Child's Play (2019) Review

     I don't believe that I have been to two movies in one week before. I think it is because a movie really has to have my attention for me to go see it. This week I went to see Toy Story 4 and the 2019 "remake" of Child's Play. I went into the film with moderate expectations. Mostly because I knew the film is not intended to be taken too seriously, but at the same time I had heard decent things about it with many saying it was one of the best films in the Child's Play franchise. I honestly have very good things to say about this film. It knows what it's supposed to do and that is to entertain. The movie obviously isn't perfect by any means, but what horror films are perfect? Maybe the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Nightmare on Elm Street or even the first Scream are exceptions. Let's get to my thoughts on the film.


     I actually did not mind the new Chucky doll design. I thought it was scary enough. I mean it's no original Chucky doll, but I can appreciate the new look. Mark Hamill does an amazing job as playing Chucky's voice. I had actually forgotten that he was the voice until towards the end of the film. Chucky's backstory into becoming a violent doll was in my opinion a pretty good spin on the original doll becoming possessed by a serial killer. The times have changed, so the writers used technology as the "possession." The Buddi dolls are supposed to be a form of advanced technology that can activate the tech cloud and adjust the temperature in the room and other things in that nature, which was great foreshadowing by the way. I believed that the film revealed these things to the audience in a smart way where it wasn't forced down our throats, so bravo to them.

     Contrary to the original 1988 version, Karen, is not as present in this film. Yes, she is the deuteragonist, but in the original movie, I would have considered her to be the protagonist. I liked Aubrey Plaza in this. She is very deadpan in her personality, so I wasn't shocked to see that most of her content in this movie was deadpan as well. I was shocked to learn that she doesn't even know or believe that Chucky is evil until the end of the movie. Now, we can talk about Andy. Andy really takes charge in this movie unlike in the original. The movie highlights Andy's personality, feelings, and reactions more than the original Andy did. I think it is because this Andy is older rather than the other Andy. The actor did a phenomenal job in what he was given. I hope to see him in other films!

     I was really surprised to learn how gory the movie was. The creepy hotel repair men's death caused me to wince. I usually never look away at gory things, but Chucky stabs him in the penis and then is sliced in half with a saw. Also, Karen's boyfriend's death was disturbing as well when Chucky causes him to fall off the ladder and you see one of his leg bones come tearing out of his skin. So brutal. The movie does not disappoint in the blood department, I can tell you that much. If this is only the first film in what I can assume is a new reboot series, then I can only imagine how bloody the sequels will be.


     My favorite scene in the movie is the Buddi store massacre scene where Chucky causes Buddi toys to become violent and go on a murderous rampage against the shoppers. It showed just how violent a once naïve Chucky doll could become. Chaos is always fun in movies because so much is happening in the scene, and you can go back every single time and find things you missed. I thought when the police officer, who side note is Alfred from Atlanta, which you should watch because the show is genius, gets wounded, I thought that was the end of him. I was just in disbelief, but because we did not see him die, I knew he would be back, and he did come back. He saved the day by disarming Chucky in that epic showdown between Chucky and Andy. The lighting was beautiful in the scene, and the tension in the air was thick.

     The only thing I really did not like about the movie were the annoying teenagers. I had heard that there were characters in the film that were so unnecessary, and now I know who these people were referring to. You probably could have taken these kids out of the movie, and would still have the same product. I thought they were in the film to up the death count, but I was wrong. They were the stereotypical comic relief characters you get in these types of movies, and to be honest the trope gets old real quick. They made me cringe so many times to the point where I was just begging for them to get off of the movie screen.

     Other than the teens, I really couldn't come up with another negative thing about the movie. Maybe ten minutes could have been scrapped in the middle for pacing purposes, but all in all I have no complaints. I would give it a strong 8/10. If you want to have fun in a movie, I would recommend seeing Child's Play before it leaves theaters. It is loads of fun and is not meant to be taken too seriously. It is horror after all. Hopefully they make a sequel, which I think they will because it has done well at the box office.

Thank you for reading my review of Child's Play. Let me know what you think about the film!