CHILD'S PLAY

US, 2019, 90 minutes, Colour.
Aubrey Plaza, Mark Hamill, Gabriel Bateman, Brian Tyree Henry, Tim Matheson, David Lewis.
Directed by Lars Klevberg.

In June 2019, three films concerning dolls and toys were released at the same time. However, two of the films had malevolent toys while the third had a whole range of lovable toys. The two horror films were Child’s Play and Annabelle Comes Home, quite a contrast to Toy Story 4.

Annabelle was the third in a series focusing on the destructive Annabelle. Child’s play is a remake of a film of 1989 which had a couple of sequels. The malevolent dolls name was Chucky, causing slashing mayhem in the late 80s, and now reprising mayhem with 21st-century updates – and using the voice of Mark Hamill, a far cry from Luke Skywalker!

The film starts moderately but moves into some ugly deaths and a slashing finale. However, it seems quite genial at first, opening with a very glossy commercial by the head of the company which produces doll-robots, just the right companion for children, a friend for life, called Buddi. But, after sunshine and smiles come grim clouds, the factory in Vietnam where the dolls are made, a supervisor who needs plenty of lessons in human resources skills and fires one of the workers. And, what is a worker to do but sabotage the doll, removing all its protective mechanisms. (Is the filmmaker implying that this is some kind of revenge from Vietnam on the US?).

Aubrey Plaza is Karen, a single mother, bringing up her young son, deaf, Andy (a very engaging and professional performance by Gabriel Bateman). Karen works at the market where the Buddi dolls are sold (and return by disgruntled customers which, of course, leads to her bringing one of the returned toys home for Andy).

Guess which one!

The doll is called Chucky, befriends Andy, mimics words, digitalises images and can reproduce them at will. While there are some friendly memories, Chucky acquires quite a lot of animosity, Andy’s resentment about his vanished father, his wishing that his mother’s boyfriend would disappear, and is not too happy with his cat which cuts into his arm. All for Chucky’s future reference.

There is something of a disturbing sequence when Andy and two of his friends spend time watching horror films on TV, Chainsaw Massacre and Leatherface ugly stuff but, instead of being horrified, they roar with laughter. However, the writers insert this because very soon there is going to be a particular Leatherface episode and, more gruesomely, a circular saw killing.

Andy spends a lot of time trying to get rid of the Leatherface that has appeared in his room, is friendly with a detective and his mother along the corridor of the apartment block, as well as with some of the local friends, building up a lot of tension and, finally, the Z Market with crowds arriving for the countdown for the new edition of the Buddi dolls. Where better to have Chucky take Karen as a hostage, see many of the new dolls turning malevolent, murder and mayhem, the burden of saving his mother falling on Andy.

But, that was what the fans of the Child’s Play movies were expecting!

1. The popularity of the original film in series? 21st-century remake and update?

2. The horror elements of the film? The malevolent all? Violence and killings?/A movie?

3. The fantasy element of the plot? Implausible but intriguing?

4. The commercial, the boss, his explanation of the doll, the best friend, accompanying a child, the children in the commercial? His later reappearance, promoting Buddi 2? His eventually taking responsibility for the disaster – but promising more?

5. The Vietnam opening, the making of the dolls, the dreamer workman, the insults of his supervisor and his being sacked, his malevolent response, taking the barriers from the doll? It is being exported to the United States? And some overtones of Vietnam wreaking some vengeance on the US?

6. Karen, single mother, the father abandoning his wife and son? Her work in the store? The people wanting to return their toys and her reaction? The new toy and the anticipation, the return toy, discussions with the manager about having the toy, emotional blackmail? Her taking it home, the gift for her son, his being alone, not making friends, his deafness?

7. Andi, his age, his father leaving, is expecting everyone to leave? A loner, self-conscious, love for his mother, his finding her with Shane, his resentment of Shane? Out in the corridor, the encounter with the detective and his mother?

8. Karen and Andy, the relationship, Shane is unpleasant, exploiting Karen, resentful towards Andy? Andy and his reactions? The discovery of the chain had his own family?

9. Karen bringing home the doll, the audience knowing it was malevolent, the advertised talents of its being able to speak, respond, help around the house, the best of friends for a child? Setting up the doll? Calling him Chucky?

10. Chucky, his look, Mark Hamill voicing him? His abilities? Mimicry, recording words and actions? Wanting to be Andy’s friend? The buildup to the list of enemies: the hostility of the cat and scratching Andy, Shane and Andy wanting him gone, the detectors mother and Andy being her best friend…?

11. Getting rid of Shane, his going home, bringing down the lights, the latter, his falling, destroying his feet, trying to reach a phone? And the face set up in Andy’s room?
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13. Andi and is making friends with the locals, Pug and Jane, the group of boys, the fascination with Chucky? The watching horror films, Leatherface, chainsaw massacre is…, The intensity of their laughing? The point being made about films and their effect on children?

14. Karen, being upset, putting Chucky in the cupboard, his getting out? The special pleading with Andi?

15. Andi, his friends, putting the Leatherface down the chute? The death of the cat?

16. The caretaker, his leering at Karen, his discovering Chucky, trying to fix him, success, Chucky turning on him, tying him to the pipe, the increase in temperature, the circular saw and his death?

17. The detective, his mother, Andy and the gift, delaying the opening, getting the head putting it down the chute? Chucky watching the meal, the mother saying Andy was her best friend? The app, able to order the car, driverless, going to the bingo, the car and the wheelies, the crash, the mothers death, Chucky’s revenge about the best friend?

18. The buildup to the climax, the crowds lining up for the countdown for the new toy, the owner and the screen with the commercial, the range of new toys – many with the touch of the malevolent, the beers? Karen captured and tied up? The detective and his saving the lives as the toys went berserk? The buildup to the kids, getting control, Andy staying behind to confront Chucky, his destruction?

19. The popularity of this kind of slasher film?