#15 - Child's Play (1988)


(dir. Tom Holland)

Charles Lee Ray, a serial killer known as the Lakeshore Strangler and nicknamed “Chucky”, is fatally shot by the police after being cornered in a toy store. Luckily for him, he knows a voodoo spell to transfer his soul into another body - unluckily for him, the only body nearby is that of a popular "Good Guy" doll. He possesses the doll, which is then purchased as a birthday gift for 6-year-old Andy. Chucky, abusing the fact that no one will believe Andy when he tells them Chucky is alive, sets out to get revenge on his old partner and the cop who killed him, and then get his soul out of the doll's body.

This is a super fun movie. Despite some quips from Chucky (voiced by the always fantastic Brad Dourif), most of the film is not played for laughs, and is in fact pretty tense throughout the first half. It isn't particularly bloody or gory, although one scene involving a voodoo doll is pretty gruesome. Chucky starts off as a sort of typical creepy possessed doll, but the movie really takes off once he stops pretending and reveals himself as a little psychopathic asshole. He's a pretty great character, and the special effects that bring him to life are very good and have aged well. Chucky is an iconic horror movie villain for good reason.

I really like this movie and I plan on watching some of the sequels over the next few weeks. A pretty essential watch for horror fans. Definitely recommended.

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