Chucky came to an abrupt end earlier this year—but the TV show’s cancellation won’t be the final goodbye to the killer doll or Child’s Play franchise. While Don Mancini and company are cooking up Chucky’s next adventure, the film series so far is getting a very detailed oral history. Doc of Chucky.
It should not be confused Living with Chuckycame out last year, Doc of Chucky runs for about five hours – the style of the great film signed by Thommy Hutson, produced by the same epic takes A Nightmare on Elm Street again Friday the 13th franchises.
If five hours of Chucky feels like too much—something the Good Guy doll knows a lot about, luckily—just think of it as a five-part series; it’s arranged in chronological order so you can click a little after each film’s discussion if you want.
The first one Child’s Playreleased in 1988, it rightfully gets the lion’s share of screen time, taking up the first 90 minutes or so. The original screenplay writer Mancini and producer David Kirschner, a team that went on to become the main builders and champions of the franchise, are the main talking heads, but almost everyone would like to hear from the shows to share their memories.
That includes Brad Dourif (the voice of Chucky), Alex Vincent (who played six-year-old Andy Barclay), and special effects by Kevin Yagher, who created the movie’s amazing puppets. Tom Holland, who had no experience directing Child’s Playhe also cries, admitting his background problems but making it clear that he is happy to be a part of Child’s Play inheritance.
That’s a theme that runs throughout Doc of Chucky: everyone interviewed seemed pretty happy to be associated with the franchise (those who weren’t, in fact, declined to participate—apologies to anyone hoping to hear Justin Whalin’s thoughts on Children’s Game 3 or Katherine Heigl is on Bride of Chucky). Each film receives the same systematic review, beginning with Mancini’s ideas about what trouble Chucky might get into next, and including each film’s specific style, acting, and fun anecdotes from the set. The interviews guide us through the production (with details on how the puppets were designed and animated) and post-production processes (including editing and music), and explain how each entry was received by critics and fans.
With each success, even a hard-working studio reluctant to throw money at a crazy toy couldn’t deny the hunger for more. Child’s Playhowever Doc of Chucky it also examines what failure along the way meant for the series. When the third film rushed to theaters showed disappointment (“I fell asleep,” Mancini admitted), several years had passed before. Child’s Play took another chance at comedy Bride of Chuckyfilm that introduced Chucky’s love interest Tiffany—and fan-favorite host Jennifer Tilly.
The result was artistically satisfying—“I was able to fly my freak flag,” Mancini recalls with delight, noting how he played exclusively with romantic movie awards for a Hollywood story—and, thanks to veteran Hong Kong director Ronny. Yu (interesting interview), had high-smooth visuals. A camping site The bride it paved the way for even more outrage Descendants of Chuckywhich marked Mancini’s first guide and the introduction of Glen/Glenda’s children, Tiffany and Chucky. Their incredibly poignant story (“the intense relationship of a child queen and her bachelor father,” according to Mancini) forms the backbone of a film inspired by the musical and the work of John Waters—who played a sleazy photographer The brideand who enters Doc of Chucky to emphasize his love for Child’s Play series.
“Trash cinema is a valuable thing,” Mancini explains, and we totally agree, but Descendants of Chucky—which included Chucky’s masturbation scene—ultimately did not make the desired cultural impact; its change of tone confused audiences and critics alike. And, as various interviewees said here, ahead of its time, it preceded the character who passed away back in 2004. Twenty years later, fans often point to it as their favorite among the series—but at the time, not everyone understood its intentions. , or its nuances.
With cult appreciation The bride again Descendants of Chucky however come, it took Chucky a while to make his inevitable return; as the documentary explores, two direct-to-video series eventually followed, Curse of Chucky again Chucky’s religionproved financially successful while allowing Mancini and company to roam again, focusing on horror over comedy. In these films, we meet Nica—played by Brad Dourif’s daughter, Fiona Dourif—who uses a wheelchair and holds her own against Chucky, first in a creepy old house and then in a mental hospital.
Although Chucky as an actor is not discussed – it is understandable since then Doc of Chucky it illuminates the great effort that went into bringing him to life—we get a good sense of how he evolved over the years. He is not just a satanic puppet with a piercing laugh, although that will always be the core of his personality. He’s also fatherly and occasionally almost romantic, loves other sickos, and has a history beyond the voodoo-obsessed killer on the run that we meet briefly at the beginning of Child’s Play.
A very important takeaway Doc of Chucky how the franchise has become an accessible family of sorts for various contributors over the years, with Mancini leading the way. We hear about a lasting friendship (and at least a ten-year marriage) that resulted from Child’s Play series. That sense of community is helped by the fact that Mancini and Kirschner like to work with the same people whenever possible, especially bringing actors back to reprise their roles or cast entirely new characters in future Chucky projects.
That includes Chuckyseries—which featured both Dourif, Tilly, Vincent, and more—but if you’re craving more from the Syfy/USA horror comedy, you won’t find it here. Once again Chucky or “in name only” the 2019 cinematic reboot received any mention. In the latter case, at least, that is to be expected, and perhaps for the best.
Doc of Chucky will air on Shudder starting tomorrow, November 1.
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