say any more.

My rating: 7/10

Rated R for language and violent situations.