I thought this movie would be cheesier than it actually is. For a movie starring an animate murderous doll, it certainly does thrill. It's another fun slasher film, even with the silly premise and plot full of holes. Turn off your brain and have a good time.
Started watching "must watch" horror movies with my 14 year old son to get him involved with the genre, and this was the first movie we watched together. Definitely a classic that still holds up - with all it's cheesiness and gore.
This was a lot better than what I thought it was going to be. I thought it was going to be super cheesy and not scary but it actually is a decent slasher. Chucky is kinda terrifying, especially at the end.
It's the classic doll horror movie. I've seen it years ago but can't remember it. It's a little dated now. It takes a long time to see chucky moving but it looks really good when it happens. Even for a doll movie it's very dumb. The voodoo is pretty stupid. I wanted to really like it but it was OK.
I don't care what anyone says, I'd punt that little shit into oblivion.
Tom Holland [Fatal Beauty, Fright Night] directs a particular horror movie which is very funny.
I loved Chucky's characterization, He's one of the best fanta-killers of the 80s.
But I have a presentiment that the sequels are better than this one.
Some people complain that it takes 45 minutes to see Chucky come alive but I like the build up to it. It's the Jaws/Alien approach. It's what makes this one different from the sequels.
Still pretty good compared to the show...
Such a damn good thriller, that still holds up all these years later. Even with its hokey premise.
That's a brilliant horror movie of 90's.Script was special and Tom Holland knew very well how to make this movie..Full of suspence and some creepy parts with powerfull ending scene. 7.5/10!
Not one of my favourite horror movies. People say it’s scary but it just makes me laugh. If I need a “horror” movie to give me a good chuckle this is the one I go to.
Not one of my favourite horror movies. People say it’s scary but it just makes me laugh. If I need a “horror” movie to give me a good chuckle this is the one I go to.
"You stupid bitch! You filthy slut!"
It might be silly but this movie haunted me for years. My twin babysitters held me down and forced me to watch this when I was 4 years old and I had to rewatch it many times to get over my fear of Chucky for the longest time! The sequels get goofy but this original one is still a classic horror rewatch.
My review: https://youtu.be/6BzHFoA9-Sc
“Child’s Play” (1988), directed by Tom Holland, is a classic horror film that introduced one of the most iconic and sinister dolls in cinema history: Chucky. With its unique blend of horror and dark humor, the film delivers a chilling and entertaining experience that has stood the test of time.
The story centers around a possessed Good Guy doll named Chucky, inhabited by the soul of a notorious serial killer. After being acquired by young Andy Barclay as a birthday gift, Chucky embarks on a spree of terror, using his innocent appearance to mask his malevolent intentions. As the bodies pile up, Andy and his mother find themselves in a race against time to stop the doll before it claims more victims.
What sets “Child’s Play” apart is its ability to imbue an inanimate object with a palpable sense of menace and evil. The film cleverly plays on the fear of the familiar, as Chucky’s once-cute and innocent appearance becomes twisted and menacing. The suspenseful sequences and well-executed jump scares keep viewers on edge, while the underlying psychological horror adds depth to the narrative.
Brad Dourif delivers a memorable and chilling performance as the voice of Chucky. His ability to bring the character to life with a blend of malice and dark humor adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the film. Catherine Hicks, as Andy’s mother, brings a sense of vulnerability and determination to her role, adding emotional depth to the story.
The practical effects in “Child’s Play” are a testament to the craftsmanship of the era. The animatronics used to bring Chucky to life are impressive, with the doll’s facial expressions and movements contributing to the believability of the character. The blend of practical effects and well-executed camera work heightens the tension and makes the horror feel tangible.
While “Child’s Play” is often associated with its horror elements, the film also offers moments of dark humor that provide relief from the intense and suspenseful atmosphere. The witty one-liners and Chucky’s sarcastic remarks add a touch of levity, serving as a counterbalance to the more terrifying moments. The film successfully finds a delicate balance between horror and humor, ensuring an engaging and enjoyable experience for audiences.
In addition to its effective scares and dark humor, “Child’s Play” also explores themes of childhood innocence and the power of belief. It raises questions about the boundaries between reality and imagination, as well as the lengths a child will go to be heard and protected. These underlying themes give the film a surprising depth and elevate it beyond a mere slasher flick.
In conclusion, “Child’s Play” (1988) is a classic horror gem that has become a beloved and enduring entry in the genre. With its menacing and unforgettable antagonist, effective scares, dark humor, and thought-provoking themes, the film continues to captivate audiences decades after its release. So, be prepared to keep an eye on your dolls and remember that even the most innocent-looking toys can hide a chilling secret.
"Hi, i'm Chucky, and i'm your friend to the end. Hidey-ho... Wanna play?"
The first entry to my favorite horror franchise of all time! It just checks all the boxes for me: iconic cool-looking and layered villain, hilarious one-liners, the kills are always imaginative, the practical effects are fantastic and Chucky's a villain I always root for no matter how many times he gets kicked down he always comes back. The vibrant colors mixed with the kids and toys thematics make the perfect contrast with the horror elements. This is what I like the most about the movie, it creates a balance between innocence and pretty much murder: much like Charles Lee Ray, a serial killer being stuck in a doll's body. The contrast is what makes it so fascinating and mysteriously odd. The 80s aesthetics and the vibrant colors make it eye candy and the pacing is perfect the kills are well spread throughout the movie. It's not perfect by any means, full of plot holes, unrealistic and it's not a script that should of worked. But none of that really matters compared to the amount of cheesy fun you'll get out of this slasher. Third act is always so good, gotta love those practical effects and crazy visuals. An absolute must-watch horror classic that'll never get old!
To be as dated as this is, it's still a fun watch. Granted, some of the special effects are pretty weak, the acting is sub-par, and the plot has holes big enough to drive a truck through, but for just good ol' fashioned outlandish-but-still-kind-of-creepy fun, this is still worth watching, IMO.
One would expect this to just be a creepy serial killing doll movie, but its much more than that. The plot set up was a bit rushed, so much to a point where one could miss the main plot point, but after the initial set up the movie is pretty well done for its age and entertaining. Its not so much horror/terrifying as it is thrilling as most of the movie was about running from Chucky and convincing of others that he was real. Then it was about how to kill him. The movie was more graphic and violent then one would think, but the filming of the horrific scenes were greatly filmed with great camera work.
1 / 2 directing & technical aspect
.5 / 1 story
.5 / 1 act I
1 / 1 act II
1 / 1 act III
.5 / 1 acting
.5 / 1 writing
.5 / 1 originality
0 / 1 lasting ability to make you think
1 / 1 misc (great ending, great effects)
6.5 / 10
This is a film that (almost) every horror fan has seen at least once. A lot of people love this film and I get why they enjoy it so much. I wouldn't say this is one of my favorite horror films, since I didn't like it when I first saw this film. Upon re-watch I started to like it more. Overall a good horror film and a true classic that every horror fan should see at least once.
Delivering terrifying thrills, Child's Play is an iconic '80s horror film that launched one of the major franchises of the horror genre. Unbeknownst to 6-year-old Andy Barclay, the Good Guy doll that he got for his birthday, "Chucky," has been imbued with the soul of a serial killer who's out for revenge. Starring Catherine Hicks, Chris Sarandon, and Brad Dourif, the cast is pretty decent (though their performances aren't anything special). What really sells the film is the animatronic work that's done to bring Chucky to life. By the end, the doll feels like a real character with deadly menace, and is a significant threat. Child's Play has some problems overcoming the corniness of its premise, but it ends up succeeding and offers some frightening chills.
Child's Play lol I'm not even sure where to start with this one. Despite the fact that I love this film I will never get over the fact that a film about a small serial killer doll is actually good, I mean come on let's be honest it's a ridiculous premise. The fact that we never see the doll move for the 1st 45 minutes helps it build up and make the suspense work. The batteries scene is honestly one of my favorite horror movie scenes to this day. While I usually can't stand child actors I actually thought Alex Vincent did a great job, some line deliveries irked me but I can look past that since he gave a pretty good perfomance, the scene where he cried I seriously thought he looked like he really believed he was going to die. The animatronics still look amazing in my opinion, it's easy to notice when it's a stunt double in a suit running around though lol. Brad Dourif does magnificent voice work to completely bring the doll to life, he's amazingly threatening and entertaining.
I think this Child's Play film sticks out from the rest a bit because Chucky hasn't fully reached the level of smart ass one-liner spewing that he eventually reached in the sequels. Chucky tends to be a more serious character here when compared to the sequels which makes it worth watching if you've only seen the sequels. I haven't seen the last 2 movies in this series but I'd probably place this entry in my top 3 of the series. Even if you find the premise stupid I think it's worth one watch lol. It's a fun movie so at least turn off your brain and simply enjoy watching it.
Fun fact, the voice actor for Chucky's toy voice was the same voice actor of the Corky dolls from the 90s.
Was I the only one reminded of Halloween's opening with the Chucky POV scenes?
Gotta love this one, classic!!
The main question I had when watching this movie was simply, was this going to be as stupid as I imagined it would be. The answer was both yes and no. My confusion over the cursed doll idea is unchanged, and I remain annoyed at the fact that I watched an entire movie about one - but I have to give the movie props because the way it was done wasn't terrible. It presented an idea and a memorable character in Chucky, despite my biased opinion against that idea. However, I'd still have to say the strongest part of this movie is that it's 1988, and wasn't a modern horror film. It contained somewhat known actors in the middle of a fully developed story and the characters were all mostly balanced as well. That's something modern horror films have been missing for a while, and it was refreshing to see that here.
Now here's my complaint. Let's ignore my biased opinion that cursed dolls are stupid and look at the facts. In order to connect with any horror genre, you need to be able to put yourself in one of the character's positions - if you can do that, you can get scared. Here's why I don't think you can - this is a movie that's not only about a doll, but a boy's doll - not action figure, doll. Why is that so bad? First of all, I am a guy. As a boy, I had a few friends who were also boys. We hung out now and then, and none of them had dolls. How can I connect with this character when it's centered around an unlikely scenario? I'm not saying boys never have dolls, I'm just saying we live in a society where boys typically wear blue, girls wear pink, boys play with toys and girls have dolls. That's basically why I'm more in tune with Toy Soldiers than this. I'm just saying.
Other than that, the acting was mostly fine, apart from the young boy. The look of Chucky was memorable, not that I'm surprised. It was mostly exactly as I expected it to be. No part of it was scary, chilling, creepy or the like. It was as if you were watching a typical serial murderer movie - the serial murderer just happened to be...a plaything.
Great movie, a real classic.
An almost perfect horror film that's only flaw is the voodoo doll scene. Other than that this is an awesome movie.
The scene when Chucky comes alive to the mom is a classic. Catherine Hicks and Chris Sarandon are excellent. Sarandon especially, who usually played 80’s villains. Brad Dourif steals the show though as the voice of Chucky.
One of the worst horror flicks I know (although I had in mind that I really liked it!)
Shout by Lars SievalVIP EP 7BlockedParent2018-09-29T11:33:18Z
Brad Dourif's voice is so amazing when he is pissed off. Such a joy to watch!
Anyway, Child's Play holds up very well and is still entertaining, we aren't at the one-liner Chucky yet, but hey! Serious Chucky is great too! The plot is a bit predictable but that doesn't matter, the special effects are great, the acting is okay and we have a murdering doll! CHUCKY!
Child's Play does belong in the must watch Horror films I believe because Chucky is like Freddy, Jason, Leather and Michael. People might not have seen the film, but they recognize him!
So yeah, I always enjoy watching Child's Play and maybe it is time to watch the rest of the franchise, I have seen 4 of them I think some 15 years ago, but that is so long ago, I can't really remember. So yeah! GOOOO CHUCKY!
In the end though, I just think Chucky really wanted a hug!