Blu-ray News and Reviews | High Def Digest
Film & TV All News Blu-Ray Reviews Release Dates News Pre-orders 4K Ultra HD Reviews Release Dates News Pre-orders Gear Reviews News Home Theater 101 Best Gear Film & TV
Blu-Ray : Recommended
Ranking:
Sale Price: $33.98 Last Price: $ Buy now! 3rd Party 30 In Stock
Release Date: October 18th, 2016 Movie Release Year: 1988

Child's Play: Collector's Edition

Overview -

The "chills come thick and fast" (Los Angeles Times) in this riveting, jolt-a-minute thriller about an innocent-looking doll inhabited by the soul of a serial killer who refused to die. From the director of Fright Night, Child's Play comes complete with "excellent special effects" (Leonard Maltin) and a slew of special features that make this Blu-ray your "friend to the end!"

In this "clever, playful thriller" (The New York Times), only six-year-old Andy realizes that Chucky is responsible for a spate of gruesome murders, including that of his unsuspecting babysitter. But the real terror takes hold when the deranged doll becomes determined to transfer his evil spirit to a living human being... Andy!

OVERALL:
Recommended
Rating Breakdown
STORY
VIDEO
AUDIO
SPECIAL FEATURES
Tech Specs & Release Details
Technical Specs:
Region A Locked
Video Resolution/Codec:
1080p/AVC MPEG-4
Length:
87
Aspect Ratio(s):
1.85:1
Audio Formats:
English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Stereo
Subtitles/Captions:
English SDH
Special Features:
Trailers
Release Date:
October 18th, 2016

Storyline: Our Reviewer's Take

Ranking:

As far as guilty pleasures go, 'Child's Play' has somehow crawled its way onto my list of tolerably entertaining flicks, one that I can sit down and watch every so often without much change in judgment. As for why that is, I really can't tell. It's not as if the movie about a doll possessed by the soul of a serial killer has any true redeeming value whatsoever. Seriously, how much damage could a two-foot doll inflict upon a grown adult --- it's made of plastic and batting material for Pete's sake! Granted, director Tom Holland ('Fright Night') generates some good moments of suspense and action; but in the end, there is nothing really terrifying about this story of a maniacal doll.

Mortally wounded while being chased by Detective Mike Norris (Chris Sarandon), Charles Lee Ray (Brad Dourif), the notorious "Lakeshore Strangler", breaks into a toy store to hide. Desperate for a way out, he performs a voodoo ritual which transports his soul inside a Good Guy doll. The next morning, Karen Barclay (Catherine Hicks), anxious to please her six-year-old son Andy (Alex Vincent), buys the much sought-after doll from a street peddler. Little do they know, it is the same toy on which Charles performed his black magic. Referring to himself as Chucky, he resumes his killing spree and seeks vengeance on the detective. Later, he discovers his only way out is to transfer his soul to the first person to whom he reveals his identity, placing Andy in grave danger.

So what the heck is it about the Good Guys doll which grabbed the attention of millions and spawned four sequels, including a comic book? One thing I always point to is the unexpected franchise, which if truth be told is nothing more than a parody of itself, somehow changing the way we watch the darn movie. 'Child's Play' is today a less serious, straight horror flick and more ironic and facetious in its attempt to be realistic. The other is without a doubt Brad Dourif as the iconic voice of Chucky. Without his talent, the movie would lack a great deal of feasibility and at least some hint of believability. It is only with the evil, wicked attitude he imposes in the character that we enjoy watching Chucky strut his stuff and trust that the doll is capable of terrible malice and malevolent intent.

This is not to ignore the spot-on performances from the rest of the cast. I am simply pointing out Dourif's as a central and crucial piece to the movie's enjoyment. Chris Sarandon has worked in some very memorable roles in the past ('Fright Night', 'The Princess Bride', 'The Nightmare Before Christmas') and for most horror fans, his portrayal here as the skeptical detective happens to be one of them. Considering that a good chunk of her acting is based on reactions to an autonomous doll, Catherine Hicks definitely pulls her weight and wins over the audience. But the one person who stands out is the very young Alex Vincent, showing some excellent range for a child his age, particularly the scenes at the children's hospital. In the end, though, Dourif remains the primary reason for fans revisiting the film and encouraging the series to continue.

Other than the 'Bride of Chucky', the original installment of the franchise lingers in the memory banks of horror aficionados because of its surprisingly good and stylish direction. Not only does Tom Holland put the dark shadows to fine use and actually generates an eerie atmosphere, but he's also skilled at keeping the camera from revealing the many tricks-of-the-trade. Most interesting is the way in which the movie tapped into the strange cultural phenomena of children's toy marketing of the 1980s. While the plot's creator Don Mancini has admitted to the Cabbage Patch Kids craze as a direct influence, I still like to think the Good Guy doll possesses a striking resemblance to My Buddy or even a demented version of Teddy Ruxpin. In either case, the idea of toys which try to appear more lifelike is quite creepy and disturbing, and the filmmakers take advantage of this and provide audiences with a tale that plays into our childish nightmares.

Making it all a reality is, of course, the amazing F/X work from Kevin Yagher, creator of The Crypt Keeper and make-up artist for Freddy Krueger. In this day and age of CGI fakeness, it's hard to believe this film was pushing the boundaries of special effects and animatronics. But back then, audiences were blown away by how realistically Chucky moved and looked, to watch his horrifying facial expressions slowly morph from innocent doll to a raving psychopath. Personally, I find it utterly hilarious to watch the Good Guy doll start off with a basic parted haircut that evolves into a receding hairline by the end. The groundbreaking special effects to this day still hold up as a major part of the film's entertainment value. If not for the remarkable work done by Yagher's team trying to be as realistic as possible, 'Child's Play' could have easily been nothing more than a faded memory of terribly made horror flicks.

What started off as a straight-forward "whodunit" mystery thriller has grown into a popular series with yet another unforgettable psycho-killer in Chucky. While other installments have transformed the franchise into a horror comedy, even to the point of being a mockery as seen in 'Seed of Chucky', 'Child's Play' remains the movie in which the filmmakers tried in all seriousness to frighten the hell out of the public, which oddly comes off more comical than anything else. Still, it serves up some good fun on a late Saturday night and remains a popular fan favorite amongst horror fans.

The Blu-ray: Vital Disc Stats

Shout! Factory brings 'Child's Play' to Blu-ray as a two-disc Collector's Edition package under the distributor's Scream Factory line. The two Region A locked, BD50 discs are housed inside a normal blue case on opposing panels with brand new reversible cover art and a cardboard slipcover. The second disc contains the same supplements from the 2009 MGM release along with a wealth of new bonus features. At startup, the disc goes to a generic menu selection on the left side with music and full-motion clips. 

Video Review

Ranking:

Chucky finds a friend 'til the end with an excellent 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode, which was created from a 2K resolution scan of the interpositve. Offering a massive improvement over the 2009 MGM release, the video shows lots of details in the clothing and in the streets of Chicago. The stitching and fabric in the Good Guy's outfit is plainly visible, and the fine lines in the stone bricks of the Barclay's apartment building are well defined. The 1.85:1 image is brighter compared to its predecessor but balanced and comfortably bright. Black levels, unfortunately, could be a tad stronger, as shadows tend to look a bit flat and murky in some spots. However, objects in the darkest portions of the frame remain visibility and a few nighttime exteriors reveal a good deal of depth. Colors benefit the most from the remaster with primaries looking particularly vibrant and richly saturated, making for a surprisingly animated presentation.

Understandably, there are several moments of softness and the resolution noticeably dips from scene to scene, much of which is related to the optical photography. But overall, the source appears to be in great condition and a thin layer of grain provides the presentation with a nice film-like quality. 

Audio Review

Ranking:

The favorite cult thriller takes another stab at Blu-ray with two great listening options. And while I tend to prefer the original stereo design over the newfangled surround sound, I'm happy to report being pleasantly surprised by the DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack. The stereo alternative is just as good, but the two are fairly similar except for the shocking amount of rear activity in the latter, offering many instances of atmospheric immersion like the sounds of thunder or the ricochet of bullets. Even Chucky has his moment where he scurries along behind the listener, extending the soundfield and generating a welcomed instance of creepiness.

For the most part, the 5.1 track is managed in the front soundstage, exhibiting good presence and separation. There is plenty of movement and commotion, keeping the audience engaged. Dynamics are not very expansive, nor do they reach the upper levels, but they are cleanly delivered and well defined. Low-frequency effects are also put to good use, adding heavy palpability to several action sequences and every gunshot fired. Only complaint are vocals being overwhelmed in a couple areas, but conversations remain clear and precise on the whole.

Special Features

Ranking:

Disc One

  • Audio Commentaries — The first track is a new recording with director Tom Holland mostly reminiscing and sharing various anecdotes working with the cast and crew. Although he speaks in a somewhat dry monotone voice, Holland is nonetheless entertaining, giving listeners some insight into his creative process and decision-making when trying to make a doll seem threatening. It's also interesting hearing his involvement in the creation of Chucky.

    The second track features cast members Alex Vincent, Catherine Hicks, and Chucky designer Kevin Yagher. Although Vincent was recorded separately, his voice is spliced into the conversation between Hicks and Yagher - who fell in love during filming and remain married to this day. The results are odd and obvious, but the overall feel of the track is entertaining, especially when focused more on the married couple. Many insights and background about the production are offered, but the conversation is mostly centered on fond memories of working on set and public reaction.

    The third commentary reunites producer David Kirschner with screenwriter Don Mancini and turns out to be the better of the two tracks. The two men are surprisingly honest about their views of certain aspects within the film, particularly the voodoo portion and the plot's sillier moments. The discussion ranges from the drastic changes made in Mancini's original script, the attempt at creating a realistic setting, the musical score, and praise for the final product.

    The fourth and final track is really fun, giving Chucky an opportunity to talk about his various kills in the movie. Regrettably, the track is scene-specific and clicking on this option will skip major chunks of the film. However, it's enjoyable listening to Brad Dourif stay in character as Chucky examines and dissects his methodology throughout. Towards the end, Don Mancini chimes in to finish up the track and remind Chucky who directed 'Child's Play'.

Disc Two

  • Special Effects Footage (HD, 60 min) — Taking from VHS recordings of the special effects shop and FX artists, the hour-long piece is an awesome look of the making of Chucky during various stages of his creation. Of most interest will be the animatronics.
  • Howard Berger: Your Special Effects Friend 'til the End (HD, 41 min) — A great interview with the now legendary special effects and makeup artist talking about his involvement with the production and doing the puppeteering.
  • Life Behind the Mask: Being Chucky (HD, 40 min) — Actor Ed Gale, who played Chucky during key scenes, talks extensively about his performance and working with the cast and crew while also sharing various anecdotes from the set.
  • Evil Comes in Small Packages (1080i/60, 25 min) — The three-part series takes an in-depth look at the production of 'Child's Play', featuring interviews of cast and crew while footage of the film is mixed in. The first segment, "The Birth of Chucky", discusses the story's genesis and how Don Mancini originally aimed for a psychological thriller. It also includes some back story on David Kirschner's involvement, his pitch to studios, and the changes made to the script by Tom Holland. In "Creating the Horror", the cast talks about what attracted them to the story and shooting on location, which turned out to be Chicago's coldest winter in years. The best part of the segment is watching the making of Chucky and all the animatronics done on set. Very cool. In the final part titled "Unleashed", the filmmakers chat about screening tests, editing the film to less than two hours, Kirschner's elaborate staging for the premiere, and audience reaction, turning Chucky into a memorable horror icon. Overall, the half-hour retrospect is quite enjoyable for fans and the disc's best supplement.
  • Chucky: Building a Nightmare (1080i/60, 10 min) — This second retrospect is a closer look at the design and the animatronics involved in bringing the murderous doll to life. With some very cool behind-the-scenes footage interspersed throughout, the piece reveals the tricks of the trade and shows how certain scenes were made with the help of a stand-in. Other highlights include the praise Kevin Yagher receives from the likes of Tom Savini, Alec Gillis, and Shane Mahan, which is all well deserved. This is another good featurette fans are sure to enjoy.
  • A Monster Convention (1080i/60, 5 min) — Originally recorded at Monster Mania 2007, the Q&A panel discussion reunites Alex Vincent, Catherine Hicks, and Chris Sarandon. Although an interesting watch, the piece is very short and most of what is discussed is known after going through all the other bonus materials.
  • Introducing Chucky: The Making of Child's Play (1080i/60, 6 min) — The vintage is your basic, run-of-the-mill EPK piece, which functions purely for promotional purposes. One neat thing though, the featurette shows a great deal of the special puppet effects that went into the making of the movie.
  • Vintage Featurette (1080i/60, 5 min) — Another vintage EPK piece which breaks down the plot and characters with the primary focus being on the special effects.
  • Photo Gallery (HD) — An extensive collection of production stills and BTS photos are pretty fun to look through for fans.
  • Trailers (HD) — The original theatrical preview is joined by a TV spot.

Final Thoughts

Nearly thirty years later, 'Child's Play' remains a fun little late-night flick on a Saturday night. The original installment to the popular franchise, which also introduced Chucky to the world of horror cinema, takes another at Blu-ray with improved video thanks to a 2K scan of the interpositive and a great audio presentation. The same supplements of the previous 2009 release are ported over, and they're joined by a brand-new assortment of special features. Fans will be more than happy with this two-disc collector's edition from Scream Factory, making it a recommended treat for the Halloween season.