It's amazing. 25 years after the first movie and 9 years after the last entry, the series, featuring everybody's favorite killer doll, continues, even though the series never have been amongst the most popular and acclaimed ones, amongst horror fans.

With this latest installment, the series returns to its horror roots. Lets face it, the last few Chucky movies were more comical than anything else really and although I for one certainly didn't mind this approach, I'm also at the same time really glad they turned this movie into a real horror one. The original idea behind a killer doll is actually a pretty good and scary one, that also works out well again within this movie.

Reason why it works out well is because this movie really takes its time to set up its tension and mystery. This also means that you won't see Chucky move or talk for the longest time but that really is not a bad thing in this case. This in a way also feels more like a reboot than an actual sequel, though toward the end the movie suddenly starts referencing all of the previous movies and attempts to connect all of its events and characters to those from the previous movies. So it still counts as a sequel as well. Even some familiar faces from the franchise show up toward the end, which definitely surprised me and was good and fun to see.


Some people are probably going to complain that this movie has like 4 or 5 endings, even an after credits one and it all feels like a last minute decision as well, in order to leave room for some potential sequels but I'll admit; I liked every single ending, since it threw in some pretty nice surprise, which got me excited for more future installments.

Having said all of that; this at the same time remains a far from great horror movie as well. Yes, it's definitely better than most horror sequels but it also is a far from original one, or one that's filled with tons of scares and gruesome gory deaths. Because the movie moves kind of slow at times, it also really isn't the most exciting movie to watch. Besides, the movie is mostly set at just one location (obviously for budget reasons), so there isn't an awful lot of variety in it neither.

Still, it's good to see the return of Chucky and to see that the movie really isn't a terrible one and actually does a lot of things right. As a horror movie, it's definitely being a watchable one and as a part of the Child's Play franchise, it's truly one of the better- and most effective sequels.

6/10

Watch trailer

After her mother's mysterious death, Nica begins to suspect that the talking, red-haired doll her visiting niece has been playing with may be the key to recent bloodshed and chaos. From: IMDb.com

After her mother's mysterious death, Nica begins to suspect that the talking, red-haired doll her visiting niece has been playing with may be the key to recent bloodshed and chaos. From: IMDb.com

A vampire versus a bunch of terrorists...sounds like fun! But is it really? It's more awkward than anything else really unfortunately.

Thing about this movie is that it's foremost a comedy. The problem with that however is that the comical timing in this movie is incredibly off, making this for most part a terrible ineffective one, comedy-wise. It's awkward really, the moments that the movie is clearly expecting you to laugh, while actually giving you very little to laugh at. It feels like this movie is written as a comedy but not directed as one, which is weird, since the movie both got directed and written by the same person.

It's going for a quirky sort of approach, which isn't really working out though, since the movie its story isn't anything solid or witty enough. The story is more messy than anything else really and it just never has a very pleasant flow to it. Instead it feels very random for most part and besides, the movie is lacking any true creativity. So much you can do with a concept involving a vampire, terrorists and a rogue cop but the the movie is doing far too little with any of it. Sure, that probably is also because of budget reasons but budget restraints shouldn't stop you from ever trying to be creative. As a matter of fact, it should have the opposite effect! The movie just feels too formulaic and predictable, which is odd, considering this movie features a pretty original concept and really plenty of potential.

Another thing that is making this movie an awkward one is that it's deliberately trying to be as political incorrect as possible, especially concerning the movie its terrorists. It's already pretty offensive that the terrorists are clearly supposed to be Middle Eastern but most of them are played by non-Middle Eastern actors (Brad Dourif plays their leader) with bad makeup applied to them but what is worse about it is that the movie is using terrorist acts and terrorists as comic relief. It doesn't do this in a 'making fun of' kind of way, which is part of the reason why it mostly just feels offensive, rather than comical. It simply just expects you to laugh at terrorists acts, for which I see no reason and the movie surely isn't giving any good enough reasons why you should laugh at any of it either.

It's not like this movie is maddening bad or offensive though. It's more incompetently done than anything else really. I think all of the right intentions were there but the crew was simply lacking the talent and/or experience to pull it all off in an effective and successful enough manner. That again is also part of the reason why this movie mostly feels like a very awkward one.

Not half as awesome or fun as you probably would expect it to be.

4/10

Watch trailer

After her mother's mysterious death, Nica begins to suspect that the talking, red-haired doll her visiting niece has been playing with may be the key to recent bloodshed and chaos. From: IMDb.com

Directed by: Don Mancini

Starring: Brad Dourif, Brennan Elliott, A Martinez and others

Current release date: October 8, 2013

Chucky the killer doll returns to terrorize a family funeral. From: IMDb.com

Directed by:  Don Mancini

Starring: Brad Dourif, Danielle Bisutti, Fiona Dourif and others

Current release date: September 24, 2013

Well, lets just start of by saying this movie is no way near as good as the original movie "Nattevagten", of which this movie is a remake but it's still being a pretty good and fun whodunit to have a good time with.

Kind of weird to notice how different this movie is in atmosphere and approach, since it actually got directed by the same director who made the original, 3 years prior to this American remake. And it's not just different but also most definitely less effective. There is not as much tension and mystery in this one, also due to some pacing issues (it's too fast paced at times) and a poor buildup to things.

And all while this movie in essence is still being just like the original. Not much had been changed in its story really and I was therefore also quite surprised to find out Steven Soderbergh was involved with the writing. Guess it was an easy paycheck for him, since really not all that much had been changed or added to the movie, when compared to the original movie.

While the original was being a whole lot of different things, this movie is just being a more simple and more straightforward thriller, or rather said whodunit. So really, don't expect this movie to provide you with any horror but as a mystery/thriller, I can still see this movie entertaining a whole bunch of people out there, of course especially those who aren't familiar with the original movie already.

And really, the movie on its own is really being quite good and entertaining for what it is. It really doesn't handle everything well, mainly stuff concerning the earlier mentioned pacing and buildup to things but as a whole it's still being a better movie than just the average genre attempt. There are plenty of thrills and surprises in it, that help to keep you invested in the movie.

It also has a cast to die for. Really an all-star cast, of which some actors are better known now days as back then. Ewan McGregor plays the main lead, while the movie further more stars Patricia Arquette, Nick Nolte, a still very young looking Josh Brolin, Brad Dourif and John C. Reilly. Not that this movie features any of their best or most interesting and challenging performances but still, it's always good to see so many talented people together on screen.

A definitely good enough movie as a straightforward thriller.

7/10

Watch trailer