Available on the Syfy Channel for American fans and Sky Max in the UK, the Child's Play franchise continues with TV series Chucky. After a vintage Chucky doll turns up at a Suburban yard sale, an American town is thrown into utter chaos and bloodshed as a series of murders occur. Perfect for fans of the franchise with its genius combination of humour and gore, this new Chucky story cannot be missed.
Written by Becca Johnson
Chucky is helmed by a young cast, and all their performances are fantastic. Every character is likeable, and those that are difficult to get behind at the start have a believable character arc leaving you rooting for them by the final episode. Zackary Arthur excels as main character Jake Wheeler, who has a difficult home life and has his world turned upside down even further when Chucky starts to harm the people he loves, leaving him as the biggest suspect. Alyvia Alyn Lind is the perfect casting choice for bully Lexy Cross, a character who does some truly despicable things to her peers yet has a loving and strong streak within her. At the heart of the madness is Brad Dourif with his excellent voice acting; he brings the humour and terror to the character of Chucky, giving the show an upbeat lease of life.
Fans of Chucky know that it isn't the most terrifying of villains or franchise, yet the gore on display throughout the series works a treat. Though it won't shock you to the core or send shivers down your spine, the series has a high kill count with extremely unique and inventive kills. The camp horror on display is as fun as ever, though its the performances from the young cast that elevate the horror to the next level. Like all its predecessors, its a horror humour hybrid that knows how to excel in both genres, and uses them simultaneously to create a wild ride from start to finish.
The script does a good job to cater to fans of the franchise, by bringing back old favourites including Jennifer Tilly and Fiona Dourif in their iconic roles. Though scenes involving these beloved characters are considerably less interesting than the story at the forefront, its undeniably fun to have them return and introduce new fans to their story. Choices in the music, script and even titles of the episodes make the series a true love letter to iconic horror and slasher successors, paying homage to the likes of The Shining and Cape Fear without feeling forced or corny.
As much as its influences are clear, the series also feels unique and fresh, adding a modern take to the franchise. Chucky has a diverse range of characters that have their own individual battles in their personal lives as well as having a common enemy within the killer Good Guy doll. The script explores sexuality and the confusion surrounding it, bullying, terminal illness, suicide and coming from an abusive household amongst many other topics. It crams in a lot, but luckily the script makes every subject feel organic and realistic. At times, the use of modern terminology came across as a little cringe-worthy, the writers appearing to try too hard to be 'woke'. Due to the campy nature of the show this was largely forgivable, yet often welcomed an eye roll or two.
Chucky is a series that makes you want to hit play next episode as soon as the current one ends. The characters are easy to root for, the performances are believable, the gore is fantastically utilised and the humour works a treat alongside the horror. It combines modern themes with classic horror influences and traits that frequent the franchise to make it fit nicely among it's predecessors. The script may try too hard to appeal to a young audience at times and stray away from the story that's keeping you on the edge of your seat, but for the most part it was highly entertaining, hilariously disgusting and the burst of energy that the Child's Play universe needed.