Long before Chucky had a bride, and a son he was a real person and serial killer. The Lakeshore Stangler is what he was nicknamed by the media in Chicago. There is always something to be said about the original in a series. After this installment they moved away from the creepy atmosphere and more to the humor and just straight up slasher. I do enjoy all the sequels actually and am really excited for The Curse of Chucky do out sometime at the end of the year.
The Lakeshore Strangler, Charles Lee Ray (Brad Dourif), is on the run from the police. The strangler's getaway van with is partner Eddie Caputo (Neil Giuntoli) in it speeds off leaving him behind. Charles ends up going into a toy store to hide out from the police officer following him Mike Norris (Chris Sarandon). Charles is shot and realizes that he is dying. In a last stitch effort he pulls down a Good Guy doll and recites his Voodoo ritual transferring his soul into the doll. Charles dies and the case is closed until a Mother desperate to get her son Andy (Alex Vincent) a Good Guy doll finds a peddler in an alley selling one. She buys it without hesitation and gives it to Andy for his Birthday. Soon the doll starts to talk to Andy and tells him who he really is in an attempt to transfer into the boy. The innocent doll has not turned to a cold blooded killer and Andy is suspected of making the whole thing up. Soon everyone will know the truth while little Chucky starts his rampage on an unsuspecting family in order to live again.
When this movie came out in 1988 I have to admit it did frighten me a bit. After watching it a few times it did become less scary and more of just a great movie I loved to watch. One of the best things about this movie I have always liked is the cast. The part of Chucky, well the voice anyway, could have not been more perfect than Brad Douriff. Also Alex Vincent was a very young and talented actor, even though aside from Child's Play he has not done anything else until recently.
The soundtrack to Child's Play really sets the tone and is very dark and creepy. I would probably have to say one of my favorite soundtracks from an 80's slasher. The building they used in shooting for Andy's home was the famous Brewster Apartments in Chicago, Il. It really can be seen as Maggie (Dinah Manoff) falls out of the window. It's such a nice view on the way down.
The original is definitely my favorite of the series with part 2 running a close second. After the original two movies the series really started to tail off. Part 3 was really bad, and had horrible acting I might add. Bride and Son went away from the main story line and went off on it's own a bit to more of a comedy than a horror. The original is really a gem of 80's horror. Till this 1988 there had been few doll killers to grace the big screne. There have been plenty since after the success of Chucky. Child's Play was probably the main reason I never got a My Buddy and Me doll in fear it just might take over my soul and try to kill me. You have to admit though it was a pretty clever rip off of sorts.
I recently watched an episode of Pawn stars and they took in a few props from the movie. The knife that chucky uses, the voodoo doll, and also the little Good Guy Hammer. I would really like to go out to Las Vegas and purchase these for my collection but in excess of 2000.00 is a little out of my price range. From time to time on Ebay I see the Good Guy box with the image of a doll inside go up, but again obsene amounts of money are asked for these. I mean come on it's a fuckin cardboard box with a image of a doll inside. Stay twisted everyone!
the part when Chucky bit Ms. Barkly was scary.
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