News

‘Child’s Play’ is a Blast and Exists in its Own Parallel Universe

Published

5 years ago

June 21, 2019

Every time a reboot, remake, rehash, re-do, or remix of one of cult fave film occurs there tends to be a bit of a hubbub. And by “hubbub,” I mean Cold War type spats. These either lead to a shaky acceptance or all out Film Twitter disdain. In the case of Child’s Play, I can say that this is one that is an all-out surprise in terms my expectation being totally exceeded in a variety of delightful, if not murdery, ways.

Child’s Play takes the selective bones of Tom Holland’s Child’s Play ‘88 and strips it of the elements of voodoo and possession. Instead, taking a two-fisted approach to the scarier side of spooky AI and nearly existent tech. Here, the Kaslan Buddi doll is able to control other Kaslan products through Bluetooth, giving him a wide range of control over tech like drones, thermostats, home electronics, etc… Taking a much more Sci-fi approach to the previous straight horror approach.

In the place of a voodoo ritual, we are instead introduced to a disgruntled employee at a Kaslan factory who decides to remove certain safety features from one particular Buddi doll. When young mother decides to gift the doll to her son, things take a bloody, and sometimes oddly touching turn

Director Lars Klevberg comes at this through a really fun approach. Well written and delivered dialogue makes everyone believable and ultimately likeable. Creating a fun Monster Squad, or Lost Boys era childhood camaraderie dynamic. The stand out feature in the first two acts of the film revolve primarily around how bizarre and funny the approach is to Andy and Chucky’s relationship. The beats are familiar to the relationship between John Connor and the T-800 in Terminator 2.

The most hilarious bits are built around the fact that the Buddi doll is severely… off. From facial expressions to strange dialogue, it’s cute and clear that this lil dude is on a planet of his own. Mark Hamill lending voice to Chucky seals the deal and makes the whole Chucky experience magical and simultaneously maniacal.

Don’t let all my talk about how funny and semi-adorable sections of this movie are though, horror hounds. Child’s Play is 100 percent brutal creating some severely well-done gory kills. All while keeping it almost completely practical in the process. Added to that Chucky is very creepy, watching Andy sleep or sitting in dark corners in full stalker mode.

The quality of the third act of Child’s Play is where we see the film start to follow more traditional tropes and is ultimately where the film didn’t work for me. It is seemingly and suddenly in a rush to get to the end credits. And does a criminal job of taking the strange heart that the previous acts did a great job building up. It’s rudimentary but not terrible.

It would be criminal if I didn’t mention the creepy and catchy Buddi song that is repeated more than a few times throughout the films runtime. In addition to the song being pretty dang great, Klevberg and Co. frame the tune in a different light each time it is comes up. Making the song, hilarious, terrifying, heartbreaking and then hilarious again. Composer, Bear McCreary brings a vivaciously eerie soundtrack to the mix all driven by children toys that he decided to use to capture the sounds of a child’s playroom.

This Child’s Play exists in its own parallel universe in my mind. It re-imagines a new killer doll nightmare and does so in a way that is an absolute blast and on its own terms. I’m not usually a remake apologist but in the case of this Child’s Play there is enough driving its engine that I was pleasantly surprised with just how impressive parts of it were. There is nothing about this iteration that takes anything away from Don Mancini’s ongoing Chucky legacy. In fact, this film takes care not to step too far into that wheelhouse and ultimately won me over in the process.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

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Movies

Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

Published

12 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

News

Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

Published

14 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

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Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

Movies

’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power

Published

15 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.

**Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes**

Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.

Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.

There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.