CURSE OF CHUCKY: The Hughes Verdict

Curse Of Chucky (2013)
Directed by: Don Mancini
Written by: Don Mancini
Starring: A Martinez, Brad Dourif, Brennan Elliott, Chantal Quesnelle, Danielle Bisutti, Fiona Dourif, Maitland McConnell, Summer H. Howell

The Plot!

Nica is grieving over the gruesome suicide of her mother as her domineering older sister, Barb arrives with her young family in tow to help settle her mother’s affairs. As the sisters butt heads over Nica’s plans for the future, Barb’s young daughter confronts them with a grinning, red-headed talking doll named Chucky that mysteriously arrived in the mail . But as a string of brutal murders begin to terrorize the household, Nica suspects the doll may hold the key to the bloodshed. What she doesn’t know is Chucky has a personal score to settle, he’s determined to finish a job he started more than 20 years ago earlier and this time he’s going to see it through to the bloody and shocking end

The Trailer

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y16TEl6Ek1M[/youtube]

 The Hughes Verdict

Heeeee’sssssss bbbbbbbbbbbbbaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaccccccccccccckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really don’t care if Chucky has now reached his sixth film!  I don’t care if the last film in the franchise was a massive backstep after the fantastic Bride!

Why?

Because I love Chucky!  Ever since the Good Guy Doll uttered the words “Fuck you!” after being called Ugly in the original film, I have a fondness for the whole horror saga.  Yes, they may have their faults and comes with the dreaded history of Part III, but for me and probably many others, you can’t get tired or bored of seeing a rubber toy, running around hacking to death those who are in his way.

After Bride took the formula past horror into the realms of Comedy, the franchise was at its most popular.  Seed was supposed to be the one that took Chucky further into the land of infamous.  But sadly the creator Don Mancini , the guy who has not only wrote all the films, but then took the director’s chair for the last film, served up a poor excuse of a movie.   Too many jokes, not enough horror and some misguided scenes, Seed was not well liked even by the die-hard fans and it more or less killed the whole saga!

Over the years, the dreaded term “remake!” has been floating around, but Mancini, no doubt hurt by the whole criticism of Seed had a better idea!  Just do another sequel, even if it meant going straight to DVD!   “Lets give the fans what they deserve!”  he must have thought when writing this new chapter and having just watched the now titled Curse Of Chucky, all I can say to Mancini is that the pain is over.  Not only have you redeemed yourself but you have possibly created one of the best Chucky film’s of them all and after the sixth entry its not an easy task to achieve!

The extreme excess of comedy gags as been removed and this is straight old school horror, even to the way the film is set, in a spooky old mansion!   Now this is where in some weird way Curse will divide fans.   Those who loved the style of Bride may be put off by the back to basic approach, but those who loved the original two films, will marvel at the return to its roots!   I just hope it finds an in between and fans will flock and make this a huge success because believe me, after watching this Chucky, I am crying our for a seventh film!

+

The plot harks back to the original!

Here we have Nica ( the rather excellent Fiona Dourif – yes the daughter of Brad – Voice of Chucky) whose wheelchair bound and gets a nice little gift in the post!   Yes a Good Guy doll who goes by the name of Chucky!  Just like Andy all those years ago, soon there are deaths aplenty and what is great with this film, we don’t see Chucky commit the crimes straight away, even though we all know its him!

Again this might divide fans who want Chucky in all its glory, but its great to see the restraint on show here!  Why show you hand early and for an horror these days especially a Child’s Play film that wants to rely on suspense than blood and gore, then it has to be applauded!    Now I am not daft!   It could have been because the budget was low and they had to do it this way, but either way, it works perfectly!

With everyone around Nica not believing that her doll is alive and a murderous bastard, the film reaches a huge point where the fan needs to see Chucky holding a knife and being the doll we know he is.  The wait through is worth it!    The final half hour is a total blast and shows just how much life there still is in a franchise many thought was dead!  Also and this is a good thing!  We get two Brad Dourif’s and if you wondering how?  then I am not saying!  But Curse manages to fill the gap brilliantly between part 3 and Bride!

Minor complaint!

I loved Chucky’s design when his face was stitched up, so seeing it back normal is quite odd and sometimes it doesn’t look like Chucky, if that makes sense?  But that is just a minor quibble because Curse is simply a brilliant addition that mocks its own straight to DVD label!  Mancini has written a terrific story that somehow not only ties in some brilliant references of  past films but also manages to somehow keep the whole show fresh and enjoyable!  Mancini you can take a huge bow for going against all the negative surrounding the film because you have delivered big time!

I am such a fan of Child’s Play and even I wasn’t expecting this to be any good!   But Curse Of Chucky is simply one of the best entries of the long running franchise!  A triumphant return to its roots that will be loved by all fans of the Good Guy Doll…….

“Hi, I’m Chucky. Wanna play? “

“Yes please!  I want a 7th film”……………………

CURSE OF CHUCKY will be available on Blu-ray and DVD on October 8th as well as Digital on September 24th.

Rating: