Child's Play (Lars Klevberg)

[Dukefrukem]

[Dukefrukem]

I kinda liked the social commentary on smart devices and AI, but I didn't at all buy the origin of Chucky.. a disgruntled Vietnam worker, who takes one of the dolls that he builds, programs and packages, and removes the "violence inhibitor" from the programming before shipping it.

The deaths felt a little bit too complex, especially the one involving the apartment super.

I only heard the Mark Hamill Joker voice squeak through once but thought it was overall pretty unique voice over work for him.

[Rico]

Part of what makes the original films fun is the personality of Chucky. This Chucky was completely lacking in that department.

[Peng]

Way better than its horror remake/reboot tag suggested, a silly but fun, self-aware riff with lively humor and some creative slasher set-pieces. Elevated by crisp craft and finer-than-genre-average acting; the main kid even gives an actual performance. I kind of knew I would be into this when the film somehow allowed Aubrey Plaza to actually retain her persona, just with a kid (as in the early scene where her character managed to lightly threaten her boss into giving up that doll to her). 6.5/10