Reviewed by Melissa Antoinette Garza
“I’m one of the most notorious slashers in history! And I don’t wanna give that up. I am Chucky, the killer doll! And I dig it!” -Chucky (Brad Dourif)
The fifth and possible final entry in the CHILD’S PLAY series, “Seed of Chucky” utilizes dark comedy, nostalgia, and a twisted take on family values to create a very decent and fun film.
Chucky (Brad Dourif) and Tiff (Jennifer Tilly) are reunited when their mild mannered, gender confused child, Glen/Glenda (Billy Boyd) seeks out his parents. He first sees the dolls on television and then tracks them down. He resurrects them with the familiar medallion and summons them to life. At first, Chucky doesn’t realize he’s the father and makes fun of Glen(da)’s looks but when he sees the “Made in Japan” stamp both Tiff and Chucky realize that the doll before them is their own spawn.
Tiff decides she wants to create a stable family and when Glen(da) asks his parents to stop killing, Tiff readily agrees. Chucky, on the other hand, hates the idea. While, Tiff reads up on the rules of a 12 step program to kick the addiction of murder, Chucky merely hides his murderous ways from the family.
Meanwhile, actress Jennifer Tilly, who plays herself, is trying to get a role as the Virgin Mary. Tiff whose favorite actress is Tilly decides that she wants to be her. Through forced artificial insemination, Tilly is impregnated with Chucky’s sperm and because of the voodoo pregnancy, she is at a full nine months by morning. The plan is to have Chucky jump into the body of Tilly’s chauffeur, Tiff to occupy Tilly, and for Glen(da) to live inside of the baby. As always, things don’t go entirely as planned and chaos ensues.
“Seed of Chucky” follows the pattern of its predecessor “Bride of Chucky” and continues to be a cult style film. It’s quirky, original and will without a doubt please the fans. Glen(da) was a great addition to the line-up. His/her sensitivity was an interesting choice because the viewers were able to see both Tiff and Chucky in an entirely new light. Chucky did actually become a father. Sure, he was demented and had a really warped sense of right and wrong, but he was a proud daddy nonetheless. Tiff, too, did her best to clean up her act. She even called the widow of someone she killed to apologize.
The dialogue is hilarious. It’s odd that Chucky can stand the test of time and stay as fresh as it was in 1988. Without a doubt, the films keep evolving and Chucky’s attitude has evolved with it.
It was great to see the King of Cult, John Waters in a part larger than a cameo. His character, Pete Peters was a hilarious take on the paparazzi and the only grievance is that he wasn’t on more.
One of the best aspects of “Seed of Chucky” is Jennifer Tilly’s willingness to make fun of herself. There are constant jokes about her dieting, her acting, and the sound of her voice when she speaks. She’s such a great actress who is unique and exciting. It’s always fun to see her on screen and the unusual dual role suited her perfectly.
It would be fascinating if the makers did a prequel of sorts that followed Charles Lee Ray and Tiff’s relationship. Brad Dourif is such a compelling actor and to delve into the life of the Lakeshore Strangler before he turned into Chucky would make for a great production. They could bring back Chris Sarandon, and the fans could witness Officer Mike Norris try to take down the Strangler. Meanwhile, watching Charles and Tiff’s relationship from the beginning would satisfy the Tiff/Chucky fans too.
If this entry was made, one would have to wonder what type of film it would be. Would it attempt to be a more serious horror entry like the first or follow the lightheartedness of the latest entries, or if possible be a combination of both? In the most recent additions, Chucky has become sort of a dark hero. He has the greatest lines, he has a girlfriend, he’s not terrorizing little Andy anymore, and he listens to great music. If that changed, and Charles Lee Ray emerged would he get the same reaction from the fans? I’m not sure, but it would be a great film to see.
As for “Seed of Chucky,” it’s an enjoyable ride from start to finish and one can only hope it’s not the last time we see the killer doll.
Scared Stiff Rating: 7/10