Chucky and Child's Play goes all the way back to 1988 and has firmly cemented itself as a certified legend in the horror genre and we wouldn't have it any other way.
So, make your way within and check out my in-depth look at two of my favorite murderous dolls.
Brad Dourif voices Charles Lee Ray, a voodoo practitioner turned serial killer who was shot by a detective whilst fleeing a scene and eventually transfers his soul into a Good Guy doll. Brad brings wit, humour and passion into his portrait of the murderous doll who eventually finds a home with 6 year old Andy. Andy receives Chucky as a birthday present from his mum. Charles as "Chucky" needs to eventually transfer his soul into Andy's body, thus the main story line of the movie begins.
Andy attempts to tell his mother that Chucky is alive, but of course, she doesn't believe him and Andy ends up institutionalized at a psychiatric hospital.
Karen Barclay (Andy's mother) notices that Chucky works without batteries and finally realizes that Andy was actually telling the truth.
Karen ends up working together with Detective Mike Norris who coincidentally is the cop that shot Charles Lee Ray, bringing an end to Chucky's bloodbath.
I loved the humour that Brad Dourif brought to the role of Chucky. It made the killer doll somewhat likable, and started rooting for him in parts, just a misunderstood voodoo practitioner who just wants to get back into a human body. Now who can't relate to that!
My first experience into the killer doll genre, however, was the now cult classic from Stuart Gordon, simply titled DOLLS.
Several travelers (due to car troubles) arrive at this mansion (definitely suited to a horror movie set) as they seek refuse, and in typical horror movie fashion, a storm has arrived.
First of the travelers is a family of 3, father David Bower, stepmother Rosemary Bower, and daughter Judy Bower.
Rosemary is the typical evil stepmother who shows her true colours quite quickly when she throws Judy's toy bear in the woods and Father David Bower is only interested in pleasing his new wife and doesn't show any affection to poor Judy.
Instead of knocking on the mansion door to seek refuge, David and family break in to the mansion owned by toy makers Gabriel and Hilary Hardwicke.
Seemingly the couple can judge a good character, they instantly give Judy a toy doll to look after quite fittingly named Mr Punch.
After being shown to their rooms the next group of travelers arrive; Ralph Harris and two hitchhiker's, Isabelle and Enid, who have clearly came from a Madonna music video.
Isabelle and Enid also show their true colours quite quickly by hinting to Mrs Hardwicke that they would be willing to steal her collectables and attempt to threaten her.
This is where the dolls strike, they can also sense a good character and go after Isabelle first by slamming her face into the skirting board, a scene which would haunt 8 year old me for quite a few months.
Enid then stumbles on Isabelle, partially turned into a doll, a scene that would still hold up to this day with its stellar effects.
Enid then gets attacked and killed by a group of wooden army dolls and Rosemary has her throat slashed by vintage style dolls.
David pays the ultimate price as he breaks Judy's doll Mr Punch and ends up taking the place of Mr Punch, que an amazing transformation scene from human to doll.
DOLLS was one of the first horrors that I watched, I remember being lured in by the VHS cover and instantly wanted to watch it. I snuck it out of my parents house on my way to a sleepover, curious 8 year old me couldn't wait to watch it with my best friend.
A lot of sleepless nights followed but it firmly cemented itself into my love of horror and at 33 years old I am still in love with it. No more sleepless nights for me though.
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