Curse of Chucky

It’s clear immediately that Curse of Chucky marks an effort to return to the more-horrific-than-comedic atmosphere of the series’ first installment, as the movie echoes Child’s Play slow-burn vibe and emphasis on gory, suspense-oriented kill sequences. The narrative follows wheelchair-bound Nica (Fiona Dourif) as she attempts to cope with the death of her mother and subsequent arrival of several relatives, with the mysterious appearance of a seemingly harmless Good Guy doll setting off a chain reaction of murder and mayhem. Don Mancini does an effective job of immediately separating Curse of Chucky from its two most recent predecessors, as the filmmaker has infused the proceedings with a palpably atmospheric feel that’s reflected in its various attributes – with the stylish visuals and creepy, gothic set design certainly perpetuating the movie’s dark vibe. Mancini’s back to basics approach generally proves effective at compensating for the film’s few deficiencies, including what is an obviously low budget, and yet there’s little doubt the writer/director occasionally pushes the movie’s deliberateness a little too far (ie the whole thing drags somewhat, especially during the midsection). But such concerns become moot once the third act rolls around, as this portion of Curse of Chucky boasts a gleefully visceral feel that’s heightened by a closing stretch clearly designed to please longtime fans of this erratic franchise – which ultimately does ensure that the wait for the next installment is going to be a very long one indeed.

*** out of ****