Child's Play (1988): You'll Wish it was Only Make-believe

When I was growing up, they used to sell dolls called My Buddy dolls - they looked almost identically like Chucky. I wanted one so bad I could taste it. That is, until I watched this movie. Child's play did for My Buddy dolls what Jaws did for swimming in the ocean. There have been many movies done about possessed dolls but none as suspenseful, terrifying, and at times hilarious as Child's Play.

I think Brad Dourif was perfect for the role of Charles Lee Ray/Chucky's voice, and insured himself a spot high up on any horror fans greatest movie villains list. What he lacks in height he makes up for with his viciousness. For that reason Chucky deserves to be mentioned along other great horror icons like Freddy, Jason, and Michael Myers.

I'm sure there's a lot of younger Chucky fans who scoff at the thought of him being terrifying but he wasn't always meant to be so comical. The theme for child's play is actually straight horror. I mean you have a voodoo practicing killer who transfers his soul inside a child's doll so that he can get vengeance against his old partner and the cop that killed his mortal body. If that's not serious enough for you, in order not to be trapped in the doll's body he must destroy little Andy's soul and replace it with his own.

Although there are some humorous moments, you're meant to be terrified by Chucky. Let's face it though the horror genre has copied itself so much now, that not much does scare anybody these days. I can't say that I'm happy with the way that the franchise has started to spoof itself with bride of Chucky and seed of Chucky but I guess there's not really much more they could have added otherwise.

I also like how they don't show Chucky actually move until you're deep into the film. This adds to the suspense and sparks a small doubt of who is really doing the things that Chucky is getting blamed for. it's worth the wait, for once you finally do get to see Chucky move. The special effects are great. Even the story of how Charles Ray gets inside the Chucky doll is an entertaining idea. child's play took slasher movies in a whole new direction and has gained an iconic status that's gone beyond just horror movies and merchandise. That's why I think child's play deserves 3 1/2 stars.