Acting: Well, as I've said before, I don't like really little kids in slasher films. For one thing, they're just dead-weight. When the parents are running around trying to avoid the killer, the kid is too stupid to do some running of his own. He/she usually just stands there screaming. It's annoying. Plus, the film makers try to make you think "oh my! The killer is going to kill the kid!" No. you know that's not gonna happen. Violently killing a six year old kid in a film like this? the film makers know they couldn't get away with it. So yeah, I don't think that little kids should be in films like this. I always end up hating the character. If you must put one in, for goodness sakes, give them half a brain for crying out loud. and maybe some endurance. Take Newt in Aliens as an example. never out in the open, didn't do any of this "whoa, it's dark in there I think I'll check for the killer in there" crap, resourceful, everything I feel a child in a horror film needs to be. If you have to put a little kid in a horror film, use Newt as a standard. Now the adults. Not nearly as bad as the acting from the kid. The mom got a little annoying when she was crazy about Chucky, but The Detective wasn't too bad. The adults weren't horrible. Although, no one is stronger then Chucky. He's a doll. It takes them a long time to just throw him off. Maybe the strength of the original killer transferred. I dunno. 5/10
Plot: I kinda liked this aspect. It was an original plot. An original plot that was made into, I think it was, 4 sequels and an upcoming remake. But yeah. There were actually aspects of the original plot that were planned by directors but not put in that I think could have been very interesting. If done right that is. But yeah, new stuff for slasher films. Which I like. Especially once you see the rest of the stuff that directors did during the Second Age of Slasher Films. Original stuff during the part of the Second Age where direct to DVD and Holiday Slashers were coming out. (For more on the Ages of Slasher Films, see my blog on it). 8/10
Screenplay: Now this had its ups and downs. Maybe even more downs than ups. i did like that Chucky didn't have to say a stupid pun after he killed a person (*cough* *cough* Freddy *cough*) but he wasn't a totally silent character either. This isn't to say that everything he said was awesome, but enough. again, I didn't like the kid. stuff he said, for the most part, was dumb. The adults weren't too great either. It's just a weak screenplay 5.5/10
Likableness: When you can get past the dumb kid and the weak screenplay, it's not a totally bad movie. It's pretty fun to watch. There are even some dark comedy parts. I liked it. I would suggest it for anyone who just wants to relax and watch a mediocre film. 8/10
Final Score: 26.5/40 66% (D)
TRIVIA TIME: 1. Chucky's full name, Charles Lee Ray, is derived from the names of notorious killers Charles Manson (Helter Skelter apocalypse I'm God killer), Lee Harvey Oswald (Killed JFK?), and James Earl Ray (Killed MLK).
2. In the scene where Chucky runs behind Maggie in the hallway, Chucky was actually played by Alex Vincent's younger sister.
3. The working title for the film was "Blood Buddy."
well there's always Pinhead from Hellraiser. And you're right about children in horror movies, but i felt that Aliens was more sci-fi/action than horror like the original nail-bitter. Plus when imagining doing a movie like Child's Play without a child actor the whole plot falls apart on itself. I mean under what other subtext would a bunch of savvy adults be doing with a seemingly innocent child's toy?
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