Hi all!

Today I am ranking the beloved Child’s Play series. This is one of my favourite spooky sagas. I bought the entire 7 disc box-set this year and it was definitely worth every penny. Directed by Don Mancini, this story follows notorious serial killer, Charles Lee Ray, who transfers his soul into a Good Guy doll, right before his human form dies. As a popular children’s toy, he names himself Chucky, terrorising those he comes in contact with. As the movies progress, Chucky makes new friends, kills plenty of people, gets married and even has a child! Aside from being a murderer, he is also a voodoo practitioner; regularly invoking the curse of Damballa to do his bidding. Without further ado, let’s get into it! Spoilers ahead!

1.) Child’s Play 

In first place, we have the film that started it all: Child’s Play. Known as the Lakeshore Strangler, serial killer, Charles Lee Ray, is chased through the streets of Chicago by Detective Mike Norris. The pair finally face off in a toy store and Charles is shot by Mike. As he lays dying, he turns to a Good Guy doll displayed on the shelf and transfers his soul into it, via a spoken voodoo ritual. Fast forward to the home of Karen and Andy Barclay, who desperately wants a Good Guy doll for his sixth birthday. Despite their financial situation, Karen is able to purchase one off a hobo, surprising her overjoyed son. Initially, the toy seems normal, referring to itself as Chucky. However, that evening, he comes to life, resuming his murdering ways, with the ultimate goal of possessing Andy. This movie came out a year before I was born and let me tell you, the scares were effective for its time. The moment where Karen realises there are no batteries in Chucky and his head spins around, is so creepy. I also love the final battle. It’s epic. For his size, the doll is incredibly difficult to kill. It’s such an iconic start to the franchise and one my favourite horror flicks of all time.

2.) Child’s Play 2 

Child’s Play 2 is mere millimetres behind the first one. Two years after the events of the original film, the Play Pals Corporation, (maker of the Good Guy dolls), reassemble Chucky’s remains, reasurring stockholders there was nothing actually wrong with the doll. During the process, a power surge occurs, electrocuting one of the assembly line workers. Mr. Sullivan, the executive of the company, orders his assistant to cover up the accident, disposing of Chucky, unaware he has already been revived. Meanwhile, Andy Barclay, now eight, has been in foster care ever since the murders. His mother, Karen, was institutionalised, for backing up his story about the killer doll. Charles Lee Ray tracks down his former owner, trying to possess him once again. In this sequel, we meet Kyle, a teenage girl fostered by the same parents as Andy. At first, she doesn’t believe him about Chucky. However, after witnessing the doll in action, the pair bond, taking him down together. The final showdown at the toy store is everything. Chucky’s death is EPIC! Watch the clip below and tell me you don’t agree.

3.) Bride of Chucky 

In third place, we have a slightly controversial choice: Bride of Chucky. This instalment is definitely more of a dark comedy, than a horror. In this film, we follow Tiffany Valentine (played by Jennifer Tilly), who was Charles Lee Ray’s girlfriend and accomplice, before he was killed at the beginning of Child’s Play. After bribing a police officer into giving her the dismembered parts of a Good Guy doll (which was possessed by Chucky), she staples/stitches him together, enacting the voodoo curse to bring him back to life. The lovers begin bickering not long after their reunion, causing Chucky to electrocute Tiffany to death – not before calling on Damballa to transfer her soul into a female doll. As toys, the pair hitch a ride with two unsuspecting humans, in order to retrieve a magical amulet (The Heart of Damballa) that was buried with Charles Lee Ray’s physical body. The talisman has the ability to possess the male and female counterparts they are travelling with. The movie is funny, ridiculous and downright strange. The chemistry between Brad Dourif and Jennifer Tilly is brilliant. Would you believe the dolls have sex and get pregnant? You just have to watch and find out. I like to rate things based on enjoyment level and I had a blast with this one.

4.) Child’s Play 3

In fourth place, we have Child’s Play 3. Set eight years after the events of the sequel, Play Pals has finally recovered from the bad publicity of Chucky’s murder sprees and resumes manufacturing Good Guy dolls. The company restores the abandoned factory, but a splash of blood from Chucky’s corpse mixes with the plastic being used to produce the dolls, thus reviving him in a new body. Charles Lee Ray is given to Play Pals CEO, Mr. Sullivan, who is tortured and strangled to death with a yo-yo. The serial killer uses computer records to locate Andy Barclay, who is now 16 and living at Kent Military Academy. As you can guess, the enemies are reunited and violence ensues, with plenty of casualties along the way. I wasn’t a massive fan of the setting, but I loved the scene with the barber (see below) and the carnival battle at the end. It’s a bit ridiculous how easy it was for Chucky to come back to life. However, his death in this instalment is great.

 

5.) Cult of Chucky 

Cult of Chucky is the latest film in the franchise to be released. It’s a direct sequel to Curse of Chucky. Andy Barclay has been torturing the disembodied head of Chucky for the past four years. Meanwhile, the wheelchair-bound Nica Pierce, has spent that time in a mental institution, after being framed by Charles Lee Ray for the murders of her family. After therapy, Nica now believes she was responsible for the murders and that Chucky was a manifestation of her psychosis. Her doctor has her transferred to a medium-security psychiatric hospital, where the entire movie takes place. Nica is visited by Tiffany Valentine (from Bride of Chucky), who leaves her a Good Guy doll, which she claims was a gift from her niece. That night, Chucky awakens, embarking on a murdering spree at the asylum. This movie has some of the most creative deaths and beautiful scenery. There is something so aesthetically pleasing about seeing a colourful toy against a white, snowy backdrop. Having said that, it’s probably the most confusing instalment in the franchise. It is aptly named, because by the end, Chucky has amassed a cult of Good Guy dolls, all containing a piece of his soul. It’s a bit like Voldemort and his Horcruxes. Madness!

6.) Curse of Chucky 

Curse of Chucky is probably the scariest film in the franchise. It’s more of a classic, haunted-house story, with plenty of horror. In 2013, a Good Guy doll named Chucky, mysteriously arrives in the mail at the isolated home of paraplegic, Nica Pierce and her mother, Sarah. Later that night, Sarah is found dead from a stab wound; her death ruled as a suicide. Nica is visited by her sister, brother-in-law, niece Alice, live-in nanny and priest. Alice finds Chucky and is allowed to keep him. That evening, Chucky secretly pours rat poison into one of the dinner bowls. Father Frank eats the poison. After he leaves, he gets sick, ending up in a car accident that decapitates him. That night, Nica investigates the doll on the internet; finding news articles about the murders that tied Charles Lee Ray and the children’s toy together. She learns that he was obsessed with her mother, Sarah, killing her father in a jealous rage. The rest of the film is one big murderous rampage. Sadly, I didn’t connect with it as much as the others. I found a lot of the side characters to be quite obnoxious. However, I do love that Nica is played by Fiona Dourif, Brad Dourif’s daughter. The family that slays together, stays together.

7.) Seed of Chucky 

In second last place, we have Seed of Chucky. It’s lower on my list because it’s quite ridiculous. Funny in parts, but bizarre. Six years after Bride of Chucky, Glen, the benevolent son of Chucky and Tiffany, is forced to perform at the International Ventriloquists’ Competition in Glastonbury. Glen sees a preview of Jennifer Tilly’s new horror film, Chucky Goes Psycho, on television and realises he is their son. Desperate to know his parents, he manages to escape his abusive owner, tracking down the Chucky and Tiffany dolls in Hollywood. Finding himself in the prop room, he uses the Heart of Damballa to bring them back to life. Charles Lee Ray wants his son to become a killer like him, whereas Tiffany, wants to set a good example by changing their ways. However, old habits die hard. Literally! I’m all for a gender-fluid doll, but the plot was really strange. There were also a lot of moments that didn’t make sense. It wasn’t the best, it wasn’t the worst.

8.) Child’s Play 2019 Remake 

In last place, we have the Child’s Play 2019 remake. I know some people prefer it to the original. That is an interesting opinion…To be honest, I didn’t hate it. I thought it was a lot of fun, but it doesn’t contain the essence of Chucky. It has a completely different director, no Brad Dourif and none of the sassiness us fans live for. In the reboot, Good Guy dolls are named Buddi dolls. They are much more modern and intelligent in design. The story is pretty similar – a boy and his mother are terrorised by a children’s toy, but in this one, there is no serial killer backstory. It turns evil when a factory worker disables all its safety features, in retaliation to being fired. It’s not a Chucky movie without Charles Lee Ray. I also don’t like the look of the Buddi dolls. They look like they’ve undergone plastic surgery. I’m sorry, but it’s a no from me.

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Chucky – TV Series (2021)  

To my absolute delight, a Chucky television series was released in 2021. Not only was it directed by Don Mancini, Brad Dourif reprised his role as the iconic doll. It also featured Jennifer Tilly as Tiffany, Fiona Dourif as Nica, Alex Vincent as Andy and Christine Elise as Kyle. Having the original cast back together made it such a winner in my eyes. Following the events from Cult of Chucky, a young teenager named Jake, finds a Good Guy doll at a rummage sale, bringing him home. It isn’t long before he realises it is possessed by notorious serial killer, Charles Lee Ray, and terror ensues. There are so many fantastic aspects to this show. 1.) The cast, as I already mentioned. 2.) The gay relationship between Jake and Devon – yes to teenage boys who know who they are. 3.) The flashbacks of Charles Lee Ray’s life before Child’s Play and 4.) The classic mix of horror and dark comedy, that we have come to know and love. I have nothing negative to say. Check it out, if you haven’t already.

What did you think of my ranking? Do you agree/disagree with this list? What are your thoughts on the new television series? Thanks for reading! 

Peace & Love xoxo