PopHorror Let's Get Scared
It’s very difficult for me to choose a favorite of anything; food, smell, movie or whatever. With the exception of beer and college basketball, if you were to ask me what my favorite was of something, my answer would be unsatisfactory. So when it comes to my favorite horror film, many come to mind. Having said that, there is one horror movie that resonates with me, one that always comes to mind when I think of the all the scary movies I’ve seen that I’ve enjoyed. That one movie is Child’s Play 2.
Written by Don Mancini and directed by John Lafia, Child’s Play 2 was released in 1990 as the sequel to 1988’s Child’s Play, which was also written by Mancini. It opened at #1 at the box office due to the commercial success of the first film. The story follows the aftermath of the original, with Karen Barclay (Catherine Hicks) in a psychiatric hospital. Her son, Andy (Alex Vincent), is placed in foster care until she’s well enough to take care of him. For some odd reason, nobody believes that the events of the first film were perpetrated by a doll possessed by a serial killer, which is absurd! All the while, the toy company decides to salvage the burnt, severed head of the original Chucky doll and make a new one because that’s what big toy corporations do, right? Andy gets placed with a family who already foster a rebellious teenage girl named Kyle (Christine Elise). From here on out, Chucky is out to get Andy and take back his human form.
The reason this movie is my favorite is because it’s the first horror flick I remember watching all the way through. I was three when the first Child’s Play came out and only a little bit older than that when my mother was watching it on television. I caught a glimpse of Chucky murdering some poor, innocent victim. I don’t think I’ve ever run faster than I did on that day in my entire life. My mom had to come in my room and explain that it was just “pretend”. It made me feel only slightly better, but certainly not enough to make me keep my My Buddy doll. Yes, a real life toy resembling Chucky actually existed when Child’s Play was out and popular.
Freaky, huh?
When I was five, Child’s Play 2 came out. By the time it came to cable, I had already had the bejesus scared out of me a few times by the likes of Freddy, Jason, Michael, and Pennywise. But by then, I had also become more intrigued by horror films. I’d find myself watching them for a bit before turning them off. Each time I’d get braver and braver. Then, Child’s Play 2 came on and I started it. It was ’92 or ’93, so about seven or eight. I hadn’t actually watched the first one so the opening credits were confusing, but I caught on as the events were explained. After it was over, I remember liking it! I was so proud of myself. Child’s Play 2 was the gateway movie for me. I eventually started watching other horror movies as they came on television because of that one.
As an adult, Child’s Play 2 is far from scary. It has all of the campy horror clichés one comes to expect with the ‘80s and early ‘90s horror. The acting is mostly bad except for Brad Dourif’s voice. He absolutely nails the emotion and sarcasm of Chucky. The deaths are over the top. All of the adults are scumbags to some extent. I honestly doubt I’m the only one rooting for Chucky as he beats Ms. Kettlewell to death in the classroom, right… right?
Chucky is one of those horror characters that children fear and adults love. He’s a horror icon rock star. Just like Freddy, Jason, Michael, and Pennywise, Chucky is still around. Curse of Chucky, the sixth installment, was released in 2013. Brad Dourif reprised his role as the voice of Chucky and even Charles Lee Ray in some flashbacks. Dourif’s daughter, Fiona, played the lead. An untitled Chucky 7 has been announced for 2017 according to IMDb.
Child’s Play is a classic horror film, but I think it owes that to Child’s Play 2. Without the first sequel, I don’t believe Chucky would be a pop culture icon like the other big ‘80s horror guys. Chucky’s return in the sequel and Brad Dourif’s foul-mouthed, sarcastic portrayal of a damned serial killer in search of Andy and his soul sealed Chucky up in the unofficial horror hall of fame. It also makes for a fun movie that will scare the little ones out of the room so you can enjoy some alone time… at least until they get brave like I did.
