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Currently pursuing a film career with a passion for film journalism, storytelling of any kind has allowed me to let my imagination run wild in ways even I couldn’t predict. Expect me to write about film, TV, and the entertainment industry.
Thommy Hutson’s Shudder documentary, Doc of Chucky, comes to us at an oddly convenient time. After following the slasher icon for three seasons, the horror television series, Chucky, was canceled by Syfy and USA Network. Beloved by fans and critics, the TV show left audiences on a cliffhanger. Our three leads – Jake (Zackary Arthur), Devon (Björgvin Arnarson), and Lexy (Alyvia Alyn Lind) – were last seen being trapped inside a pair of dolls. It’s hard to be enthusiastic about a franchise’s legacy when the production companies managing the series stopped supporting creator Don Mancini’s efforts to keep his baby going. For what is worth, though, Doc of Chucky does its best to endear the hearts of fans.
Shudder’s Doc of Chucky Synopsis
The ultimate account of the Child’s Play film franchise and Chucky, a horror villain for the ages. With contributions from cast, crew, critics, historians, and experts, as well as clips, photographs, archival documents, behind-the-scenes footage, and more, experience the making-of story that proves you can’t keep a good guy down in a series of films that have created an icon.
Shudder Press
Children Playing on Set
Easily the best thing about any “making of” documentary is seeing the cast and crew having fun like little kids. From Don Mancini figuring out the story for the original Child’s Play to Catherine Hicks helping sell the doll’s effects on set, the crew convincing Jennifer Tilly to join the franchise, and injecting queer themes into the films with each installment. It’s reassuring to see the horror series we love be made with such passion behind the camera. Like any Hollywood production, though, the movie series was plagued with issues the cast and the crew had to overcome. Here’s where Doc of Chucky shines through. Sure, it’s fun to see a celebration of horror history. Yet, I’d be lying if I said seeing the filmmakers discuss BTS drama and alternative story beats wasn’t fun.
Hearing Mancini’s original pitch for Child’s Play was fascinating. Initially titled “Bloody Buddy,” the film was supposed to see Andy’s (Alex Vincent) emotions manifest in the Chucky doll rather than be possessed by a serial killer. It would have criticized big corporations for marketing products to children. That theme still made it into the franchise, along with ideas Mancini wasn’t thrilled by. The addition of voodoo was a last-minute change. The idea was to explain how Brad Dourif’s character was able to possess the infamous Chucky doll. I found this fact particularly funny, given how integral it became to Chucky’s journey. It showcases the best creatives must be open to others’ ideas to make something that works for the masses.
The Sequels
Following the success of Child’s Play, a second part was greenlit. Child’s Play 2 did not bring director Tom Holland back due to post-production disagreement on the first film. Holland unsuccessfully tried to take credit for the creation of Chucky. In addition, his behavior with Alex Vincent on set – driving the (at the time) child actor to tears by reminding him of his parent’s divorce – was criticized for being emotionally abusive. John Lafia was brought in to direct as a result. He allowed Mancini to shadow him on set and taught him how production worked.
Despite not being a critical hit, Child’s Play 2 earned enough at the box office to warrant a third entry. Since the initial two installments followed Andy dealing with Chucky’s reign of terror in a family environment, Mancini wanted to switch things up. Thus, the storyline of seeing Andy in military school as a teen was born. Audiences did not respond well to the film, pulling the brakes on the series for nearly six years. Mancini considers Child’s Play 3 his first real experience with failure in his career. Although a disappointment, what the project did do was introduce the franchise’s first character with queer undertones.
A Killer (Doll) Reinvention
When the time came for Chucky to be retaken out of his box, Mancini and series producer David Kirschner came up with the idea of giving Chucky an opposite to play off of. Bride of Chucky takes inspiration from Bride of Frankenstein. The studio didn’t want Jennifer Tilly to play Chucky’s girlfriend, Tiffany, because of her rates after her Oscar nomination. Mancini and Kirschner took pay cuts so they could afford Tilly. By introducing Tiffany, the character became an avenue for Mancini to integrate queer themes into the franchise fully. Tilly effortlessly brought a sense of sex appeal, sass, and on-screen presence. Her dynamic with Dourif immediately enchanted moviegoers, bringing a different, more vulnerable side to Dourif’s performance as Chucky.
With Bride of Chucky embracing the silly nature of Mancini’s mind, the only natural progression was to have the killer dolls conceive a child. If Bride of Chucky was a riff on Bonnie and Clyde, then its follow-up Seed of Chucky made light of family dramas. Mancini talks about studio executives thinking his script was “too gay” and contained “too much” Jennifer Tilly. Seed of Chucky became an allegory of parents expecting their children to be like them. Specifically, the sequel was about fathers yearning for their sons to be masculine. This is represented in Chucky’s desire for Glen/Glenda (Billy Boyd) – the series’ first openly trans lead character – to be a killer. Once the movie was released, it was a critical and financial disaster. Don and the crew think the response was due to how different it was from previous installments.
Back to Basics
Doc of Chucky explains that Seed of Chucky’s failure caused the doll’s killing spree to be paused for about eight years. Universal eventually approached Kirschner to make a direct-to-video Chucky movie. They didn’t want Mancini on board; Kirschner defended him and managed to bring him on board. Horror remakes were popular over a decade ago, so the team played with doing one for Chucky. Eventually, it was decided to do a tonal reboot rather than a straight remake. Curse of Chucky, and later Cult of Chucky, go back to basics, being scary again. Kirschner and Mancini state how both films further the franchise’s lore by having multiple Chuckys, later explored in the now-canceled TV show. The tonal reboot worked, and the series’ critical praise was restored.
He ALWAYS Comes Back
Doc of Chucky’s greatest achievement is making you eager to revisit the franchise and enlightening a hunger for more. In a statement made following Chucky’s cancelation, Mancini took the time to remind fans that the killer doll always finds a way to come back from the dead, no matter how many people (both in the fictional and real world) try to put a stop to him. It is disheartening not knowing when we’ll reunite with the beloved horror icon. However, if Doc of Chucky does something well, it refreshes our minds that when the franchise seems to be getting in trouble, it reinvents itself. I, for one, cannot wait to see what devilish delights Chucky has in store for us next time we meet.
3.5/5
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Currently pursuing a film career with a passion for film journalism, storytelling of any kind has allowed me to let my imagination run wild in ways even I couldn’t predict. Expect me to write about film, TV, and the entertainment industry.
This article was edited by John Tangalin.