Cult of Chucky

I have been watching the Chucky movies ever since the first one, and I am one to say that the franchise has been on a downward slide for a long, long time. Granted, I haven't been much of a fan actually, although most of the movies are enjoyable for what they were, but never reaching anywhere near along the likes of Jason Voorhees or Freddy Krueger.

"Cult of Chucky" is, at best, a less than mediocre movie. They should have stopped this franchise a long time ago. It is now at a point where it starts to become embarrassing to the franchise.

So now Chucky can suddenly possess multiple bodies at once? Right, sure, evolution, why not?

I will admit that the actors and actresses in "Cult of Chucky" did put on some good acting performances. And they actually assembled a good cast for portraying the various characters and roles throughout the movie.

The movie definitely has good special effects, which also do carry the movie quite a way.

When it comes down to it, then "Cult of Chucky" wasn't a particularly thrilling addition to the "Child's Play" franchise, nor was it a particularly memorable movie by or in itself.

Then you will love this movie.

I can't say I liked any of the later movies, but this one brought something back that was missing.

I personally enjoyed this movie way more than I thought I would. I grew up on Chucky and iv'e gotta say that It was nice to see Andy and some of the others. (I don't want to spoil it).

If I had a complaint about this movie it would be the ending wasn't very satisfying. It hints towards another movie.

Unlike all other slasher franchises from the 70s and 80s that have rebooted "for a new generation," this one keeps moving forward and manages to stay utterly creative. The Chucky movies are one big, continuing story since 1988. Don Mancini has had a hand in every one of them. He wrote parts 1-4 and then, for parts 5-7, he took over as director as well. His latest, Cult of Chucky, adds something completely new and unexpected to the saga but does not forget the past. Heck, there's even a reference to Kent Military Academy (the location for part 3). I really enjoyed this movie! Brad Dourif returns again as the voice of Chucky and has some fun dialog to spout. His daughter reprises the role of "Nica" and continues to impress. The memorable music is by Joseph Loduca who got his start with The Evil Dead in 1981. Cult of Chucky is fresh but faithful to the franchise.

Cult Of Chucky is both a love letter to the fans and a slap in the face to them all rolled into a 90 minute bundle.

Remember when Friday 13th shifted gear and suddenly brought in a psychic girl, then upped the craziness by claiming in Final Friday that Jason could jump from body to body? Basically that's what we have here, they have decided to drop the traditional Chucky and instead shake up the lore altogether and though interesting it doesn't really work.

On the flipside this brings back Curse Of Chucky's Nica and series veteran Andy. Ontop of that we also have a surprise previous character pop up in the post credits scene.

I loved the fact it brought these characters together, even Jennifer Tilly returns as Tiffany Valentine (Despite being killed off in Bride Of Chucky 1998). Thankfully that and everything else is explained, but sadly it just isn't very good and is too much change to the Chucky franchise.

Cult Of Chucky is a watchable effort but the changes made to the franchises lore were all too much for me and can be nothing but damaging in my eyes for future movies.

The Good:

Nice homage to the franchise

One death scene was awesome

The Bad:

Too much change

Story is a bit crap

Let me start off by saying that the "Chucky" craze has been around for a long time, "Chucky" has gone through several changes over the years a lot like "Fred Krueger". They both started out as terrifying entities but over time sorta turned into demented blood crazed comedians, but throughout they always had their saving grace as horror icons. That being said, Child's Play 1-3 created a stone cold killer made from plastic, after the original trilogy he became a somewhat parody of himself...until now.

Cult of Chucky returns our favourite killer doll back to his darker roots but still embedded within is the dark humour that us horror fans smile at amidst all his gory glory.

The film opens up with fan favourite (Alex Vincent) as Andy Barclay, who was seen in the end credits of Curse who is now a mature young man still fighting with his daemons. Whilst on a date played by beautiful (Allison Dawn Doiron), things escalate and send us to a brief but fantastically twisted opener. The first eight minutes of this film is one of the best opening sequences since the original classic film.

Once the credits start we fans see a beautifully edited montage of footage from all the 'Child's Play' films that we all grew up with which lead us into the mind's eye of one of the sole survivors of 'Curse' Nica Pierce (played by Fiona Dourif, daughter of "Chucky"). We find her now institutionalized and trying to come to terms with the murders with the help Dr. Foley, (played by Michael Therriault) who convinced she is improving sends her to a minimum security ward which entails a unholy reunion with everybody's favourite serial killer. Still somewhat convinced she was more involved with the murders than "Chucky" she still fights these doubts as the killings start back up again with the arrival of a therapeutic Good Guy Doll.

The visuals are beautifully shot, as is the tension. There are also some nicely placed cameos therein which add to the storyline, more than just fan candy. The death scenes contain some nice throwbacks to some of the brutality of the original films as well as adding some gratuitous gore of the gorehounds that are fans of the series.

There have been mixed reviews mainly due to the change of Good Guy Mythos. These mythos are explained as the film picks up to its shocking finale as well as Director Don Mancini mentioned before that there will be more 'Child's Play' films and these new changes will be a part of the new vision in the franchise.

In short, "Chucky" IS BACK and ready to play!!!!