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Child's Play (1988)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
9 November 1988 (USA) moreTagline:
You'll wish it was only make-believe. morePlot:
Young Andy Barclay gets the doll he wanted. However, he did not know it was alive! full summary | full synopsisAwards:
1 win & 3 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(90 articles)
Exclusive: NCIS Gets Real U.S. Secretary of the Navy for a Cameo (From TVGuide - Breaking News. 8 November 2009, 6:46 AM, PST)
New Films Picks Up Chain Letter
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User Comments:
A modern classic more (231 total)Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Catherine Hicks | ... | Karen Barclay | |
| Chris Sarandon | ... | Mike Norris | |
| Alex Vincent | ... | Andy Barclay | |
| Brad Dourif | ... | Charles Lee Ray / Chucky | |
| Dinah Manoff | ... | Maggie Peterson | |
| Tommy Swerdlow | ... | Jack Santos | |
| Jack Colvin | ... | Dr. Ardmore | |
| Neil Giuntoli | ... | Eddie Caputo | |
| Juan Ramírez | ... | Peddler | |
| Alan Wilder | ... | Mr. Criswell | |
| Richard Baird | ... | News Reporter at Toy Store | |
| Raymond Oliver | ... | Dr. Death | |
| Aaron Osborne | ... | Orderly | |
| Tyler Hard | ... | Mona | |
| Ted Liss | ... | George |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Batteries Not Included (USA) (working title)Blood Brother (USA) (working title)
Blood Buddy (USA) (working title)
more
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
87 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 moreSound Mix:
DolbyCertification:
Iceland:16 | Finland:K-16 | Finland:K-15 (re-rated) | Finland:(Banned) (1988) | Ireland:18 | UK:15 (uncut) (2005) | UK:15 (cut) (1989) | Spain:13 | Spain:18 (DVD version) | South Korea:15 | New Zealand:R16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A | France:-12 | Netherlands:16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:18 | Ireland:18 (original rating) | Norway:18 (video premiere) | Norway:(Banned) (1989-2003) (cinema release)Filming Locations:
Brewster Building Apartments - 2800 N. Pine Grove Avenue, Lake View, Chicago, Illinois, USA moreFun Stuff
Trivia:
The working title for the film was "Blood Buddy." moreGoofs:
Continuity: The bite mark on Karen's arm changes positions and then mysteriously vanishes towards the end of the movie. moreSoundtrack:
I'M HANGING moreFAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (231 total)
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| Child's Play 2 | Halloween | Bride of Chucky | Child's Play 3 | The Hitcher |
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When people nowadays think of Chucky, the living doll, they think of the foul mouthed psycho doll complete with body modifications and a punky bride in a movie filled with funny one liners and black humor. However, when Chucky came to life almost 20 years ago, he was a real thrill that redefined the horror genre of the late 80s and spawned a series of imitators (some better than others).
Director Tom Holland crafts this very original tale written by Don Mancini, where a dying sociopath (Brad Douriff) uses voodoo to transplant his soul to an inanimate toy. Catherine Hicks plays Karen Barclay, a single mother who gets the possessed toy for her little son Andy (Alex Vincent), not knowing what is hidden deep inside the doll.
Despite its apparent cheesiness, Holland truly creates a haunting atmosphere filled with suspense by following the trick Steven Spielberg used in "Jaws". While we know from the very beginning that the toy is haunted, we never get a glimpse of what he can do and neither does the characters; only the young Andy knows the truth, but nobody believes him.
Unlike its current MTV-inspired incarnations, "Child's Play" starts a bit slow, but suddenly it turns into a suspense-filled roller-coaster with enough thrills to keep you at the edge of the seat. Holland directions truly makes the difference between a cheap B-movie and the classy film this one has become.
Brad Dourif makes a superb job and this movie started his now-legendary career in the genre. Catherine Hicks is a very good lead character, surprisingly realistic, thanks in part to the very well-written dialog. Chris Sarandon completes the cast as the detective investigating the mysterious murders surrounding Chucky and Andy.
The movie moves at a very good pace, despite its slow start; it has that 80s feeling and it is surprisingly violent for its time (it was released when rules were turning a bit stricter). It has great special effects and a very creepy atmosphere inside it's urban landscape.
While many reviewers consider a flaw the fact that Chucky's possession is not a mystery, I believe that a lot of the suspense is in the fact that we know that, but the characters don't. It is a very well constructed film in the end, and definitely better than its current sequels. 8/10