Perhaps I just was in an exceptionally optimistic and generous mood when I watched it, but I quite liked the previous installment "Curse of Chucky". Especially after the dreadfully awful "Seed of Chucky" in 2004, "Curse of Chucky" felt like a far more mature and good old- fashioned horrific revival of the franchise with the emphasis on suspense and plot rather than on stupid slapstick one-liners. Unfortunately it was a lucky shot, as this direct sequel is once again a largely ludicrous and inept hash. The slayings are still joyously blood-soaked and the mysteriously captivating Fiona Dourif (daughter of) returns as leading lady, but the screenplay is pure nonsense and Chucky is again a sneering jester instead of a menacing killer. The story continues quite logically, with Nica Pierce submitted to a heavily guarded mental institution after the bloody events of the previous film. Her psychiatrist, Dr. Foley, arranges for Nica to be transferred to a less strict clinic and participate in group therapy. Andy Barclay, Charles Lee Ray original target victim, is also still around and keeps the heavily mutilated leftovers of the possessed Chucky doll in a safe at his house. Meanwhile, a number of Good Guy dolls are being sent to the clinic and they ALL appear to be possessed with Chucky's cheerful persona. The explanation for why all the dolls are simultaneously possessed is cheap, imbecilic and downright preposterous. Don Mancini sort of made his life's work out of the "Child's Play / Chucky" series. He wrote all films since the 1988 original and took over directing them since 2004. He'll probably never make anything else, but maybe he should. I think we've seen enough Chucky movies by now, even though the gore & splatter always remains worthwhile. The seventh installment contains, for example, an ingenious decapitation and a delightful head-crushing.
212 Reviews
Dull and underwhelming sequel
Groverdox13 February 2018
Warning: Spoilers
For most of "Cult of Chucky"'s run-time, I was thinking that any fan of the series could have come up with a better movie than this. But then in the last twenty or so minutes, I saw a bit of what the movie should have been for its entire length. Chucky is barely even in it up until these last moments, and there is barely any violence, or attempt to scare.
The title "Cult of Chucky" seems to imply that the movie features a quasi-religious "cult" who worships the killer doll. This is not true, but it would have been interesting. Rather, it features more than one killer Chucky doll, at the end at least. It doesn't do anything with this idea and it hardly seems to matter to the plot. Instead it goes for the whole "heroine from the last movie is now in an asylum because nobody believes her story" route. It's pretty underwhelming.
Fans of the series might nevertheless be interested in seeing Alex Vincent, the actor who played Andy in the original three Childs' Play movies, returning as an adult. Jennifer Tilly also makes a few appearances, presumably for the sake of tying this movie to "Bride of Chucky" and "Seed of Chucky" in continuity. She doesn't really do anything here other than appear.
Fiona Dourif, daughter of Brad (the voice of Chucky in every entry, including this one), also returns as the protagonist. She's really the bright spot here; her performance is about the only spark of creativity in the whole movie. Toward the end, they seem to be trying to make her look even more like her daddy.
The title "Cult of Chucky" seems to imply that the movie features a quasi-religious "cult" who worships the killer doll. This is not true, but it would have been interesting. Rather, it features more than one killer Chucky doll, at the end at least. It doesn't do anything with this idea and it hardly seems to matter to the plot. Instead it goes for the whole "heroine from the last movie is now in an asylum because nobody believes her story" route. It's pretty underwhelming.
Fans of the series might nevertheless be interested in seeing Alex Vincent, the actor who played Andy in the original three Childs' Play movies, returning as an adult. Jennifer Tilly also makes a few appearances, presumably for the sake of tying this movie to "Bride of Chucky" and "Seed of Chucky" in continuity. She doesn't really do anything here other than appear.
Fiona Dourif, daughter of Brad (the voice of Chucky in every entry, including this one), also returns as the protagonist. She's really the bright spot here; her performance is about the only spark of creativity in the whole movie. Toward the end, they seem to be trying to make her look even more like her daddy.
So there is a cult now, eh?...
paul_haakonsen17 June 2018
I have been watching the Chucky movies ever since the first one, and I am one to say that the franchise has been on a downward slide for a long, long time. Granted, I haven't been much of a fan actually, although most of the movies are enjoyable for what they were, but never reaching anywhere near along the likes of Jason Voorhees or Freddy Krueger.
"Cult of Chucky" is, at best, a less than mediocre movie. They should have stopped this franchise a long time ago. It is now at a point where it starts to become embarrassing to the franchise.
So now Chucky can suddenly possess multiple bodies at once? Right, sure, evolution, why not?
I will admit that the actors and actresses in "Cult of Chucky" did put on some good acting performances. And they actually assembled a good cast for portraying the various characters and roles throughout the movie.
The movie definitely has good special effects, which also do carry the movie quite a way.
When it comes down to it, then "Cult of Chucky" wasn't a particularly thrilling addition to the "Child's Play" franchise, nor was it a particularly memorable movie by or in itself.
"Cult of Chucky" is, at best, a less than mediocre movie. They should have stopped this franchise a long time ago. It is now at a point where it starts to become embarrassing to the franchise.
So now Chucky can suddenly possess multiple bodies at once? Right, sure, evolution, why not?
I will admit that the actors and actresses in "Cult of Chucky" did put on some good acting performances. And they actually assembled a good cast for portraying the various characters and roles throughout the movie.
The movie definitely has good special effects, which also do carry the movie quite a way.
When it comes down to it, then "Cult of Chucky" wasn't a particularly thrilling addition to the "Child's Play" franchise, nor was it a particularly memorable movie by or in itself.
*shrug* I thought this was even better than Curse
horrorgasm30 September 2017
I don't know what all the complaining's about. I thought this was the best Child's Play in quite some time. Curse was a solid entry in the series, but personally I didn't find its return to the more serious tone of the original movie to be the greatest thing that ever happened to the series, like most people seem to believe.
No, I much preferred Cult, which instead of moving backwards and retreading the original movie, goes forward in an interesting new direction. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll just say there's a new spin introduced to the classic concept of Chucky that leads to some interesting plot twists and some crazy possibilities for the future.
Yes, there's some pretty silly stuff happening sometimes (though not anywhere near as cheesy as 4 and 5), but this is a long-running horror franchise from the 80's, what do you expect? I thought the balance of seriousness and ridiculousness was just right in this case.
I disagree with the claims that the movie was too slow. Yes, there's not a lot of death in the beginning, but the script is well-written and the cast is solid and they both carry it well as things start gradually ramping up until the complete insanity of the final act. By the time it was over I was so into it that I was sad to see it end already. I really hope that Mancini picks right up where he left off here, because I really want to see where he takes all these strange new developments and Cult of Chucky has left me more excited for the future of this franchise than I have been in decades.
No, I much preferred Cult, which instead of moving backwards and retreading the original movie, goes forward in an interesting new direction. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll just say there's a new spin introduced to the classic concept of Chucky that leads to some interesting plot twists and some crazy possibilities for the future.
Yes, there's some pretty silly stuff happening sometimes (though not anywhere near as cheesy as 4 and 5), but this is a long-running horror franchise from the 80's, what do you expect? I thought the balance of seriousness and ridiculousness was just right in this case.
I disagree with the claims that the movie was too slow. Yes, there's not a lot of death in the beginning, but the script is well-written and the cast is solid and they both carry it well as things start gradually ramping up until the complete insanity of the final act. By the time it was over I was so into it that I was sad to see it end already. I really hope that Mancini picks right up where he left off here, because I really want to see where he takes all these strange new developments and Cult of Chucky has left me more excited for the future of this franchise than I have been in decades.
Exhausted Franchise
claudio_carvalho3 June 2018
Thirty years ago it was released "Child's Play" with the cult Chucky, a killer doll possessed by the soul of a serial killer. The sequels are watchable downfalls of the original movie, but unfortunately "The Curse of Chucky" was a breath to the franchise. However "Cult of Chucky" shows that the franchise is completely exhausted, with a boring and stupid story. The worst: the ending is a cliffhanger for another sequel. My vote is four.
Title (Brazil): "O Culto de Chucky" ("The Cult of Chucky")
Title (Brazil): "O Culto de Chucky" ("The Cult of Chucky")
Hard crowd to please
weemonk27 September 2017
Wow. A lot of people seem hard to please on here. Most series are struggling by the 7th entry (7 stars appropriate) having ruined continuity, rehashed the same formula seen before or by having lost original cast members. A Nightmare on Elm Street had to switch it up to 'it's a movie but not', Halloween had to bring JLC back, Saw was calling it a day, Hellraiser was already screwed and Friday the 13th gave the heroine telekinetic powers to spice things up. It's damn hard to keep a series going and adding new ideas.
I thought this entry had a lot going for it. Whilst only glimpsed post credits in Curse, Cult sees Andy Barclay back and all grown up since the first 2 entries and also with the original actor, Alex Vincent. Thanks to his childhood run-ins with Chucky, Andy is pretty bad ass taking no crap and is out to to stop him (much alike Tommy in Friday the 13th Part 6 which was a bloody good entry).
One reviewer said this was cheap in production. This is what I thought of Curse, of which after 2 attempts of watching it, 4 years later (thanks to Cult) I revisited that film and watched it ignoring the lesser production budget. I was maybe a bit harsh. Cult employs animatronics over CGI at every turn apart from one shot that I could see of. I much more prefer this as animatronics still work the best for this character even in this modern CGI world.
The kills are a throwback to some other films but overall are fantastic for gore with one drill scene which would have had the censors in uproar a couple of decades ago.
I love the continuity for this film as everything in previous entries is in place and hasn't been changed with many a nod to earlier entries. For fans of the series this does show the love Mr Mancini has when writing these later entries. Add to this all the familiar cast are back including Fiona Dourif who turns out to be an excellent piece of casting (being the real life daughter of we know who) when 'expanding' her role later in the film (I'll not give anything away on that).
Lastly, people seem divided on the humour in the series. I personally enjoy it. This entry has the humour lacking from Curse which I found a bit bland without it. This entry has enough without being too OTT like Bride or Seed. It's probably my favourite entry and a while since I've seen it but i recall CP2 having some dark humour so stop moaning those who don't like it.
Overall the entry managed to breath some new life to the series with a new concept that could prove interesting if used minimally (again not saying more)....we are on entry 7 but it ain't telekinesis! The series has moved away from cinema release so the budget is never going to be what it used to be. This can be seen now and then but thankfully not when it comes to the FX for Chucky.
Child's Play/Chucky films are what they are - about a murderous doll who kills people. They are watched by fans who know what they are getting. I look forward to entry 8 and seeing where things go. Make sure you watch after the credits!
I thought this entry had a lot going for it. Whilst only glimpsed post credits in Curse, Cult sees Andy Barclay back and all grown up since the first 2 entries and also with the original actor, Alex Vincent. Thanks to his childhood run-ins with Chucky, Andy is pretty bad ass taking no crap and is out to to stop him (much alike Tommy in Friday the 13th Part 6 which was a bloody good entry).
One reviewer said this was cheap in production. This is what I thought of Curse, of which after 2 attempts of watching it, 4 years later (thanks to Cult) I revisited that film and watched it ignoring the lesser production budget. I was maybe a bit harsh. Cult employs animatronics over CGI at every turn apart from one shot that I could see of. I much more prefer this as animatronics still work the best for this character even in this modern CGI world.
The kills are a throwback to some other films but overall are fantastic for gore with one drill scene which would have had the censors in uproar a couple of decades ago.
I love the continuity for this film as everything in previous entries is in place and hasn't been changed with many a nod to earlier entries. For fans of the series this does show the love Mr Mancini has when writing these later entries. Add to this all the familiar cast are back including Fiona Dourif who turns out to be an excellent piece of casting (being the real life daughter of we know who) when 'expanding' her role later in the film (I'll not give anything away on that).
Lastly, people seem divided on the humour in the series. I personally enjoy it. This entry has the humour lacking from Curse which I found a bit bland without it. This entry has enough without being too OTT like Bride or Seed. It's probably my favourite entry and a while since I've seen it but i recall CP2 having some dark humour so stop moaning those who don't like it.
Overall the entry managed to breath some new life to the series with a new concept that could prove interesting if used minimally (again not saying more)....we are on entry 7 but it ain't telekinesis! The series has moved away from cinema release so the budget is never going to be what it used to be. This can be seen now and then but thankfully not when it comes to the FX for Chucky.
Child's Play/Chucky films are what they are - about a murderous doll who kills people. They are watched by fans who know what they are getting. I look forward to entry 8 and seeing where things go. Make sure you watch after the credits!
Well....um....it's Better Than Seed of Chucky
ralo22925 September 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I wish I could say I was disappointed, but let's be honest. With the exception of Child's Play and Curse of Chucky, the Chucky films have been varying levels of suck. And while I can't say it's anywhere near as bad as some of the other ones, it's still not really that good per se.
-Most of the acting was pretty bland except for Fiona Douriff, Alex Vincent, and of course Brad Douriff who's always fun to watch as Chucky.
-Kind of like Curse of Chucky, the only memorable and/or interesting characters were Nicca and Chucky.
-It is refreshing to see Alex Vincent reprise his role as Andy Barclay after his last major appearance in Child's Play 2, but if you've seen the film, you'd know that it's also beyond disappointing considering how he never plays much of a role in the plot. Fan service? Perhaps.
-The story was extremely repetitive. Most of the movie consists of this: Chucky kills someone, Nicca claims that it was Chucky's fault, nobody believes her. Rinse, lather, and repeat for three fourths of the movie. In the film's final act, it does get a little interesting when it's revealed that Chucky has learned how to transfer his soul into multiple bodies at once. But then that ends before it can get fully utilized.
-There's a disturbing lack of extras. That may not sound like an actual criticism to you, but hear me out. The entire film takes place inside of a mental institution, yet the only patients we see are the supporting and main characters, one psychiatrist, and two orderlies. We never see any other staff members or patients besides them and it really made me question if this was just the most understaffed and underutilized mental institution in the world. Chances are the low budget didn't allow for a huge cast. Curse of Chucky had an advantage in that regard considering how most of the film took place in a house and most of the characters consisted of the main character's family. So extras weren't really needed anyway. But if you're setting your film in a big facility, do you really expect me to buy that the staff only consists of three people? Others may not agree and might say I'm nitpicking, but it was very distracting.
All in all, it's not very good. It's nowhere near as bad as say Child's Play 3 or Seed of Chucky, but it's far from the pleasant surprise that Curse of Chucky was. You might enjoy it if you're a die hard Chucky fan, but if you're not, well then I can't help you.
-Most of the acting was pretty bland except for Fiona Douriff, Alex Vincent, and of course Brad Douriff who's always fun to watch as Chucky.
-Kind of like Curse of Chucky, the only memorable and/or interesting characters were Nicca and Chucky.
-It is refreshing to see Alex Vincent reprise his role as Andy Barclay after his last major appearance in Child's Play 2, but if you've seen the film, you'd know that it's also beyond disappointing considering how he never plays much of a role in the plot. Fan service? Perhaps.
-The story was extremely repetitive. Most of the movie consists of this: Chucky kills someone, Nicca claims that it was Chucky's fault, nobody believes her. Rinse, lather, and repeat for three fourths of the movie. In the film's final act, it does get a little interesting when it's revealed that Chucky has learned how to transfer his soul into multiple bodies at once. But then that ends before it can get fully utilized.
-There's a disturbing lack of extras. That may not sound like an actual criticism to you, but hear me out. The entire film takes place inside of a mental institution, yet the only patients we see are the supporting and main characters, one psychiatrist, and two orderlies. We never see any other staff members or patients besides them and it really made me question if this was just the most understaffed and underutilized mental institution in the world. Chances are the low budget didn't allow for a huge cast. Curse of Chucky had an advantage in that regard considering how most of the film took place in a house and most of the characters consisted of the main character's family. So extras weren't really needed anyway. But if you're setting your film in a big facility, do you really expect me to buy that the staff only consists of three people? Others may not agree and might say I'm nitpicking, but it was very distracting.
All in all, it's not very good. It's nowhere near as bad as say Child's Play 3 or Seed of Chucky, but it's far from the pleasant surprise that Curse of Chucky was. You might enjoy it if you're a die hard Chucky fan, but if you're not, well then I can't help you.
The bad Chucky is back
pedroquintaoo25 September 2017
The first 2 Child's Play movies were good and then it only received bad films, until 2013 when The Curse of Chucky gave some life to the franchise.
I was with high expectations because I liked the previous film, however The Cult of Chucky is really bad like The Seed of Chucky (or even worse). The story is a mess, stupid and boring, the kills are bad and the characters are just uninteresting. However this installment has some good jokes and tries to give some life to this franchise,and the characters of Fiona Dourif and Alex Vincent are fine.
In my opinion this movie should start with what we've seen during the ending, that would open an opportunity for a good and interesting story.
If there will be a sequel, I hope will be different, more violent, funny without being ridiculous and with good characters.
Chucky is back, but we have seen him in better days.
Rating: 3.5/10
I was with high expectations because I liked the previous film, however The Cult of Chucky is really bad like The Seed of Chucky (or even worse). The story is a mess, stupid and boring, the kills are bad and the characters are just uninteresting. However this installment has some good jokes and tries to give some life to this franchise,and the characters of Fiona Dourif and Alex Vincent are fine.
In my opinion this movie should start with what we've seen during the ending, that would open an opportunity for a good and interesting story.
If there will be a sequel, I hope will be different, more violent, funny without being ridiculous and with good characters.
Chucky is back, but we have seen him in better days.
Rating: 3.5/10
Chuck Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
Minus_The_Beer7 October 2017
The old adage that "big things come in small packages" has definitely proved to be true for the "Child's Play" films. Somehow, against all odds, this little guy has legs, becoming the most enduring and consistent horror movie franchise in recent memory, spanning and surviving three decades, without retcons or reboots. A big part of that success lies at the feet of writer turned writer- director, Don Mancini, who has been at the helm since the beginning, ensuring consistency throughout each installment. Also along for the ride since the beginning is the indispensable Brad Dourif as killer turned killer-doll, Chucky. Dourif's manic and often hilarious vocal performance combined with Mancini's "anything goes" sensibility makes each film a true pleasure to watch. All of that fan-pleasing, funny-bone teasing goodness is back for the seventh film, "Cult of Chucky."
Picking up where 2013's "Curse of Chucky" left off, "Cult of Chucky" finds Nica (Fiona Dourif) now committed to a mental institution. Nica has been pummeled by electro-shock therapy into believing she killed her whole family, so it's up to Chucky's original nemesis, Andy (played by a now fully-grown Alex Vincent), to come to her rescue and put childish things away, once and for all. Along the way, he has to contend with Chucky's on-again/off-again lover, Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly), who has now inhabited the body of Jennifer Tilly. Confused? Well, watch the other movies.
Though it's the second film in the series to be sent direct-to- video, the quality has most certainly not dipped with "Cult of Chucky." Mancini returns to the director's chair for the third time, and his visual style is very much informed by his time spent working on NBC's short-lived "Hannibal." Along for the ride is special effects guy Tony Gardner, who turns in some of his most impressive work to date. The film is riddled with practical effects that are not only convincing, but inspiring. If a DTV sequel can have special effects that put similar theatrical releases to shame, maybe there's hope for the future of the genre after all. On the acting front, Fiona Dourif digs deeper into her character and really seems to relish going slowly mad. The elder Dourif, meanwhile, is as crazy and charming as ever as the voice of everyone's killer doll. Vincent's return to the franchise is definite cause for celebration. His performance is a little wooden, but when you consider he gave up acting some 25 years ago, it's easy to cut him some slack. His presence is enough, as far as this fan is concerned. Speaking of presence, Jennifer Tilly is still an absolute bombshell, and her character feels very lived-in and is now an essential component of the franchise.
The film has a few surprises you won't see coming, and you'll definitely want to stay until the very end, friend. Like "Curse" before it, "Cult of Chucky" plays the fan service game without insulting its audience. There's plenty of fresh ideas stirred among the nostalgia, and Mancini's mythology will probably require an extensive road map going forward. The humor is good, the horror is well-done and the film looks and sounds appropriately cold and crisp (shout out to composer Joe Loduca, of "Evil Dead" fame). It's all in good, gory fun. Fans who have made it this far will find this "Cult" worthy of worship.
Picking up where 2013's "Curse of Chucky" left off, "Cult of Chucky" finds Nica (Fiona Dourif) now committed to a mental institution. Nica has been pummeled by electro-shock therapy into believing she killed her whole family, so it's up to Chucky's original nemesis, Andy (played by a now fully-grown Alex Vincent), to come to her rescue and put childish things away, once and for all. Along the way, he has to contend with Chucky's on-again/off-again lover, Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly), who has now inhabited the body of Jennifer Tilly. Confused? Well, watch the other movies.
Though it's the second film in the series to be sent direct-to- video, the quality has most certainly not dipped with "Cult of Chucky." Mancini returns to the director's chair for the third time, and his visual style is very much informed by his time spent working on NBC's short-lived "Hannibal." Along for the ride is special effects guy Tony Gardner, who turns in some of his most impressive work to date. The film is riddled with practical effects that are not only convincing, but inspiring. If a DTV sequel can have special effects that put similar theatrical releases to shame, maybe there's hope for the future of the genre after all. On the acting front, Fiona Dourif digs deeper into her character and really seems to relish going slowly mad. The elder Dourif, meanwhile, is as crazy and charming as ever as the voice of everyone's killer doll. Vincent's return to the franchise is definite cause for celebration. His performance is a little wooden, but when you consider he gave up acting some 25 years ago, it's easy to cut him some slack. His presence is enough, as far as this fan is concerned. Speaking of presence, Jennifer Tilly is still an absolute bombshell, and her character feels very lived-in and is now an essential component of the franchise.
The film has a few surprises you won't see coming, and you'll definitely want to stay until the very end, friend. Like "Curse" before it, "Cult of Chucky" plays the fan service game without insulting its audience. There's plenty of fresh ideas stirred among the nostalgia, and Mancini's mythology will probably require an extensive road map going forward. The humor is good, the horror is well-done and the film looks and sounds appropriately cold and crisp (shout out to composer Joe Loduca, of "Evil Dead" fame). It's all in good, gory fun. Fans who have made it this far will find this "Cult" worthy of worship.
Trash, this movie is destined for the dollar bin and that is still asking too much!
bkmetsfan6 October 2017
Warning: Spoilers
May contain slight spoilers but ending will not be talked about. This movie is trash and i will happily explain why. First and foremost, the majority of the movie, you will be scratching your head, thinking, what is going on? does Andy have Chucky imprisoned? is Chucky already in the DR's office or is Chucky dropped off when Jennifer Tilly makes an appearance. Take everything that you remember from the first six movies, any and all rules to the voodoo magic that gave Charles Lee Ray life in a doll and toss them in the trash because that is what they did when they made this movie. And they cheaply tried to explain it, towards the end of the movies, in a minute and failed. This movie has gore but the cheap kind of gore. The kind of gore that is supposed to make up for crappy writing with no direction. This movie wants to be scary and it fails. Jennifer Tilly is a hell of an actress do not know why she bothered with this movie, same for Alex Vincent. What a way to stick your middle finger at the loyal fans who appreciated the simplicity of Chucky. I even felt the curse of Chucky was worth a one time watch. This trash is an insult and i wont be watching any more trash that they force out. Garbage of a movie, you have been warned.
'Cult of Chucky' FrightFest Premiere Review: A Good Guy Fun Ride!'
jameswdevine25 August 2017
Back at the start of July I managed to secure tickets to the opening day of FrightFest 2017. As soon as I heard Cult of Chucky was going to be having its World Premiere there, I jumped at the chance and paid money for a day pass
even though this was the only movie on Thursday that I REALLY needed to see. Like hell was I risking the single tickets not being available and me missing the chance to see Chucky back on the big screen.
The Positive
Like all of the Chucky films, Brad Dourif is an absolute delight as the voice of our favourite killer doll. I really felt that the events that transpired in the movie aided in showing how much passion Mr. Dourif still has for voicing the character and the range he has as a voice actor. I'll keep my praise in the family and say that I was a huge fan of Fiona Dourif as the returning character Nica, who has some VERY interesting character development throughout the movie whilst coming to terms with her actions in Curse of Chucky and facing Chucky once more.
Unlike most sequels that seem to throw continuity out, this movie does great job at throwing back to the previous entries in the franchise in subtle, yet fun, ways! (there may even be a cameo or two).
One thing I was extremely happy about was the amount of gore and practical effects used in the movie. There is no noticeable CGI Chucky like the one in Curse and it looked like the majority of the Chucky doll scenes were done using animatronics and puppetry.
The gore in the movie is on point and not overused to the point of overkill. I mean, don't get me wrong, there are some pretty brutal kill scenes, but not gallon upon gallon of blood split and spraying all over the place.
Don Mancini was so passionate about the franchise he built when he was doing the Q&A and urged the fans in the room to go out and support this one so that they can continue telling the story we were left with at the end, although I won't be divulging that information until October.
The Negative
My main gripe with the movie is that it felt lacking in the plot department. A lot of new concepts were introduced but with little explanation, although Don did say these would be addressed in a future installment if this one performs with the fans.
Fans of Bride and Seed will be happy to know that Chucky is at his witty best, but I know that a lot of fans take issue with the mixture of both humour and horror. Although the effects were great, there were still one or two set pieces that looked a little off but I can appreciate that this is a low budget affair when you compare it to current Hollywood horror movies.
It is a solid entry in a franchise that is already six installments strong and it also manages to breathe new life into what most may think is a tired concept. I firmly believe both fans of the original Child's Play series and Bride, Seed, and Curse of Chucky will be very happy at what is on display in this installment and will be begging for another one come closing credits.
The Positive
Like all of the Chucky films, Brad Dourif is an absolute delight as the voice of our favourite killer doll. I really felt that the events that transpired in the movie aided in showing how much passion Mr. Dourif still has for voicing the character and the range he has as a voice actor. I'll keep my praise in the family and say that I was a huge fan of Fiona Dourif as the returning character Nica, who has some VERY interesting character development throughout the movie whilst coming to terms with her actions in Curse of Chucky and facing Chucky once more.
Unlike most sequels that seem to throw continuity out, this movie does great job at throwing back to the previous entries in the franchise in subtle, yet fun, ways! (there may even be a cameo or two).
One thing I was extremely happy about was the amount of gore and practical effects used in the movie. There is no noticeable CGI Chucky like the one in Curse and it looked like the majority of the Chucky doll scenes were done using animatronics and puppetry.
The gore in the movie is on point and not overused to the point of overkill. I mean, don't get me wrong, there are some pretty brutal kill scenes, but not gallon upon gallon of blood split and spraying all over the place.
Don Mancini was so passionate about the franchise he built when he was doing the Q&A and urged the fans in the room to go out and support this one so that they can continue telling the story we were left with at the end, although I won't be divulging that information until October.
The Negative
My main gripe with the movie is that it felt lacking in the plot department. A lot of new concepts were introduced but with little explanation, although Don did say these would be addressed in a future installment if this one performs with the fans.
Fans of Bride and Seed will be happy to know that Chucky is at his witty best, but I know that a lot of fans take issue with the mixture of both humour and horror. Although the effects were great, there were still one or two set pieces that looked a little off but I can appreciate that this is a low budget affair when you compare it to current Hollywood horror movies.
It is a solid entry in a franchise that is already six installments strong and it also manages to breathe new life into what most may think is a tired concept. I firmly believe both fans of the original Child's Play series and Bride, Seed, and Curse of Chucky will be very happy at what is on display in this installment and will be begging for another one come closing credits.
Welcome to the Dollhouse cult at Frightfest brought straight to you
KillerRomance25 August 2017
Warning: Spoilers
This is the seventh instalment of the Child's play Franchise, which I am lucky to be at the eighteenth Frightfest film festival. This is my first time and I had a dream come true to see a Chucky movie premiere. If you think Curse of Chucky is good, Cult of Chucky is even better, and here is why with major spoilers.
It's been four years since the Pierce family were murdered. Andy Barclay (Vincent) has a date with Rachel in a swanky restaurant as they both drank white wine. Rachel probed further as Andy explained Aunt Maggie's demise, she finds it too overwhelming and leaves Andy abandoned at the restaurant. Andy Barclay morose about his life situation came home in his cabin with hunted game trophies hung on the wall and armoury, nothing but beer stack in the fridge. Opens a security safe and the blasted head of Chucky from the last movie begins to tease and sneers at Andy, so with a blowtorch Chucky gets some torture but remained alive. Barclay vows to find Nica Pierce.
Nica is moving from Lockmore hospital to a less security psychiatric ward called Harrogate psychiatric hospital when she meets Claire, Multiple Malcolm and others. As Nica was settling in with a brief affair with Malcolm, then Tiffany Valentine (Jennifer Tilly) as Alice's legal Guardian brings tragic news to Nica that made her weep, as she comes to terms with her great loss, a Chucky doll is brought into therapy session, one patient accepts the doll as her child, Nica explained in realisation that the woman who visited her was Charles Lee Ray's Girlfriend and Chucky "serial killer in the eighties who murdered twenty-two people" during his human years, of course nobody believes her, Dr Foley claimed about 20 percent of good guy dolls are called Chucky and her delusions are perpetual, and to prove it, he burns Chucky's hand. Clare storms off with the doll to dispose as he bit her arm, she alerts people but they lock her up, and she dies.
Nica was on the verge of committing suicide when Chucky wrote in blood "not so fast" and the older patient died next morning wrote in blood "Chucky did it" which put the blame on Nica. Another good guy doll called Chucky arrived by post, then Andy tracks the Harrogate psychiatric hospital to bring a short haired Good Guy doll from his safe keeping, and there is a multiple Chucky tag team of dolls. There is a crazy twist to the ending to explain Andy was tricked into a psychiatric padded room, and Charles Lee Ray won through the battle and finally turns human in a human being of an unsuspected person as the awaiting Tiffany Valentine gave a passionate Kiss as they drove off to oblivion. Then a nemesis sent by Andy's request from Chucky's past comes to torture the talking severed doll's head (from curse of Chucky) to get answers which makes way for another sequel.
This opens up Child's play Eight in four years time.
I love it! Like a puzzle and good pacing with some comedy including twists and turns. Nica starts walking and it is up to you as viewers to find out why, and many surprises galore to where that came from. I recommend this movie. It is even better than curse of Chucky, it is surreal and dream like, Chucky becomes powerful than ever, lighting and photography is well presented. A bit of thought had gone into it but I do love psychological mystery Horror anyway. I don't have to elucidate, Go see it much highly recommended.
It's been four years since the Pierce family were murdered. Andy Barclay (Vincent) has a date with Rachel in a swanky restaurant as they both drank white wine. Rachel probed further as Andy explained Aunt Maggie's demise, she finds it too overwhelming and leaves Andy abandoned at the restaurant. Andy Barclay morose about his life situation came home in his cabin with hunted game trophies hung on the wall and armoury, nothing but beer stack in the fridge. Opens a security safe and the blasted head of Chucky from the last movie begins to tease and sneers at Andy, so with a blowtorch Chucky gets some torture but remained alive. Barclay vows to find Nica Pierce.
Nica is moving from Lockmore hospital to a less security psychiatric ward called Harrogate psychiatric hospital when she meets Claire, Multiple Malcolm and others. As Nica was settling in with a brief affair with Malcolm, then Tiffany Valentine (Jennifer Tilly) as Alice's legal Guardian brings tragic news to Nica that made her weep, as she comes to terms with her great loss, a Chucky doll is brought into therapy session, one patient accepts the doll as her child, Nica explained in realisation that the woman who visited her was Charles Lee Ray's Girlfriend and Chucky "serial killer in the eighties who murdered twenty-two people" during his human years, of course nobody believes her, Dr Foley claimed about 20 percent of good guy dolls are called Chucky and her delusions are perpetual, and to prove it, he burns Chucky's hand. Clare storms off with the doll to dispose as he bit her arm, she alerts people but they lock her up, and she dies.
Nica was on the verge of committing suicide when Chucky wrote in blood "not so fast" and the older patient died next morning wrote in blood "Chucky did it" which put the blame on Nica. Another good guy doll called Chucky arrived by post, then Andy tracks the Harrogate psychiatric hospital to bring a short haired Good Guy doll from his safe keeping, and there is a multiple Chucky tag team of dolls. There is a crazy twist to the ending to explain Andy was tricked into a psychiatric padded room, and Charles Lee Ray won through the battle and finally turns human in a human being of an unsuspected person as the awaiting Tiffany Valentine gave a passionate Kiss as they drove off to oblivion. Then a nemesis sent by Andy's request from Chucky's past comes to torture the talking severed doll's head (from curse of Chucky) to get answers which makes way for another sequel.
This opens up Child's play Eight in four years time.
I love it! Like a puzzle and good pacing with some comedy including twists and turns. Nica starts walking and it is up to you as viewers to find out why, and many surprises galore to where that came from. I recommend this movie. It is even better than curse of Chucky, it is surreal and dream like, Chucky becomes powerful than ever, lighting and photography is well presented. A bit of thought had gone into it but I do love psychological mystery Horror anyway. I don't have to elucidate, Go see it much highly recommended.
Not the very best!!
digitalinfotainment9 October 2017
Having watched the Child's Play series from the beginning. This one to me seemed a little off from the original. The plot was somewhat mugged-up if I may say. If you're a fan of the series, then my advice would be to skip this one, as it is not that intuitive as the rest. After the first 3 franchise, it seems the movie has moved from a standard horror melodrama to a bloated gore experience. Good for casual watch.
A Real Disappointment
Michael_Elliott7 October 2017
Cult of Chucky (2017)
** (out of 4)
After the events from the previous film, Nica (Fiona Dourif) is now in a low-risk mental hospital where her doctor decides to really cure her by bringing in a Good Guy doll. This here sets off some strange events and elsewhere Andy (Alex Vincent) is trying to find a plan to defeat Chucky once and for all.
There's no question that the first CHILD'S PLAY was a very good and entertaining horror film. The sequels that followed were all of mixed quality but the last film, CURSE OF CHUCKY, was in my opinion the best of the bunch and it gave me real hope for this one. Sadly, CULT OF CHUCKY comes as a major disappointment as there's really not too much entertainment to be had. They might have added more Chucky dolls but they didn't add much else.
The film started off fairly good as we catch up with Alex and see how Chucky is still having an impact on his life. All is well when we're re-introduced to the Nica character and we see her trying to move on from her "crimes" of the previous film. Once we hit the mental hospital we get a ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST joke and it's pretty much downhill from here. It seems the screenplay was trying to tie too many things together and in the end none of it worked too well. You got the continuation of CURSE OF CHUCKY as well as the connection to the Alex character and the first three films. You've also got Jennifer Tilly showing back up so you've got the connection to BRIDE OF CHUCKY and SEED OF CHUCKY.
You've got all of these connections to previous films but it just makes for a mess of a film. The movie really doesn't know if it wants to be a straight horror film or if it wants to take Chucky back to his comedian days. There are a lot of really lame jokes here that aren't funny and there are also a lot of pop culture references and these here are really lame. The film does go for some extreme gore during its death scenes and if you're watching the unrated version then you'll see some pretty graphic stuff.
I thought Dourif, Vincent, Tilly and Adan Hurtig are all good in their roles. Brad Dourif returns to the role of Chucky's voice and he too is quite good. I'm not going to spoil the ending but it makes me interesting to see where future installments go but lets hope the screenplays are a tad bit more clear and not trying to do so much.
** (out of 4)
After the events from the previous film, Nica (Fiona Dourif) is now in a low-risk mental hospital where her doctor decides to really cure her by bringing in a Good Guy doll. This here sets off some strange events and elsewhere Andy (Alex Vincent) is trying to find a plan to defeat Chucky once and for all.
There's no question that the first CHILD'S PLAY was a very good and entertaining horror film. The sequels that followed were all of mixed quality but the last film, CURSE OF CHUCKY, was in my opinion the best of the bunch and it gave me real hope for this one. Sadly, CULT OF CHUCKY comes as a major disappointment as there's really not too much entertainment to be had. They might have added more Chucky dolls but they didn't add much else.
The film started off fairly good as we catch up with Alex and see how Chucky is still having an impact on his life. All is well when we're re-introduced to the Nica character and we see her trying to move on from her "crimes" of the previous film. Once we hit the mental hospital we get a ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST joke and it's pretty much downhill from here. It seems the screenplay was trying to tie too many things together and in the end none of it worked too well. You got the continuation of CURSE OF CHUCKY as well as the connection to the Alex character and the first three films. You've also got Jennifer Tilly showing back up so you've got the connection to BRIDE OF CHUCKY and SEED OF CHUCKY.
You've got all of these connections to previous films but it just makes for a mess of a film. The movie really doesn't know if it wants to be a straight horror film or if it wants to take Chucky back to his comedian days. There are a lot of really lame jokes here that aren't funny and there are also a lot of pop culture references and these here are really lame. The film does go for some extreme gore during its death scenes and if you're watching the unrated version then you'll see some pretty graphic stuff.
I thought Dourif, Vincent, Tilly and Adan Hurtig are all good in their roles. Brad Dourif returns to the role of Chucky's voice and he too is quite good. I'm not going to spoil the ending but it makes me interesting to see where future installments go but lets hope the screenplays are a tad bit more clear and not trying to do so much.
WOW was this bad...
jritty26 September 2017
OK, this one is almost an insult to anyone who enjoyed the last one. Cheap and boring in every possible way...I'm writing this half way through I'm so disgusted at this point it can't possibly become good enough to save it. The doll looks great and that's the best I can say. Everything is cheap and lousy and it looks like a TV show not a movie, even Tilly was wasted. No more if this is what's gonna be turned in.
Movie Review: Cult of Chucky (2017)
LegendsofHorror3 October 2017
Let me start off by saying that the "Chucky" craze has been around for a long time, "Chucky" has gone through several changes over the years a lot like "Fred Krueger". They both started out as terrifying entities but over time sorta turned into demented blood crazed comedians, but throughout they always had their saving grace as horror icons. That being said, Child's Play 1-3 created a stone cold killer made from plastic, after the original trilogy he became a somewhat parody of himself...until now.
Cult of Chucky returns our favourite killer doll back to his darker roots but still embedded within is the dark humour that us horror fans smile at amidst all his gory glory.
The film opens up with fan favourite (Alex Vincent) as Andy Barclay, who was seen in the end credits of Curse who is now a mature young man still fighting with his daemons. Whilst on a date played by beautiful (Allison Dawn Doiron), things escalate and send us to a brief but fantastically twisted opener. The first eight minutes of this film is one of the best opening sequences since the original classic film.
Once the credits start we fans see a beautifully edited montage of footage from all the 'Child's Play' films that we all grew up with which lead us into the mind's eye of one of the sole survivors of 'Curse' Nica Pierce (played by Fiona Dourif, daughter of "Chucky"). We find her now institutionalized and trying to come to terms with the murders with the help Dr. Foley, (played by Michael Therriault) who convinced she is improving sends her to a minimum security ward which entails a unholy reunion with everybody's favourite serial killer. Still somewhat convinced she was more involved with the murders than "Chucky" she still fights these doubts as the killings start back up again with the arrival of a therapeutic Good Guy Doll.
The visuals are beautifully shot, as is the tension. There are also some nicely placed cameos therein which add to the storyline, more than just fan candy. The death scenes contain some nice throwbacks to some of the brutality of the original films as well as adding some gratuitous gore of the gorehounds that are fans of the series.
There have been mixed reviews mainly due to the change of Good Guy Mythos. These mythos are explained as the film picks up to its shocking finale as well as Director Don Mancini mentioned before that there will be more 'Child's Play' films and these new changes will be a part of the new vision in the franchise.
In short, "Chucky" IS BACK and ready to play!!!!
Cult of Chucky returns our favourite killer doll back to his darker roots but still embedded within is the dark humour that us horror fans smile at amidst all his gory glory.
The film opens up with fan favourite (Alex Vincent) as Andy Barclay, who was seen in the end credits of Curse who is now a mature young man still fighting with his daemons. Whilst on a date played by beautiful (Allison Dawn Doiron), things escalate and send us to a brief but fantastically twisted opener. The first eight minutes of this film is one of the best opening sequences since the original classic film.
Once the credits start we fans see a beautifully edited montage of footage from all the 'Child's Play' films that we all grew up with which lead us into the mind's eye of one of the sole survivors of 'Curse' Nica Pierce (played by Fiona Dourif, daughter of "Chucky"). We find her now institutionalized and trying to come to terms with the murders with the help Dr. Foley, (played by Michael Therriault) who convinced she is improving sends her to a minimum security ward which entails a unholy reunion with everybody's favourite serial killer. Still somewhat convinced she was more involved with the murders than "Chucky" she still fights these doubts as the killings start back up again with the arrival of a therapeutic Good Guy Doll.
The visuals are beautifully shot, as is the tension. There are also some nicely placed cameos therein which add to the storyline, more than just fan candy. The death scenes contain some nice throwbacks to some of the brutality of the original films as well as adding some gratuitous gore of the gorehounds that are fans of the series.
There have been mixed reviews mainly due to the change of Good Guy Mythos. These mythos are explained as the film picks up to its shocking finale as well as Director Don Mancini mentioned before that there will be more 'Child's Play' films and these new changes will be a part of the new vision in the franchise.
In short, "Chucky" IS BACK and ready to play!!!!
The Franchise at its weakest
IBRAHIMEX28 September 2017
After 4 years of waiting for the new Cult of Chucky movie that i thought at the beginning it will be as good as Curse of Chucky, i felt completely disappointed. There is a high mood of insanity and stupidity in the whole plot. The movie is taking a very weak dramatic aspect relatively equal to Seed of Chucky. I don't know if Don Mancini's luck with odd numbers is bad because Child's Play 3 , Seed of Chucky and Finally the 7th Cult of Chucky are by all means equivalent to a C class horror movie. The end of the movie is also very weird that you will finally say to yourself "Hugh OK and that's it ?" Don't forget to watch the last scene after the credits ending. In my opinion there is no other way to revive this franchise unless if Don get's really serious and works on a prequel about the history of Charles Lee Ray instead with a fresh plot that goes before the original Child's Play movie. He has a brilliant actor Brad Dourif and he can make a full movie out of him with small sequences of Chucky to show to the audience the criminal biography of Charles Lee Ray. But if he continues for another sequel for Cult, i guess this won't work again.
"Cult of Chucky"- A slick sequel that rewards longtime fans and takes many fascinating risks... though it's unorthodox story and noticeably low budget may turn off some.
TedStixonAKAMaximumMadness3 October 2017
For near thirty years now, good-ole' Chucky the killer doll has been terrorizing audiences the world over with his killer antics and twisted gallows humor. He's an indisputable horror icon, so it was never any surprise that even after a prolonged absence starting in 2004, he would eventually re-emerge. And that he did with 2013's surprisingly accomplished franchise-revival "Curse of Chucky"- a fiendish chapter that won back many of the fans whom had drifted from the series. "Curse" reinvigorated the character and the story, and reminded fans of just why they fell in love with that delightfully demented doll in the first place.
And while it took four long years of waiting, our anticipation for a follow-up to "Curse" has finally been answered with director Don Mancini's "Cult of Chucky", the seventh film in the "Child's Play" story. And while "Cult" did receive a warm reception from both general and horror film critics, with plenty of positive buzz built from a successful festival stint... the public unfortunately hasn't been so kind, with it having polarized viewers into either "love it" or "hate it" camps, with no in-between.
And that really is a shame, because as a fan of this series for many years, I though "Cult of Chucky" was a slick, stylish and incredibly enjoyable installment that only furthered my appetite for future follow-ups. While it definitely does lack the inherent freshness that permeated from "Curse of Chucky", "Cult" is a very organic extension of that film's mood and tone, and builds off of it very well... all while also managing to organically re-introduce some of the more fantastical and comedic elements of the series. It's a good mixture that balances the best of both worlds, while furthering the series narrative in strangely unique and risky ways. Sure, it does fall back on clichés a bit too often and it does have some issues with tone and pace, but honestly... I really had a blast with it!
Four years later. Chucky's original mark Andy Barclay (Alex Vincent) is still suffering the ramifications of his past, while his most recent target Nica (Fiona Dourif) has spend the past few years cooped up in an insane-asylum, blamed for the death of her family. After convincing herself that she was responsible and that Chucky was merely a figment of her imagination, Nica is transferred to a medium-security facility in an attempt to be rehabilitated. However, things take a dark turn when the head therapist introduces an interesting new therapeutic "device" to assist in Nica's aid... a Good-Guy doll. Shortly after, another startling turn happens when a certain bride of a certain killer doll (Jennifer Tilly) drops off a yet another Good-Guy doll to Nica. Which doll is just a doll? And which could possibly hold the soul of the serial killer Charles Lee Ray? And how can Chucky even be there when Andy seemingly has his still- living disembodied head? These questions will lead to a series of startling revelations that will leave Nica and Andy questioning their sanity as a game of torture and death plays out around them...
"Cult of Chucky" is at its best when it dives full-blown into the insane and deranged madness we've come to expect from these films. And thankfully, these moments do come quickly and consistently after the end of the first act. Writer/director Mancini relishes in piling on questions, mysterious and plenty of twists and turns that will leave the viewer constantly on edge and unable to quite work out what's happening. And it provides a lot of great entertainment value. The fact is, for a low-budget, direct-to-video follow up that is the seventh installment in a decades-old slasher film franchise... this is pretty darned decent, and it's clear a lot of love and care has been placed into the film by all involved. I also was quite taken with Mancini's keen visual eye for flow, composition and design. This is a gorgeous looking film.
This only made all the better by the consistently good performances. Particularly of note is Fiona Dourif, who continues to play Nica to perfection and has made her possibly the most likable lead of the series. She truly is a remarkable actress, and I hope to see her get more recognition in the future. It's also great fun to hear our friend-till-the-end Brad Dourif once again as the voice of Chucky. He continues to own the role and you can tell from his voice that he's having a blast. And of course, the delightful scenery-chewing Jennifer Tilly is back once again and with some more screen-time to boot. Tilly has added a lot to the franchise, so she's always a big plus for me.
Unfortunately, I can't help but admit the flaws here, and they do bring the movie down a few pegs. The budget is noticeably low, and the movie does at times have a sort-of cheap feeling to it that can take you out of the film. They're trying to do so much with so little, and it doesn't always work. The first act is a huge drag following a rather brilliant opening, and it feels very patchy and thrown together in comparison to the better- structured "Curse." And yeah... the movie does rely a bit too much on the old tropes and clichés, particularly early on. It makes the first half- hour or so a chore to sit through. Thankfully, by the midway point, it course-corrects, and the rest of the film is pure horror bliss.
"Cult of Chucky" might not quite be the breath of fresh air that its immediate predecessor was... but it's a very slick and entertaining follow-up that should please most longtime series fans and leave you wanting more. I'm gonna give it a pretty good 7 out of 10 as a fan of the series, and I would definitely recommend giving it a shot with an open mind. It's not perfect... but it's incredibly enjoyable.
And while it took four long years of waiting, our anticipation for a follow-up to "Curse" has finally been answered with director Don Mancini's "Cult of Chucky", the seventh film in the "Child's Play" story. And while "Cult" did receive a warm reception from both general and horror film critics, with plenty of positive buzz built from a successful festival stint... the public unfortunately hasn't been so kind, with it having polarized viewers into either "love it" or "hate it" camps, with no in-between.
And that really is a shame, because as a fan of this series for many years, I though "Cult of Chucky" was a slick, stylish and incredibly enjoyable installment that only furthered my appetite for future follow-ups. While it definitely does lack the inherent freshness that permeated from "Curse of Chucky", "Cult" is a very organic extension of that film's mood and tone, and builds off of it very well... all while also managing to organically re-introduce some of the more fantastical and comedic elements of the series. It's a good mixture that balances the best of both worlds, while furthering the series narrative in strangely unique and risky ways. Sure, it does fall back on clichés a bit too often and it does have some issues with tone and pace, but honestly... I really had a blast with it!
Four years later. Chucky's original mark Andy Barclay (Alex Vincent) is still suffering the ramifications of his past, while his most recent target Nica (Fiona Dourif) has spend the past few years cooped up in an insane-asylum, blamed for the death of her family. After convincing herself that she was responsible and that Chucky was merely a figment of her imagination, Nica is transferred to a medium-security facility in an attempt to be rehabilitated. However, things take a dark turn when the head therapist introduces an interesting new therapeutic "device" to assist in Nica's aid... a Good-Guy doll. Shortly after, another startling turn happens when a certain bride of a certain killer doll (Jennifer Tilly) drops off a yet another Good-Guy doll to Nica. Which doll is just a doll? And which could possibly hold the soul of the serial killer Charles Lee Ray? And how can Chucky even be there when Andy seemingly has his still- living disembodied head? These questions will lead to a series of startling revelations that will leave Nica and Andy questioning their sanity as a game of torture and death plays out around them...
"Cult of Chucky" is at its best when it dives full-blown into the insane and deranged madness we've come to expect from these films. And thankfully, these moments do come quickly and consistently after the end of the first act. Writer/director Mancini relishes in piling on questions, mysterious and plenty of twists and turns that will leave the viewer constantly on edge and unable to quite work out what's happening. And it provides a lot of great entertainment value. The fact is, for a low-budget, direct-to-video follow up that is the seventh installment in a decades-old slasher film franchise... this is pretty darned decent, and it's clear a lot of love and care has been placed into the film by all involved. I also was quite taken with Mancini's keen visual eye for flow, composition and design. This is a gorgeous looking film.
This only made all the better by the consistently good performances. Particularly of note is Fiona Dourif, who continues to play Nica to perfection and has made her possibly the most likable lead of the series. She truly is a remarkable actress, and I hope to see her get more recognition in the future. It's also great fun to hear our friend-till-the-end Brad Dourif once again as the voice of Chucky. He continues to own the role and you can tell from his voice that he's having a blast. And of course, the delightful scenery-chewing Jennifer Tilly is back once again and with some more screen-time to boot. Tilly has added a lot to the franchise, so she's always a big plus for me.
Unfortunately, I can't help but admit the flaws here, and they do bring the movie down a few pegs. The budget is noticeably low, and the movie does at times have a sort-of cheap feeling to it that can take you out of the film. They're trying to do so much with so little, and it doesn't always work. The first act is a huge drag following a rather brilliant opening, and it feels very patchy and thrown together in comparison to the better- structured "Curse." And yeah... the movie does rely a bit too much on the old tropes and clichés, particularly early on. It makes the first half- hour or so a chore to sit through. Thankfully, by the midway point, it course-corrects, and the rest of the film is pure horror bliss.
"Cult of Chucky" might not quite be the breath of fresh air that its immediate predecessor was... but it's a very slick and entertaining follow-up that should please most longtime series fans and leave you wanting more. I'm gonna give it a pretty good 7 out of 10 as a fan of the series, and I would definitely recommend giving it a shot with an open mind. It's not perfect... but it's incredibly enjoyable.
A lot of fan service in a terrible script
cricketbat1 November 2022
I can understand why fans of Child's Play would enjoy Cult of Chucky. It offers a lot in the way of fan service in returning characters and franchise references. However, that doesn't change the fact that the script is terrible. They're pretty loose with the rules they've established, and I honestly couldn't believe some of the lines the poor actors had to deliver. Of course, these aren't the greatest actors in the world, either. This film does have a deliberately stylized look, though, and it manages to tie in multiple stories from previous installments. I get why others would like it. I didn't.
Another fun 'Chucky' sequel...
johnplocar24 September 2017
I'm truly glad that they're still making sequels. Every installment of this series has been, for me anyways, consistently entertaining and has brought something different to the table; this film is no exception. "Cult of Chucky" is a fun ride that actually brings a slight psychological edge to its horror. From the beginning it is making the viewer question a little bit what is real and what isn't. Which for a movie that is the seventh installment of a franchise is ballsy, but winds up being pretty cool that they were able to twist things up a bit to where I wasn't 100% sure if Chucky was actually up to his old tricks again or if this was a movie about crazy people effected by the past traumas that Chucky inflicted upon them. Now because it is the movie that it is, I did kinda figure out what was going on, granted not too much longer before it was revealed. Still, I found this to be a fun ride from beginning to end with a great amount of thrills and laughs to be had as with all of these movies thus far.
I do have some gripes with the movie; for instance, the character of Andy Barclay has been brought back into this series. Originally I found this to be really awesome and I was excited to see where things go when he's first introduced into the movie. But after a while I honestly almost forgot that he was even in the film because he has nothing to do. It seriously felt as though the writers wrote his segments after the script was finished in order to pad things out because he barely feels that he's actually a part of the main plot going on. Then when he finally does show up more he still doesn't have much of anything to do and it is filmed as if he came in at a later date after the initial production was already over and these were pickup shots they made at another location.
Another thing I had a problem with was the third act, namely the ending. No spoilers here, but there was a lot of build up to an end that felt slightly abrupt. I think that may be because they introduce a new and interesting element in the final moments of the film, but we end up not seeing anything really come of that. Also the fact that Andy Barclay's plot thread is entirely dropped with no satisfying conclusion either. Maybe it is simply setup for another sequel, which if so I will say that I am on board because despite all the issues I may have with this movie I still had a great time watching it.
One thing that really stood out to me from even the start is that this film is superbly made; I mean that not only with its gore and effects, but also in its cinematography. This is a gorgeous movie to look at from beginning to end. Even in its simplest of shots it is terrifically composed and well lit. Proving once more that Don Mancini knows what he is doing behind the camera. The acting all around works and has plenty of colorful characters to carry this film. Brad Dourif, as always, is perfect in the role of the killer doll Chucky. Plus his daughter, Fiona Dourif, does a great job here as well and proves that she can even command the scene in some parts.
If you're a fan of this series then I'd say that this is on par with most of the rest of the series. It has everything you'd want out of a Chucky movie with maybe even a little more sprinkled in. Perfect? No. But still enough of a blast to keep the pace going for 90 minutes quickly. Since we are entering into the Halloween season this makes for a good horror movie to break out and watch. I will say though that if someone is new to the series and you go into this blind, I think you'll be able to make through it okay but I believe it would help if you watched at least a couple of the previous installments. This is a direct sequel to "Curse of Chucky" so if you want to skip through watching all 6 prior movies then I'd say just watch "Curse" in order to better follow what is going on in "Cult".
Anyways, I say check it out if you're curious. I believe it's worth the watch.
I do have some gripes with the movie; for instance, the character of Andy Barclay has been brought back into this series. Originally I found this to be really awesome and I was excited to see where things go when he's first introduced into the movie. But after a while I honestly almost forgot that he was even in the film because he has nothing to do. It seriously felt as though the writers wrote his segments after the script was finished in order to pad things out because he barely feels that he's actually a part of the main plot going on. Then when he finally does show up more he still doesn't have much of anything to do and it is filmed as if he came in at a later date after the initial production was already over and these were pickup shots they made at another location.
Another thing I had a problem with was the third act, namely the ending. No spoilers here, but there was a lot of build up to an end that felt slightly abrupt. I think that may be because they introduce a new and interesting element in the final moments of the film, but we end up not seeing anything really come of that. Also the fact that Andy Barclay's plot thread is entirely dropped with no satisfying conclusion either. Maybe it is simply setup for another sequel, which if so I will say that I am on board because despite all the issues I may have with this movie I still had a great time watching it.
One thing that really stood out to me from even the start is that this film is superbly made; I mean that not only with its gore and effects, but also in its cinematography. This is a gorgeous movie to look at from beginning to end. Even in its simplest of shots it is terrifically composed and well lit. Proving once more that Don Mancini knows what he is doing behind the camera. The acting all around works and has plenty of colorful characters to carry this film. Brad Dourif, as always, is perfect in the role of the killer doll Chucky. Plus his daughter, Fiona Dourif, does a great job here as well and proves that she can even command the scene in some parts.
If you're a fan of this series then I'd say that this is on par with most of the rest of the series. It has everything you'd want out of a Chucky movie with maybe even a little more sprinkled in. Perfect? No. But still enough of a blast to keep the pace going for 90 minutes quickly. Since we are entering into the Halloween season this makes for a good horror movie to break out and watch. I will say though that if someone is new to the series and you go into this blind, I think you'll be able to make through it okay but I believe it would help if you watched at least a couple of the previous installments. This is a direct sequel to "Curse of Chucky" so if you want to skip through watching all 6 prior movies then I'd say just watch "Curse" in order to better follow what is going on in "Cult".
Anyways, I say check it out if you're curious. I believe it's worth the watch.
It is becoming too inventive of itself
multiplayerxgesource11 March 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Okay so the bottomline here is there is some brilliant writing here however Holland has forgotten why we loved the first film in the first place. The whole idea of an angry soul possessing a doll that stalks us is what made Chucky an icon to begin with. Where this franchise has failed is by using it's own iconicness to destroy it's ability to actually be scary anymore. Chucky used to be a balanced character. Like Freddy Krueger, he has become nothing more than a tool to sell merchandise to fandom than a character that evolves anymore. The end to this movie is honestly DUMB. No one wants Childs Play without the doll. It defeats the entire point of it.
Rating 5,2 for this GREAT movie it's an insult
horrorules23 November 2017
81% on rotten, numerous positive reviews from various festivals, critics, fans and of course only 5.2 on IMDb, now a haven of pathetic, frustrated trolls and haters. I saw this movie yesterday, at a theater in Rome at Fantafestival and this movie is a MASTERPIECE. Mancini confirms a great director and screenwriter, film photography is fabulous, the plot is fabulous, violence is at very high levels, it is undoubtedly the most violent and frantic chapter of the franchise, in the film is deepened the psychology of the characters . This is a perfect movie !!! my rating is 10/10 and all the pathetic haters can watch Justice League, Insidious, Crap and Furious and all the scum that's around. CHUCKY IS BACK !!!!!
A respectable Sequel To Curse of Chucky!
LasKeepsItReal30 August 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I was able to see Cult of Chucky last week when there was the first exclusive showing of the movie at the London Frightfest Festival.
The following review will contain some minor spoilers.
Cult of Chucky takes places a few years after Curse of Chucky. The movie revolves around returning character Nica who has been committed to an asylum after being held responsible for the events which took place involving her family in the previous film.
Some of the characters in the movie that Nica comes into contact with who are also within the asylum including Claire, Angela and Madeline for several different reasons were interesting and stood out. I was also looking forward to how the story would progress with Chucky and Tiffany and I was not disappointed with their scenes however I would have liked to have seen Tiffany have more screen time.
Viewers of this film will have to wait and see what repercussions Nica will face throughout her time in the asylum and what her fate will be involving Chucky and Tiffany and with the reappearance of Andy from some of the previous movies, however I can tell you now that I was pleasantly surprised by some of the twists and turns in this movie involving the main characters and the end result of them. The practical effects and music in the film were well done and suited without being too over the top.
I would give this movie 7 out of 10.
The following review will contain some minor spoilers.
Cult of Chucky takes places a few years after Curse of Chucky. The movie revolves around returning character Nica who has been committed to an asylum after being held responsible for the events which took place involving her family in the previous film.
Some of the characters in the movie that Nica comes into contact with who are also within the asylum including Claire, Angela and Madeline for several different reasons were interesting and stood out. I was also looking forward to how the story would progress with Chucky and Tiffany and I was not disappointed with their scenes however I would have liked to have seen Tiffany have more screen time.
Viewers of this film will have to wait and see what repercussions Nica will face throughout her time in the asylum and what her fate will be involving Chucky and Tiffany and with the reappearance of Andy from some of the previous movies, however I can tell you now that I was pleasantly surprised by some of the twists and turns in this movie involving the main characters and the end result of them. The practical effects and music in the film were well done and suited without being too over the top.
I would give this movie 7 out of 10.
Time to move on, the series has ran it's course
willdddd24 December 2017
Warning: Spoilers
The plot holes in this movie are the size of the grand canyon, now Chucky can possess different people and/or dolls all at once? Where'd he conveniently get that new little skill set? This was obviously filmed with a low budget because the CGI effects were cheesy at best. Please do everyone a favor and lay old Chucky down for good, it was a good run but as I stated IMO the series has ran it's course.
As part 7 in a series in this genre it's impressive, a blast for Chucky fans.
amesmonde27 September 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Nica Pierce has spent the past four years in a mental institution after being framed by Chucky for the murder of her family but Chucky isn't finished with her yet or Andy.
Director/writer Don Mancini does the impossible and injects life into Part 7 of a series. Mancini and company simply out do themselves here with Cult of Chucky, where as Curse had a striped back Hitchcock feel this has Brian de Palma on a budget visuals with a Cronenberg icky edge and Mancini's trademark frank humour. I usually recommend films in my final paragraph, but this is must see from the outset, don't even read this, just rent or buy it.
Summer H. Howell cameos, Fiona Dourif returns and is excellent as the asylum trapped wheelchair bound Nica that no one believes oozing a Sigourney Weaver vibe and echoing Linda Hamilton's Terminator 2 locked up in danger craziness. In a surprising twist as the plot unfolds and the body count rises Fiona also channels her father's serial killing character Charles impressively. Actors Adam Hurtig as split personality suffer Malcolm, Zak Santiago's Carlos and particularly Ali Tataryn as nurse Ashley are notable. But Michael Therriault leaves an impression as Richard Gere-like warped Dr. Foley.
Alex Vincent Returns as Andy Barclay from the original Child's Play (1988, yes it's been that long) building on his previous brief cameo in its predecessor Curse of Chucky. There's an intriguing element of Andy keeping Chucky's dismembered head in a safe, only to bring it out to torment it for relief. It could only more get more wacky if someone made Child's Play Human Centipede style and put Chucky's talking head between a Garbage Pail Kid and Teddy Ruxpin! The icing on the cake is it's implied that Tiffany has possessed the real Jennifer Tilly, allowing her and her doll likeness to shows up which connects and brings into cannon the other outings namely Bride and Seed of Chucky not made by Mancini with some outlandish writing which makes perfect sense in the context of the series.
It's not perfect due to some blown out colour correction and unnecessary CGI skyline backdrops but given the budget using a variety of smoke and mirror movie magic Chucky is brought to life with perfect execution aided by modern technology and Brad Dourif's voice, complete with quips and inventive nasty murders.
There's a limited amount of locations, a cabin, an asylum reminiscent of TV's Hannibal and the snowy setting gives this some Kubrick Shining atmospherics. The stark white corridors hark back to the Exorcist III, One Flew Over Cuckoo's nest, Mancini throws in enough plot points and flashbacks to peak interest. Thankfully it's played straight for the most part and doesn't stray into all out comedy territory a-la Bride and Seed.
Fans are treated to multiple Chucky dolls, graphic killings and dark humour but not only that there's a surprise treat after the credits where another character returns - Andy's foster sister Kyle from 1990's Child's Play 2! Played by the same talented actor Christine Elise giving thrills that Andy's cameo did in Curse.
All in all leaves you wanting more and too much Good Guy Doll is never a bad thing.
Director/writer Don Mancini does the impossible and injects life into Part 7 of a series. Mancini and company simply out do themselves here with Cult of Chucky, where as Curse had a striped back Hitchcock feel this has Brian de Palma on a budget visuals with a Cronenberg icky edge and Mancini's trademark frank humour. I usually recommend films in my final paragraph, but this is must see from the outset, don't even read this, just rent or buy it.
Summer H. Howell cameos, Fiona Dourif returns and is excellent as the asylum trapped wheelchair bound Nica that no one believes oozing a Sigourney Weaver vibe and echoing Linda Hamilton's Terminator 2 locked up in danger craziness. In a surprising twist as the plot unfolds and the body count rises Fiona also channels her father's serial killing character Charles impressively. Actors Adam Hurtig as split personality suffer Malcolm, Zak Santiago's Carlos and particularly Ali Tataryn as nurse Ashley are notable. But Michael Therriault leaves an impression as Richard Gere-like warped Dr. Foley.
Alex Vincent Returns as Andy Barclay from the original Child's Play (1988, yes it's been that long) building on his previous brief cameo in its predecessor Curse of Chucky. There's an intriguing element of Andy keeping Chucky's dismembered head in a safe, only to bring it out to torment it for relief. It could only more get more wacky if someone made Child's Play Human Centipede style and put Chucky's talking head between a Garbage Pail Kid and Teddy Ruxpin! The icing on the cake is it's implied that Tiffany has possessed the real Jennifer Tilly, allowing her and her doll likeness to shows up which connects and brings into cannon the other outings namely Bride and Seed of Chucky not made by Mancini with some outlandish writing which makes perfect sense in the context of the series.
It's not perfect due to some blown out colour correction and unnecessary CGI skyline backdrops but given the budget using a variety of smoke and mirror movie magic Chucky is brought to life with perfect execution aided by modern technology and Brad Dourif's voice, complete with quips and inventive nasty murders.
There's a limited amount of locations, a cabin, an asylum reminiscent of TV's Hannibal and the snowy setting gives this some Kubrick Shining atmospherics. The stark white corridors hark back to the Exorcist III, One Flew Over Cuckoo's nest, Mancini throws in enough plot points and flashbacks to peak interest. Thankfully it's played straight for the most part and doesn't stray into all out comedy territory a-la Bride and Seed.
Fans are treated to multiple Chucky dolls, graphic killings and dark humour but not only that there's a surprise treat after the credits where another character returns - Andy's foster sister Kyle from 1990's Child's Play 2! Played by the same talented actor Christine Elise giving thrills that Andy's cameo did in Curse.
All in all leaves you wanting more and too much Good Guy Doll is never a bad thing.
See also
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