Seed of Chucky Movie Review: By Adam Mast, ZBoneMan.com

Seed of Chucky is a movie I was looking forward to with open arms. Allow me to ramble a bit before I get to the actual review. I have a proud history with Child’s Play that goes back to early 1988. Several months before the film was scheduled for release, I had an opportunity to see a rough cut screening in Sherman Oaks, Ca. It was well before The Boneman and I became friends and well before the creation of this site. Quite obviously, I got a huge kick out of Child’s Play. In fact, I fell right in love with it. Adding to the pleasures of that evening, I was fortunate enough to have a rather lengthy discussion with screenwriter Don Mancini who gave me a lot of interesting dirt on the making of the film. He also indicated that he had no idea if the movie would be a hit, but if it was, he had a concept for a sequel.

If the evening wasn’t already cool enough, I got to appear in a little commercial that they were shooting for the movie. You know - it was one of those dopey little ads where they get reactions from screening attendees. Immediately, I figured that if I was going to have any kind of shot at being in the commercial, I’d better say something silly. And even more to the point, it would be in my best interest to somehow tie in a character from another famous horror series. Thus, it came to me; "Freddy Krueger get out of town!" And wouldn’t you know it? My big claim to fame. A cheesy ass Child’s Play commercial. Who am I kidding? It was a blast.

A couple of months later, I got another surprise. I used to work for this music store in Burbank, CA, and one day, Kevin Yagher (he’s the make-up effects artist responsible for designing and creating the Chucky doll in the first film) walks into the store. We strike up a little conversation and he reveals to me that he’s dating Catherine Hicks (Andy’s mom in the first picture–currently, you can see her on 7th Heaven). The next time he comes in, he brings Hicks along and they sign my Child’s Play standee (which I have to this very day). Ahhh, those were the days. I know I’m rambling, but it was a pretty cool time. It’s the one thing I really miss about living in L.A.

As for Mancini and a sequel, the first picture was a big hit and the screenwriter would go on to write Child’s Play 2 and Child’s Play 3, sequels that sort of capitalized on the whole "let’s turn our killer into the ultimate anti-hero" thing. It worked. While the sequels weren’t as solid as the original (particularly the weak part 3) they were successful. It wasn’t until 1998's Bride of Chucky, however, that the series would take a much welcome turn into the land of high class camp. Bride of Chucky was a moderate success, but unfortunately, the horror genre had taken a beating and studios weren’t eager to produce tales of terror anymore. That is until Cabin Fever (fun but overrated), Freddy Vs. Jason (a major disappointment), the Jeepers Creepers films (I won’t even go there) and the Final Destination movies (pretty creative) made campy horror lucrative again. So, Mr. Mancini dusted off that Seed of Chucky screenplay he had written shortly after Bride of Chucky’s release, and set out to get it produced. Not only did he get greenlit, but he was given the okay to direct as well.

When we last saw Chucky, he was once again dead and defeated, but not before impregnating his sweetheart doll, Tiffany. Seed of Chucky picks up several years later with Chucky and Tiff’s offspring suffering from nightmares and wanting to know more about where he/she came from. He/she is working as a dummy for an abusive ventriloquist who keeps him/her locked in a cage - in what seemed to be a bizarre ode to The Elephant Man. Meanwhile, out in Hollywood, film producers are in the middle of production on a film inspired by the actual Chucky/Tiffany murders (the movie stars Jennifer Tilly). Before long, Chucky and Tiff are brought back to life on set through the magical powers of voodoo, and come face to face with their child. For much of the film, Chucky and Tiffany fight over whether or not their kid is a girl or boy, confusing the already timid youngster. Chucky is dismayed to discover that his young one isn’t in the least bit interested in evil or senseless bloodshed, so he sets out to show him/her the ropes - while Tiffany attempts to line up some human hosts who they can transfer their souls into.

Obviously, the Child’s Play series is strictly going for laughs these days, and Seed of Chucky has plenty of them. It’s yet another sly little stab at Hollywood while paying homage to it at the same time (watch for winks at Halloween, Pyscho and countless other works of horror). It’s also savagely mean spirited, but in a playful way. Jennifer Tilly spends most of the picture attacking herself verbally (she plays both Tiffany the doll and herself), and while it gets a little old, I was thoroughly amused by it.

Seed of Chucky also benefits from being incredibly excessive. It’s raunchy and gleefully gory, and I loved that Don Mancini pays tribute to the kings of schlock. Not only does he give trash-master John Waters a supporting role, but he also has a running gag in the picture revolving around the naming of Chucky and Tiffany’s kid. The proud parents argue over whether they should call the young one Glen or Glenda, a hilarious nod to Ed Wood.

The puppets are terrific. I wasn’t as impressed by them as I was by the ones in the current Team America, but I still got a kick out of watching these creations do their thing. Chucky (voiced by a hilarious Brad Dourif) is meaner than ever and getting to see him masturbate was a special added treat. Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly) is, perhaps, the sexiest piece of plastic I’ve ever seen and, yes, she does have a nude scene. My favorite puppet is the androgenous Glen/Glenda (voiced by The Lord of the Rings’ Billy Boyd). Looking like a sleep deprived Clay Aiken, I busted up every time he/she was on screen, and Boyd’s shy and withdrawn vocal work is spot on.

Though I really enjoyed what Don Mancini’s done here, the movie doesn’t always work. Jennifer Tilly’s human performance (if you want to call it that) is more wooden than her puppet counterpart, and Redman isn’t particularly funny as a film director. Some of the jokes fall flat and the last ten minutes of the movie are wildly out of control, particularly the last frame. Still, I loved the whole tongue-in-cheek vibe of the movie and I had fun with the countless horror film references.

The Seed of Chucky isn’t scary in the slightest, but it is lively and a worthy follow up to the last entertaining chapter. And it sure beats the hell out of Parts 2 and 3. Here’s to hoping that Don Mancini does something even more twisted with the next installment. I’ll be there.

Grade: B-

Adam Mast, ZBoneMan.com