Many of the horror genre’s most terrifying threats are lumbering monsters, which makes the continued success of everyone’s favorite killer doll, Chucky, such a delight. Chucky’s introduction back in 1988’s Child’s Play kicked-started one of the horror genre’s most enduring franchises and its mythology continues to deepen in satisfying ways.
At the same time, 2019’s playful reboot of the Child’s Play franchise marks some compelling changes to both the series and Chucky - some changes work and others are less successful. “Chucky Fever” has never been higher with the success of the character’s TV Series Chucky, which makes it the perfect time to re-examine the strengths and weaknesses of the 2019 reboot.
10 Did Right: The High-Tech Modern Toy Angle
There’s enough power in the sentient killer doll concept that the original Child’s Play didn’t need to stray too far. In the three decades that have passed since the original movie, toys have become increasingly sophisticated and reliant upon technology. Child's Play pivots towards a doll that makes use of wi-fi and Bluetooth capabilities - which just a natural evolution of where toys have reached, but it pushes Chucky into very different territory than the original series. This allows Child's Play to use this technology to build its distinct voice.
9 Did Wrong: It Replaces The Original Rather Than Existing Alongside It
One of the biggest reasons that cinematic reboots are met with such reservations is that some view them as an erasure to the original movie. This isn’t true, but a successful reboot can definitely become the dominant narrative and ostensibly replace the original. However, there’s been a growing trend of reboots that actually double as sequels which co-exist within the original’s universe, albeit with a new idea. This could have worked with 2019’s Child’s Play and even culminated in these two different Chucky dolls fighting each other, but it instead creates a new Andy Barclay.
8 Did Right: Focusing On The Family Dynamic
There are many different elements that audiences appreciate about the Child’s Play movies. Chucky often steals the show, but it’s essential to add just as much depth to Andy Barclay and the rest of the humans in Child's Play.
2019’s Child’s Play doesn’t take its family structure for granted and leans into the protective bond that exists between Karen Barclay and her son, Andy. Chucky’s attack feels more malevolent when it sets out to dismantle a frayed family, and their united front to fight Chucky works well.
7 Did Wrong: The Chucky Design Is Less Effective And Scary
Any horror movie about a killer doll completely fails if it can’t properly sell the central premise. It’s fascinating to see how Chucky’s design evolves between the original and Child's Play, but he looks great right from the first movie. It’s a simple design that absolutely works.
2019’s reboot opts to craft a new Chucky doll, which makes sense to further help delineate the franchises. The heavy use of technology creates a more robotic look for Chucky that reinforces the murderous A.I. component of his character more than anything else. The doll is too smooth and achieves a strange uncanny valley quality.
6 Did Right: Mark Hamill As The Voice Of Chucky
Chucky’s look plays a crucial factor in the character’s success as a frightening horror figure, but there’s also such importance on Chucky’s voice. Chucky needs to be able to fluctuate between caring and callous in a chilling manner and the character has become so iconic because of Brad Dourif’s robust performance in the role. It’s understandable that a Child’s Play reboot would want to distance itself from Dourif and establish a new voice, and the casting of Mark Hamill is particularly inspired. Hamill makes Chucky his own and brings a new type of menace to the tiny terror.
5 Did Wrong: It’s Not Allowed To Recreate Any Of The Original’s Sequences
It can be very enjoyable for hardcore fans of a series to see subtle nods to earlier movies, especially in long-running horror franchises. There are so many classic deaths from the early Child’s Play movies and there’s definite value in seeing one of these moments get recreated through the filter of the reboot’s new Chucky.
However, it turns out that 2019’s Child's Play wasn’t allowed to approach certain setpieces from the original movie and instead craft wholly original sequences. This removes the ability to have this reflective level of reverence for classic Chucky.
4 Did Right: There Are Effective Kill Setpieces
A frightening slasher villain is important in a horror movie, but there’s also so much pressure that’s put on the creativity and effectiveness of their many acts of vengeance. There are a lot of inspired ways that Chucky from 2019’s Child’s Play takes out those that he perceives to be a threat to Andy, including a poor feline that experiences the doll’s wrath. There’s some very disturbing use of power tools and the movie’s climax builds to a rampaging Chucky massacre through the use of its technology.
3 Did Wrong: Chucky's Backstory Is Less Compelling And The Lack Of Charles Lee Ray
A killer doll may sound like a ludicrous premise, but the original Child’s Play reaches this point through highly supernatural means. Chucky’s possession involves a serial killer, Charles Lee Ray, who performs a voodoo ritual to end up in his toy prison. It’s very silly, but it introduces the terrifying idea that Charles Lee Ray’s spirit could take over Andy’s body and that the doll is just a temporary way-station. All of that is scrapped in 2019’s Child’s Play, which instead looks at an overworked toy worker who just disables the doll’s safety precautions and then commits suicide.
2 Did Right: Its Open Ending
The original Child’s Play didn’t just go on to spawn a sequel, but it’s grown into a full franchise that’s endured through several decades, genre shifts, and even a pivot towards television. It’d be disappointing if the Child’s Play reboot didn’t have equally grandiose plans for the future of the character.
Despite the reboot’s success, a sequel never happened, but Child's Play's ending still looks forward. 2019’s Child’s Play still teases the return of Chucky and that this malevolent A.I. is only growing smarter.
1 Did Wrong: The Dynamic Between Chucky And Andy Isn’t As Strong
Chucky is a constant throughout the Child’s Play series and eventually becomes the centerpiece, but the original trilogy makes Andy’s survival a crucial ingredient. The rivalry that exists and endures between Chucky and Andy becomes powerful fuel for the latest entries in the series. 2019’s Child’s Play still puts Chucky and Andy at odds - with Andy under suspicion for Chucky’s crimes - but there’s less of a manipulative friendship between the two. This Chucky isn’t trying to turn Andy into a killer, but is just a confused A.I. who struggles to learn.