Child's Play (franchise)

Chucky

Chucky: The Complete Collection Blu-ray set
Distributed by United Artists (1988)
Universal Pictures (1990–present)
Rogue Pictures (through Universal Pictures) (2004)
Release dates
1988–2017
Running time
533 minutes (total)
Country United States
Language English
Budget $72 million
Box office $182 million

Child's Play is a horror film franchise created by Don Mancini that consists of six slasher films, starring Academy Award nominee Brad Dourif. The first installment, Child's Play, was released on November 9, 1988. The film has spawned five sequels and has gone into other media, such as comic books. The films are all centered on Charles Lee Ray (played by Dourif) aka Chucky, a notorious serial killer known as the "Lakeshore Strangler" whose soul is trapped inside a Good Guy doll following a voodoo ritual to avoid the afterlife and possibly going to hell. The first, second, and fourth films were box office successes with all of the films earning over $182 million worldwide. Including revenues from sales of videos, DVDs, VOD and merchandise, the franchise has generated over $250 million.[1]

The series originally started out as straight horror with the first installment Child's Play, which appears to have more psychological horror elements while its successors are straightforward slasher films with elements of humor. As the films progressed, they became satirical and campy, until the series briefly became a gothic horror comedy, beginning with 1998's Bride of Chucky and 2004's Seed of Chucky. On June 23, 2012, it was confirmed that a new sequel to Child's Play would be made under the title Curse of Chucky and be released direct-to-video. Unlike Bride and Seed, Curse of Chucky is a full-fledged horror film much like the original three installments. However, it does maintain the campy humor to a small degree. Since 1998's Bride of Chucky, titles have no longer been released under the Child's Play name brand and now use the Chucky brand name and will continue to do so with future installments.[2] Chucky has also appeared in TV commercials. It also won a Saturn Award for the Best Horror Franchise.

Films

Film Year Director Writer(s) Producer(s)
Child's Play 1988 Tom Holland Don Mancini, John Lafia, Tom Holland David Kirschner
Child's Play 2 1990 John Lafia Don Mancini David Kirschner
Child's Play 3 1991 Jack Bender Don Mancini David Kirschner & Robert Latham Brown
Bride of Chucky 1998 Ronny Yu Don Mancini David Kirschner & Grace Gilroy
Seed of Chucky 2004 Don Mancini David Kirschner & Corey Sienega
Curse of Chucky 2013 Don Mancini David Kirschner

Child's Play (1988) – A serial killer and voodoo practitioner named Charles Lee "Chucky" Ray is mortally wounded and transfers his soul via a voodoo ritual into a child-sized "Good Guy" doll. The doll is found by a homeless peddler and sold to Karen Barclay, who gives it to her son Andy as a birthday gift. As time goes on Chucky has to get his soul out of the doll before it turns human and the transfer becomes permanent, and thus has to possess the first person he told his secret to - Andy. Desperate to leave his doll body, Chucky terrorizes the Barclays in order to restore his soul.

Child's Play 2 (1990) takes place two years after the first film. While Andy is living in foster care, the doll's manufacturer has taken a positive corporate stance and remade it to prove there is nothing wrong with the Good Guy brand. After a freak electrical malfunction brings Chucky back to life in a new Good Guy doll, he continues to follow Andy in order to transfer his soul from his doll body before it's too late.

Child's Play 3 (1991) picks up eight years after the second film. The Good Guy factory has re-opened after the events of the previous film, and as Chucky's remains are removed some blood from his destroyed human-doll body drips into a vat of melted plastic used to re-mold the Good Guy line. Chucky returns in a new body, going on a hunt for the now 16-year-old Andy Barclay, who has left to attend a military academy after the results of the first two films. While attempting to reach Andy, Chucky finds a new boy, Tyler, who he shares his "secret" with. With a new Good Guy doll brings the possibility of possessing a new human body and Chucky attempts to restore his soul in human form as Andy attempts to stop the killer Good Guy doll once and for all.

Bride of Chucky (1998) – Set one month after Child's Play 3. Charles Lee Ray's former girlfriend and accomplice, Tiffany, acquires Chucky's remains, stitches them together and via a voodoo ritual revives Charles Lee Ray, albeit in a much different form. Chucky kills Tiffany, transferring her soul into a bride doll, and the two maniacs force a young couple to bring them to Ray's grave, where Chucky plans to use an amulet to finally get a new body. In the end, the Tiffany doll gives birth to a new form of life...

Seed of Chucky (2004), Chucky and Tiffany's child Glen finds his parents six years later and brings them back to life, but is horrified by their murders. Chucky and Tiffany force a pregnancy on actress Jennifer Tilly, which is accelerated by voodoo magic. Glen suffers a split personality, having both a male and female soul in his body, and dismembers his father. Tiffany uses the ritual to take over Tilly's body and as Tilly bears twins, Glen's dual personality now has a body each of its own. Chucky survives, however, and mails one of his severed arms to the home of his family to strangle them.

Curse of Chucky (2013) – Twenty-five years after the first film and nine years after the fifth film, Chucky is delivered to the family home of Nica and Sarah Pierce, where Chucky terrorizes and kills the family one by one. Chucky is driven by revenge, as Sarah was the one who called the police on him while he was still human, leading to his original death in the first film. Nica survives, but is institutionalized, and blamed for the murders. Chucky is collected by Tiffany, who delivers him to Alice. Chucky fails to transfer his soul into Alice's body when her grandmother emerges from the basement, after Chucky tried to suffocate her. Six months later, Chucky is mailed to his next victim, who just happens to be none other than his longtime nemesis, Andy Barclay, who shoots him through the head.

Cast and characters

Characters Films
Child's Play
(1988)
Child's Play 2
(1990)
Child's Play 3
(1991)
Bride of Chucky
(1998)
Seed of Chucky
(2004)
Curse of Chucky
(2013)
Chucky/Charles Lee Ray Brad Dourif
Andrew "Andy" Barclay Alex Vincent Justin Whalin Alex Vincent
Karen Barclay Catherine Hicks Photograph   Photograph
Detective Mike Norris Chris Sarandon Archive footage
Jack "Mario" Santos Tommy Swerdlow  
Kyle "Kylie"   Christine Elise Photograph
Mr. Sullivan   Peter Haskell  
Ronald Tyler   Jeremy Sylvers  
Kristen De Silva   Perrey Reeves  
Tiffany   Jennifer Tilly
Jesse   Nick Stabile  
Jade Kincaid   Katherine Heigl  
Glen/Glenda   Infant cameo Billy Boyd
Nica Pierce   Fiona Dourif
Alice   Summer H. Howell

Reception

Box office performance

Film Release date Box office revenue Budget Reference
North America Other territories Worldwide Worldwide adjusted
Child's Play November 9, 1988 $33,244,684 $10,952,000 $44,196,684 $83,933,325 $9,000,000 [3][4]
Child's Play 2 November 9, 1990 $28,501,605 $7,262,000 $35,763,605 $64,740,872 $13,000,000 [5][6]
Child's Play 3 August 30, 1991 $14,960,255 $5,600,000 $20,560,255 $35,716,113 Unknown [7]
Bride of Chucky October 16, 1998 $32,404,188 $18,288,000 $50,692,188 $73,581,099 $25,000,000 [8][9]
Seed of Chucky November 12, 2004 $17,083,732 $7,745,912 $24,829,644 $31,099,354 $12,000,000 [10]
Curse of Chucky September 24, 2013 N/A N/A N/A N/A Unknown
Total $126,194,464 $49,847,912 $176,042,376 $289,070,763 $64,000,000(E)
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Curse of Chucky grossed $3.4 million in DVD and Blu-ray sales the US.[11]

Critical reaction

Film Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic
Child's Play 68% (34 reviews)[12]
Child's Play 2 40% (15 reviews)[13]
Child's Play 3 23% (13 reviews)[14]
Bride of Chucky 44% (34 reviews)[15]
Seed of Chucky 32% (75 reviews)[16] 46 (17 reviews)[17]
Curse of Chucky 81% (16 reviews)[18]
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Music

Joe Renzetti composed the first Child's Play, followed by Graeme Revell, who composed the soundtrack for Child's Play 2 and Bride of Chucky. John D'Andrea and Cory Lerios wrote the score for Child's Play 3, while Pino Donaggio composed Seed of Chucky. Joseph LoDuca composed the score for the newest film, Curse of Chucky.

Alleged relation to crimes

The following crimes have been associated with the Child's Play films:− In December 1992 four people who tortured and killed a 16-year-old girl, Suzanne Capper, were said to be influenced by one of the Child's Play movies. During the torturing of the girl the perpetrators taunted her with quotes from the movies. In 1993 youths who abducted and murdered a toddler named James Bulger were said to have been influenced by the film Child's Play 3. The supposed link between the murder and the film was denied by film censor James Ferman.[19] According to a relative of two boys aged 10 and 12 who brutally attacked a nine-year-old and 11-year-old boy in Edlington, South Yorkshire in April 2009, the attackers watched horror movies, including Chucky films, from the age of about six or seven.[20]

Comic books

Innovation Publishing

Beginning in 1992, Innovation Publishing released the first comic books based on the films, in the form of a three issue adaptation of Child's Play 2. It was later collected in a trade paperback. The success of the adaptation led to a monthly series of new stories starting in 1991. The series, titled Child's Play: The Series, ended in 1992 after only five issues. This was followed by a three issue adaptation of Child's Play 3.

Devil's Due Publishing

In 2007, Devil's Due Publishing obtained the license to publish Child's Play comics and released a one-shot crossover with Hack/Slash titled Hack/Slash vs. Chucky which takes place after the events of the Seed of Chucky film. This was followed by a four-issue series called Chucky. A second volume began in early 2009 but ceased publication after only one issue.

Video game

Main article: Chucky: Slash & Dash

Slimstown Studios announced an endless runner video game titled Chucky: Slash & Dash. The game is scheduled to be released on iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Android devices. It is the result of an agreement with Universal Partnerships & Licensing to develop and publish the first officially licensed smartphone and tablet Child's Play video game. The gameplay is actually inspired by the second film's climax.

In the game, Chucky is stuck in a never-ending nightmare in which he’s endlessly running through the factory that produces Good Guys dolls. Players control Chucky while sprinting through the factory floor, the catwalks, the warehouse, or even outside, and need to avoid conveyor belts, forklifts, acid pools, barrels and other obstacles. Chucky can also eliminate security guards patrolling the factory using his classic knife or other more outlandish weapons like a cleaver, screwdriver, or hatchet. As they play, gamers collect batteries that can be used to purchase in-game items or power-ups, such as a double battery bonus, a fast start, or extra lives that can extend a run after dying.[21]

The app was released on November 1, 2013.

Future

In an August 2008 interview, Don Mancini and David Kirschner spoke of a planned reboot of the franchise to be written and directed by Mancini. They described their choice of a reboot over a direct sequel as a response to the will of the fans, who "want to see a scary Chucky movie again", and "want to go back to the straightforward horror rather than the horror comedy." They indicated that Brad Dourif would return as the voice of Chucky.[22]

In a subsequent interview, Mancini described the reboot as a darker and scarier retelling of the first movie, but one that, while having new twists and turns, will not stray too far from the original concept.[23] At a 2009 horror convention, Brad Dourif confirmed his role in the remake.[24] At a reunion panel at the Mad Monster Party horror & sci-fi convention, cast and crew from the original film confirmed both a remake and a spin-off are in development. Writer Don Mancini and Producer David Kirschner were working on a sequel titled "Revenge of Chucky".[25]

In June 2012, plans for the reboot were put on hold and a sixth film, Curse of Chucky, went into production in September 2012. It was released on VOD on September 24, 2013 and DVD and Blu-ray October 8, 2013.

Mancini has since expressed an interest in making a new line of "scary Chucky films."[26] On December 2, 2013, he had revealed that plans for seventh film is heading into development.[27][28] Don Mancini wrote the script and is set to return as director.[29]

In February 2015, Mancini confirmed that the script was being written.[30] A year later, Mancini, Jennifer Tilly and Fiona Dourif confirmed that shooting would begin soon for the film.[31]

Halloween Horror Nights

Since 1992, Chucky has starred in his own shows at Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights, entitled, Chucky's In-Your-Face Insults and Chucky's Insult Emporium.

In 2009, the climax of Child's Play 3 received its own maze, entitled Chucky's Fun House. Curse of Chucky has also received its own scarezone in the 2013 lineup.[32]

See also

References

  1. Bryan Alexander (October 8, 2013). "After 25 years, Chucky is both a blessing and a 'Curse'". USA Today. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  2. "New Child's Play sequel, Curse of Chucky, Coming to DVD". IGN. 2012-06-23. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
  3. "Child's Play (1988)". Box Office Mojo.
  4. "Child's Play (1988)". The-Numbers.
  5. "Child's Play 2 (1990)". Box Office Mojo.
  6. "Movie Child's Play 2 - Box Office Data". The Numbers.
  7. "Child's Play 3 (1991)". Box Office Mojo.
  8. "Bride of Chucky (1998)". Box Office Mojo.
  9. "Bride of Chucky - Box Office Data". The Numbers.
  10. "Seed of Chucky (2004)". Box Office Mojo.
  11. "Curse of Chucky (2013)". The Numbers. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  12. "Child's Play". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
  13. "Child's Play 2". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
  14. "Child's Play 3". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
  15. "Bride of Chucky". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
  16. "Seed of Chucky". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
  17. "Seed of Chucky (2004): Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved ?. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  18. "Curse of Chucky". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2013-10-23.
  19. BBC News - "Film censor Ferman dies"
  20. BBC News - Boys' mother 'fed them cannabis'
  21. Webb, Charles. "'Child's Play' Killer Chucky The Unlikely Hero of Endless Runner 'Chucky: Slash & Dash'". MTV. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  22. Quint chats up Don Mancini, David Kirschner ... Interview at AICN
  23. "Child's PlayMancini&Kirschner". ShockTillYouDrop.com. CraveOnline Media. September 8, 2008. Retrieved October 11, 2009.
  24. "MGM Gets Rolling On A 'Child's Play' Remake". 25 March 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
  25. "The Cynical Optimist : Child's Play spin-off Revenge of Chucky in the works!". 28 March 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  26. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c_tc9xtx5E
  27. http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news/341285-chucky-is-going-to-be-back-for-another-sequel/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=chucky-is-going-to-be-back-for-another-sequel
  28. https://twitter.com/realdonmancini/status/407591894407843840
  29. Child’s Play 7 On Its Way, Says Franchise Creator Don Mancini
  30. Barton, Steve (February 18, 2015). "New 'Child's Play' Still In the Works!". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  31. Gallagher, Brian (February 23, 2016). "'Chucky 7' Is Shooting Soon, Jennifer Tilly Will Return". MovieWeb. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  32. http://www.fearnet.com/news/news-article/universal-studios-halloween-horror-nights-introduces-chucky-and-purge-scarezones
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