Child's Play
Chucky's back - and he's in good company.
Lars Klevberg’s reboot of the 1988 horror film (which sprang six sequels, a TV series and a successful if also controversial franchise) is very enjoyable thanks largely to a fine contribution from the wonderfully eccentric Aubrey Plaza (from Ingrid Goes West and TV’s Parks and Recreation).
She plays Karen Barclay, a single mother who brings home a Buddi doll for her son Andy (Gabriel Bateman), which soon becomes his best friend. But the seemingly innocent Buddi, who likes to be called Chucky for some strange reason, suddenly turns evil and nasty… Andy, who is dressed very much in the style of Elliott in E.T the Extra-Terrestrial, is new in town and without many friends. He adores his best new friend with whom he can now play chess and many other games until things begin to go bump in the night.
Like the recent Brightburn – which was the flipside of Superman – this can be seen as the anti E.T. “It is E.T. on acid,” the Norwegian director claims and he does deliver many well-choreographed horror sequences with flair and style despite the feeling of déjà vu. Mark Hamill clearly relishes the opportunity to voice Chucky, especially for the song at the end of the credits.
GEORGE SAVVIDES
Cast: Aubrey Plaza, Gabriel Bateman, Brian Tyree Henry, Tim Matheson, Marlon Kazadi, Beatrice Kitsos, and the voice of Mark Hamill as Chucky.
Dir Lars Klevberg, Pro David Katzenberg and Seth Grahame-Smith, Screenplay Tyler Burton Smith, Ph Brendan Uegama, Pro Des Dan Hermansen, Ed Tom Elkins and Julia Wong, Music Bear McCreary, Costumes Jori Woodman.
Orion Pictures/KatzSmith Productions/BRON Creative-Vertigo Releasing.
90 mins. Canada/France/USA. 2019. Rel: 21 June 2019. Cert. 15.
