While USA and Syfy's new TV show Chucky is technically a revival of the original Child's Play franchise, it's not as though Chucky, the murdering doll possessed by serial killer Charles Lee Ray, has been gone that long. Even tossing aside the 2019 movie reboot, the last installation of the original series was 2017's Cult of Chucky. Now, everyone’s favorite murder-doll is back for a continuation of the franchise that picks up where that movie left off.
That's both a blessing and a curse for the new series. There are things about Chucky that will immediately put you right back into the mindset of the Child's Play films, from Brad Dourif's return to provide the possessed doll's perfectly maniacal voice, to the sarcasm and violence the character exudes in practically everything he does. It's in those moments that Chucky is at its best in the four episodes provided for review. There are some truly excellent kills, plenty of swearing and cackling for Chucky, and a sense of foreboding as you wonder who is going to end up on the wrong side of a knife next.
As for the curse, Chucky does something this franchise--and practically every slasher series--doesn't need. It gives Chucky an origin story. Introduced are flashbacks to a young Charles Lee Ray's first killings. While they fit within the story of the show, as the psychotic doll looks to impart his murderous wisdom on a teenager, these looks back at what "created the monster" rarely bring anything worthwhile to the story. That's the case here, as what makes the Child's Play franchise--and by extension, Chucky--so special isn't what led Ray to become a killer in the first place, but rather that his soul continues to possess a line of creepy looking dolls.
It's understandable that franchise creator Don Mancini wanted to explore a new side of the character he's been writing since the 1980s, but it's entirely unnecessary. What's more, it takes away from the scariness.
The other major issue with the series is also connected to the writing. Early on in the review episodes, much of the dialogue sounds inauthentic, whether it's how teenagers interact with their parents or with each other--especially when one teen touts that a video they posted online had 400 views as if that is the definition of viral. There's even an instance where a teacher hurls an F-bomb at a student in class that felt absolutely unrealistic and more like it was making use of the relaxed adult language rules on cable more than anything else.
It's those moments that pull you out of Chucky, rather than help you settle in. Thankfully, as the series moves on, the dynamics between the various characters become more engaging and the dialogue is toned down so as not to stick out like a sore thumb.
Luckily, even with these issues, Chucky still works as a continuation of the franchise. It's not quite explained how the soul of Charles Lee Ray became bonded to this new Chucky doll that teenager Jake (Zackary Arthur) finds at a yard sale, but seeing the doll's manipulative side attempts to convince the struggling young man that he too wants to become a killer is quite entertaining. So, too, is the killing spree that starts popping up as Chucky settles back into his murderous ways.
This is when Chucky is at its best, when the killer doll is doling out violence, as Jake teeters back and forth between wanting to stop his friend 'till the end and wondering if the doll is right about killing those who wronged him. Watching Jake struggle with giving in to the chaos around him is compelling--and fueled by a wise-cracking Chucky--will certainly leave you wanting more. And if graphic and bloody kills are what you're looking for--and of course you are--Chucky has plenty of those, including some inventive new ways for the doll to dispatch of those in his way.
What remains to be seen is how the legacy of the franchise will come into play. It's already been revealed that Jennifer Tilly (Tiffany), Alex Vincent (Andy), and Christine Elise (Kyle) will be reprising their roles on the series. How they'll impact the story and their effect on the new cast of young people being targeted by Chucky is a mystery. Still, for longtime fans of the Child's Play movies, these characters are a crucial bridge to previous Chucky installments and should be a welcome addition. Here's hoping they are introduced in such a way to be embraced by new fans, as well.
In all, Chucky's first episode or two may be a bit uneven, but the series is off to a great start. What's more, it's exciting to watch what is almost a return to form for the Child's Play franchise. While movies like Curse of Chucky and Cult of Chucky were enjoyable, they felt so far removed from the original Child's Play formula of what happens when a possessed doll befriends a young child. While the child, in this case, is a 14-year-old boy, Chucky feels as close to the original Child's Play as any of the other recent installments of the franchise.
