CHILD'S PLAY

US, 1988, 87 minutes, Colour.
Catherine Hicks, Chris Sarandon, Brad Dourif, Alex Vincent, Dinah Manoff.
Directed by Tom Holland.

Child's Play is quite an effective horror thriller, a 1988 variation on the old devil doll theme. A manic criminal (played eerily by Brad Dourif - seen to effect in such films as Cuckoo's Nest and Blue Velvet) inhabits an innocent looking Good Guy doll. Katherine Hicks is very good as the anxious mother.

Chris Sarandon (who appeared as the vampire in Tom Holland's Fright Night) is the police inspector. Alex Vincent is excellent and persuasive as the boy.

Script and director are by Tom Holland (Psycho 3, Fright Night).

1. Interesting and enjoyable horror movie? Nightmare? The tone of amazing stories and Twilight Zone?

2. Variation on the devil doll?

3. The work of Tom Holland, writing and directing horror? Audiences identifying with plot and characters?

4. The blend of the Chicago police thriller with the horror story: storms, incantations, transmigration of soul, dolls, violence?

5. Chicago, the emphasis on night sequences, apartments, the slums? The special effects and the stunt work? The character of Chucky the doll? Special effects? Musical score and atmosphere?

6. The prologue and James Lee Ray: the pursuit, the shooting, his vicious attitudes, into the toy shop, his being shot, the incantation, the storm, the explosion? Mike and his pursuit, Eddie and his leaving the scene?

7. Karen and Andy preparing the breakfast (messily)? The TV and the Good Guy dolls? His birthday, his mother giving him to clothes? His wanting the Good Guy doll? Her getting it and giving it to him? His happiness? The introduction to Chucky and the Good Guy sayings, innocent look?

8. Karen, widow, at work, money, loving her son, buying the doll in the alleyway? Her friendship with Maggie, the boss at the shop? Working late? Maggie and her babysitting? The 9 o'clock news and Chucky wanting to watch it? His coming back and watching the television? The eerie atmosphere, the phone call? Chucky and his pursuit of Maggie and her death?

9. Mike and the police, the investigations, Karen and her arriving home, apprehension, anti-police? The footprints in the flour? Andy and his story?

10. Andy going to school, talking to Chucky, Chucky persuading him to take the train, into the slum-house, the confrontation with Eddie and Chucky killing Eddie? The police station and the interrogation, the police not believing Andy, his being sent to the asylum?

11. Mike and the continued investigation, Karen and the story, checking the file, the car drama with Chucky in the car, Karen going to the slums to seem out the doll-seller, the attack and rescue by Mike?

12. Karen and the story, concern, Chucky not having any batteries but still working, her going to tell Mike?

13. Chucky going to pursue Mike, going to John and discussing the incantation, killing him? Going to pursue Andy, the asylum, following them home, the pursuit around the apartment, the incantation over Andy?

14. Mike and Karen joining forces, going to John, getting the information from him? Going to the apartment, trying to rescue Andy, the wounding of Mike, the long fight with the doll, the doll's revenge? The policeman and his disbelief and the attack?

15. The ending - resolution? Sequel?

16. Audiences enjoying this kind of imaginative horror? What if...?