Its almost hard to remember that the redheaded Good Guys doll originally struck fear into the hearts of kids and adults alike back in the eighties before sliding into horror comedy droll in the early 2000s. Luckily for us, Mancini and crew decided to bring the series back to its horror roots.
Curse of Chucky takes place almost completely in the span of one rainy night in a house full of disgruntled family members. Nicas mother has just recently passed away, not too long after they received a Good Guys doll in the mail. Her sister Barb and brother-in-law Ian come to visit with their daughter Alice and live-in nanny Jill.
When originally announced, the movie had a lot on its plate that made it seem prey to not living up to its potential. Its straight to VOD and Mancini was directing again (his directorial debut being the aforementioned atrocity Seed of Chucky), so reservations were in place. Despite these hurdles, Curse of Chucky truly brings the franchise back to its core and focuses on the horror and not the laughs. Lets be honest though, plenty of laughs are still had considering Dourif and Mancini create an excellent Chucky.
The movie does so much right that its easy to overlook the very few flaws it has. The pacing and writing coincide to create a fun blood-soaked jaunt that never gets boring or dull. Mancini (pulling double duty as writer as well as director) does a great job at introducing and ushering off characters in a fashion that doesnt bog the film down with a bunch of characters who get three minutes of film time before getting the axe, or butcher knife in this case. The kills are kitschy, but in the best way possible, waxing nostalgic of the slasher films of the late eighties and early nineties, and Fiona Dourif does an excellent job as the wheelchair bound Nica. In addition, its always a blast to see Brad Dourif reprise his role as both the doll and Charles Lee Ray.
The movie also does a couple of other things that are really neat for the horror buffs out there. One, the new Chucky is easily the most terrifying looking doll theyve ever made for the movies. His actions and sheen are far more fluid and realistic than any of the previous entries and it makes the doll that much creepier. The best addition, though, has to be the addition to the lore of Childs Play. It adds a lot to the back story of the series and doesnt feel forced or contrived. Pop in a couple of awesome cameos and you have a movie that can draw in new fans and fanboys.
Overall, Curse of Chucky is a great entry in the series. It has a few minimal issues, some hammy acting and the ending drags on about fifteen minutes too long, but its an enjoyable flick. After being subjected to Bride and Seed, Curse is the movie that fans have been waiting for for over a decade. Plus, you know you missed that chilling laugh of his.
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