Child's Play

A made-for-TV movie that is simply better than 95% of fantasy and horror works we can see in movie theaters.The story progresses slowly but inexorably and fear never leaves the viewer.It might have had a big influence on "cube" and it might possibly be better,because it deals with every day life and features an ending you'll never guess!Close to the fifties great works such as "the incredible shrinking man" ,"child's play " is absolutely brilliant.

And at a time when "unexpected ends" often come at the most awkward moment,this ending will leave you on the edge of your seat.At once simple and terrifying.

When I watched Child's Play I thought it had a Twilight Zone type feel to it. The ending looked very familiar, now it might because I would had watched this episode back in 1984 or 85.

It turns out that the story was based on the Twilight Zone episode 'Six Characters in Search of an Exit.'

The Preston family wake up to discover that their house is walled in. There is no escape. The house is getting warmer and there is gunge in one of the rooms.

They are trapped, with no way to break out. Time is stuck and there is this corporate logo everywhere.

It is an episode where it all makes sense at the end. The title of the story is an obvious clue.

The big problem is that the story was too long and too cheesy. It would have worked more effectively in the shorter format.

"I see a trademark." Stretched out to around 90 minutes with adverts "Child's Play" is an episode from the 1984 TV series "Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense". And a good one it is too! A married couple and their young daughter wake up at 04:10 am to find themselves trapped inside their modern home, all of the doors and windows have been sealed with a hard mysterious substance that they cannot penetrate. Furthermore the temperature inside is rising, the couple are losing their memories, a strange symbol is appearing everywhere (including as a tattoo on the man's arm), a green slime is oozing down the chimney and time has stood still. In lesser hands this episode may have felt stretched out at 75 minutes in length but director Val Guest maintains the claustrophobia, tension and mystery throughout. Small cast but well acted. There is a clue in the title but never in a million years did I see the twist at the end coming. And there's not a Good Guy doll in sight!

First viewing: November 1984 / Second viewing: October 2003

Easily the most memorable of the whole `Hammer House Of Mystery And Suspense' series, `Child's Play' is like a stage play. Just three characters (kudos to the beautiful Mary `I shot JR' Crosby) – a nuclear family of sorts – who awake at 4:10AM one morning trapped in their own home. We learn very early on about the steel fortress and the mysterious symbol that constantly appears. A sense of impending doom and claustrophobia pervade throughout and the final scene is shocking in its execution. `A true story. Which has just been told before its time' reads the caption on the final reel. Almost perfect and nineteen years later I'm still amazed. 9/10

I may now have given the film Await further instructions such a positive review had I seen this first. All of the creation and imagination was actually done her first.

The idea is fantastic, a family wake up to discover they're walled in, that they're family home is seemingly encased in lead, no means of escape, and it's getting hotter.

We see a symbol on the television, on the tins of food, and even on the badge of the car, it's all very mysterious.

The ending comes as a massive surprise, transmitted in 1984, this is creepy, claustrophobic and incredibly imaginative, in a month of Sundays I wouldn't have seen that ending coming.

It's no wonder they went on to use the premise of the story in Await further instructions.

I've only seen a few episodes from the series, and this is the best of the lot. Loved it. 9/10