5 out of 5

Directed by: Tom Holland

It says something when a horror flick from more than a couple of decades ago manages to create significant tension despite having to rely significantly on special effects – which should be dated so many years on – and despite it’s initial “reveal” being fully known by this point.  Yes, Tom Holland’s ‘Child’s Play’ has some rough edges – a ham-fisted intro, the 80s voodoo / magic trope, a bit of “why would they do that?” horror side-stepping – but it executes these missteps confidently within the world it creates, allowing the viewer to sink fully into the film, forgiving the flaws for the time being… which is really the most we can ask of a film, to wrap us up for its runtime and have us suspend disbelief and whatever else it takes to keep us entertained.  Part of CP’s success with this is its winking balancing act of letting the viewer know we’re probably dealing with an evil, creepy, killer doll, but waiting to officially drop the curtain until its ready to kick things into high gear for its last third.  At which point you’ll be shocked by how well the terror holds up, thanks to Holland’s patient and yet giving director’s eye with his “star” Chucky, keeping the character bent on creepy instead of kooky at this point and letting us see plenty of motion and interaction without over-saturating us with either glory shots or fake outs.  Of course, this wouldn’t work without amazing practical effects (that would certainly be some mocap nonsense nowadays) and a pitch-perfect VO by crazy man Brad Dourif, as well as competent performances by our initially doubting adult leads and a standout performance by the then-7 or 8 years old Alex Vincent, as well as one of those awesome 80s slightly dreamlike soundtracks.  While CP is easily ear-marked as being of its era, it’s also a great example of give and take for the genre, and, looking back, proof of how well-nuanced ideas and a developed vibe can make a comparatively bloodless movie effectively frightening.