Like many, I've been anticipating the sixth installment of the Child's Play franchise for quite sometime. When it was announced earlier this year, that the film would be released direct to dvd, I was excited. Sure it was a little bit off putting that it would get no theater release, but what do you expect when the last 2 films in the franchise were Bonny and Clyde type movies. Something else that made me a little cautious was how Chucky looked in the previews, but I'd give it a chance.
For the most part, this movie was different from the others because you could always tell when Chucky was going to movie or talk because he would change from a real doll to an actual person in Chucky make up... that is until about 3/4 of the way through the film.
The beginning of the film seemed to run on longer than it should have. I understand the director wanted to do suspense, however the dinner scene had far to many close ups of the mouths of those eating and the bowls of chilli etc. I understand they wanted to make you wonder which person got the chilli with the rat poison in it, but it was way to much. I did however like that the person who died from the rat poison was that A-hole from one of my favorite shows, "Longmire". I got a good laugh out of it when they pulled the hood of the car away from his throat and blood shot everywhere ending with his head rolling into the back seat. You then see his severed hand in the passenger seat holding a cross necklace, as if he knew he was going to die and grabbed it as it hung from his rear view mirror.
Ok, so it was made obvious that the husband had the hots for the nanny at the beginning of the film with the wife become extremely jealous and seeming threatened by the nanny. However, there was a nice turn when the wife entered the kitchen and began making out with the nanny herself. Chucky ends up killing the nanny by electrocution and immediately says a one liner that he's known for; "Chicks... can't live with um.." and then laughs hysterically.
Later on, it's revealed the exact events which lead to Charles Lee Ray being hunted by the police and transferring his soul into the Good Guy doll. The scenes are mixed with new and old footage from the first film which nicely tied the films together. Also in the flash back it's revealed that Chucky is the reason she's been in the wheel chair all her life. Shortly after this scene, the star of the film who's laying on the floor with knife wounds and having been rolled off the second floor in her wheel chair begins to mock Chucky. She tells him that he never killed Andy Barclay because he's still alive and says that it drives Chucky nuts because men of completion anxiety and proceeds to ask "You are a man... aren't you?" looking at his lower region.
Eventually a police officer arrives and sees her with a bloody knife in hand; thinking that she was the one who killed her mother, the priest and the rest of the family. The scene fades to black as we think the movie's over.
In the next scene, the girl is in a court room standing trial. As the judge finds her guilty and sentences her to an institution for the criminally insane, the guard escorts her in wheel chair through the court room. As they pass by each piece of evidence we see Chucky sitting on the table. She begins screaming hysterically at him and then mocks him once again saying that she survived and laughs. Once again, the scene fades to black. But the film isn't over yet!
The arresting officer takes the Chucky doll from evidence and get's in his squad car with him. He makes a phone call revealing that he's the one who sent the doll to the home to begin with, but then sees the plastic bag around Chucky move, from Chucky's breathing. It's at that point that Tiffany pops up from the back and strangles the cop. Once again the scene fades to black and we think the film is over.
In another short scene at the end, we see Tiffany taking a large package to the post office for delivery. Once again, it fades to black again as if the movie's over. I swear this movie had more endings than "The Lord of the Rings" it seemed as if it was never going to end.
In another scene we see that the little girl from earlier in the film is now living with her grandma and Chucky is waiting for her. He says grandma's in the cellar and asks if she wants to play hide the soul. During the ritual, the camera pans across the house to another room where we see "grandma" sit up frantically with a plastic bag over her head screaming. Once again, the scene goes black, signalling the end credits.
Finally, the film has an official ending I thought. However, I knew there would more than likely be yet another scene after the credits so I waited. It was what happened in that scene I had hoped would come true, but wasn't very faithful that it would. My hopes were high. With all the talk of the previous movies and Andy Barclay, I wanted to find out what became of the kid that got away.
Sure enough, the after credits scene came and we see a package delivery to a young man living in an apartment. The package is the size of a Chucky doll, as he takes it up the stairs to his apartment. The man sits the package on the table as the phone rings and he answers it. in the scene, the camera pans around his apartment revealing pictures that prove my hopes had come true. We see a photograph on a table of Kyle, the foster sister of Andy Barclay in the second film. We also see a photograph of Andy and his mom next to it. We then see the package move as a knife from inside cuts through the paper and releases Chucky who's ready to finally get his revenge. As Chucky sits up and looks over at the pictures, he turns back to face Andy but instead gets a gun pointed by Andy into Chucky's face. Andy who was ready for Chucky's return, says "Play with this" as Chucky's face looks surprised and horrified. The scene goes black as we hear a gun shot.
It really amazed me that they were able to actually get the original Andy for this scene. That's right, for those of you who've seen the movie but didn't know, Alex Vincent who played Andy in the first two films returned for the post credit scene. I was somewhat disappointed though because I really wanted Justin Whalin (Lois and Clark's 2nd Jimmy Olsen)to reprise the roll of Andy that he played so well in Child's Play 3. In this scene, it's also revealed that he's kept in touch with his foster sister and that his mom married Detective Norris from the first film.
As I said before, when I saw the previews i wasn't sure about Chucky's face. But then when it's revealed in the film why it looks like it does, I was put at ease. however, before the big reveal keep an eye on Chucky's face because you can always tell when something's going to happen because the face changes to a real person.
Other than the long drawn out beginning and the "Lord of the Rings" style endings, I really enjoyed this film. The way Charles Lee Ray got a far bigger role in the film than in the first, was great. It was awesome seeing a live person with Chucky's voice, which the first film really didn't reveal. However, the flashbacks turned Chucky from ruthless serial killer into a psychotic love sick stalker who idolizes Norman Bates. It's never revealed what became of Glen and Glenda, which in all honesty was probably for the best. I truly hope, the next film in the franchise brings Andy Barclay back in the starring role. The film sets up chance follow ups nicely. Any number of things could happen in future films. They could bring Catherine Hicks back to trade in 7th Heaven for Chucky's Hell, or bring back Christine Elise to trade 90210 to reprise a deadly role. The next few films could even be tied together by having Andy return long enough to save his family. But that's just speculation, the way Curse of Chucky set things up.
I really enjoyed this film. I give it 4 out 5 stars.