NO ONE BELIEVES THE TRUTH… OR LIVES TO TELL IT.

Karen Barclay (Catherine Hicks) gives her six-year-old son (Alex Vincent) a popular doll, but little do they know that ”Chucky” inhabits the soul of a serial killer.

Tom Holland reunited with his Fright Night (1985) star Chris Sarandon for another horror thriller with a sense of humor. This one became a hit and introduced another one of the decade’s durable horror icons. An absurd concept, but Chucky offers thrills and chuckles. The climax is quite intense and boasts advanced special effects (with a nod to The Terminator (1984)) as the doll refuses to be destroyed.

The cast is adequate, but Chucky’s performance outshines them.

1988-U.S. 87 min. Color. Directed by Tom Holland. Screenplay: Don Mancini, John Lafia, Tom Holland. Cast: Catherine Hicks (Karen Barclay), Chris Sarandon (Mike Norris), Alex Vincent (Andy Barclay), Brad Dourif (Charles Lee Ray), Dinah Manoff, Tommy Swerdlow. 

Trivia: William Friedkin, Robert Wise and Irvin Kershner were considered for directing duties; John Lithgow for the part that came to be played by Dourif. Followed by six sequels, starting with Child’s Play 2 (1990). Remade as Child’s Play (2019).