Compared to the likes of Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, and Michael Myers, Chucky always seemed to be one of the ’80s horror villains that was laughable when considering the real-world danger he would present. In fact, it’s probably those shortcomings and defense of, “Well, couldn’t I just kick him?” that gave the character and the Child’s Play movies their charm.
Casting announcements came out earlier this week for the seventh film in the franchise, called “Cult of Chucky.” One of the most unique things about the franchise as a whole is that, up to this point, every single installment was written by the same writer, Don Mancini, and Brad Dourif has also always voiced Chucky. Considering the directions that other franchises have gone, with all three of them ultimately opting to go the way of the reboot, Child’s Play is one of the only franchises in film history where the creator has been directly involved with every installment.
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In honor of Curse of Chucky getting underway, let’s take a look at how the franchise stacks up!
Which is your favorite Child’s Play film? Let us know in the comments!
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6) Seed of Chucky
The Child’s Play franchise generally managed to find a healthy balance between horror and comedy, but with the previous film (Bride of Chucky) finding success by leaning into the sillier elements of the concept, Seed went even further into the realm of ridiculousness into the realm of parody more than horror/comedy. Chucky’s child was also incredibly disturbing to look at, but more in a sense of weird discomfort than actual fear.
[H/T YouTube, TheSlasherMovie]
5) Child’s Play 3
There’s no debating that Child’s Play 3 has some of the more memorable scenes (paintball, anyone?) and one of the best set pieces with its carnival ride, but being memorable doesn’t automatically make a movie good. The film came out only a year after Child’s Play 2, so the film feels like a rushed cash-in on the franchise, seemingly with the mindset of “People will have no idea who Chucky is if we wait another six months,” and the film feels like it. It’s not a complete mess, but much like Seed of Chucky, things just feel rushed and slapped together without consideration of what appeals to people about the franchise.
[H/T YouTube, TheSlasherMovie]
4) Curse of Chucky
Considering how abysmal Seed of Chucky was, anticipation was pretty low for a new Chucky film, which perhaps is what helped make Curse so enjoyable. Luckily, the filmmakers had almost a decade to determine what makes Chucky such a compelling character and offered fans a reboot, without it actually being a reboot. This film relied more heavily on the scares and splatter that made earlier installments successful, while also dishing out some fan service, including an end credits scene that tied everything back to the first movie.
[H/T YouTube, Movieclips Trailers]
3) Bride of Chucky
Following another big lapse in production of Child’s Play movies, this film dropped the title treatment of the first three films to tell people exactly what they were getting, while also making a playful parody of Bride of Frankenstein. The filmed weighed more on the humorous side, which worked well because a killer doll is inherently silly, so adding Jennifer Tilly in both her human form in the love interest Tiffany doll really rejuvenated the franchise and showed that the filmmakers didn’t take themselves too seriously.
[H/T YouTube, Movieclips Trailer Vault]
2) Child’s Play
Sure, the tale of a murdered whose spirit gets sucked into a three-foot-tall doll is pretty silly, but compared to other things going on in the world of horror in the ’80s, it wasn’t the most ridiculous movie out there. The film followed in the footsteps of A Nightmare on Elm Street in that its antagonist was equal parts goofy and gruesome, but incorporated the point of view of a child appealed to people who felt like no one would ever listen to them.
[H/T YouTube, Movieclips Trailer Vault]
1) Child’s Play 2
Not having to explain how a doll became possessed by the spirit of a murdered, Child’s Play 2 was able to go all out in terms of quips and carnage, making it stand above its predecessor. Considering how the first film ended, suspense builds throughout the film as audiences wonder how he will be brought back. If you like the original film, this first sequel just cranks everything up to 11 a symphony of silliness and carnage.
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