Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Child's Play 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman August 12, 2022

Shout! Factory has released the fan favorite 1988 Horror film 'Child's Play' to the UHD format. New specifications include 2160p/Dolby Vision video and Dolby Atmos audio. This three-disc set includes a bevy of bonus features, some of which are new for this release, on all three discs (UHD, feature film + bonus Blu-ray, bonus features Blu-ray). The Blu-ray also includes remastered video and audio. This is a feature-packed set sure to delight fans.

For a full film review, please see the writing accompanying the original 2009 Blu-ray release from MGM by clicking here.

Child's Play 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The included screenshots are sourced from the remastered 1080p Blu-ray disc included in this set.

Most faithful film fans will enjoy Shout! Factory's 2160p/Dolby Vision UHD release of Child's Play. Shout! touts the image as a "new 2022 4K scan of the original camera negative." It's very grainy and true to its roots. The grain structure can be very dense. Look at the scene inside the department store after Karen purchases the doll from the peddler. The grain is thick and is certainly the defining characteristic of the scene. Audiences turned off by an abundance of grain may repulse, but at the same time this appears to be a very faithful presentation of the film. There is no mistaking that the picture is very sharp in places, but it also has an element of slight softness to it as well. However, when comparing it to the supplied Blu-ray, which is also remastered from the same source, one can clearly see that the higher resolution brings a sharpness, even to some of the more inherently softer looking elements, that the 1080p version, as good as it is, simply cannot reproduce. While the picture may lack the fine point precision of the format's superior images, this is absolutely the finest Child's Play has ever looked for home consumption.

The Dolby Vision color grading is also a boost to the image. There are no radical color departures compared to the Blu-ray, but the boosts to vividness, stability, and depth are readily evident. Again, like the textures this does not approach the absolute grandeur of the finest HDR or Dolby Vision images. That said, core colors find some seriously boosted excellence, especially reds and blues prominent on clothes and the Chucky doll. Everyday elements around homes, in the toy store at film's start, and elsewhere enjoy a more lifelike gain as well. Black levels depth is very good, whites are fine, and skin tones look healthy and accurate.

The picture appears to be free of more than a trace of speckles and pops that most won't even notice. The encode is just fine, too. Fans looking for a razor-sharp, grain free (or very light grain) image won't find that image here, but the picture is very securely filmic and true to its roots.

As noted, the Blu-ray is also sourced from the new 2022 4K remaster. I do not have either the previous Shout! issue or the original MGM disc with which to compare it, but it is a fine image indeed, as noted the lesser of the two compared to the UHD but those looking to upgrade solely for the Blu-ray will find a faithfully filmic, nicely detailed, and aggressively colored picture that recreates the film experience quite nicely.

Child's Play 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Shout! Factory brings Child's Play to UHD, and to Blu-ray, with a new Dolby Atmos soundtrack, which is very good. The opening shootout between Charles Lee Ray and police features some good gunshot depth and some well-integrated surround content for gunfire. Musical cues in this sequence are richly realized, too, with superb spacing and pinpoint detailing in evidence across the front and through some folded surround content as well. The surging storm during the incantation to follow is impressive for fullness as well. The original sound elements lack modern day precision, but the symphony of enveloping depth is very satisfying. The track offers some good, though general, overhead content when Karen's friend falls out the window around the 24-minute mark. A few of the fullest sound elements integrate some obvious top end spatial content, but such never feel forced. They are only a natural extension of the original sound elements. The track is very aggressive overall but never comes across as disingenuous. Dialogue is clear and center positioned for the duration.

Child's Play 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This three-disc set is packed with new and returning bonus features. All of the new content is on the "feature film" Blu-ray disc. See below for reviews of new content (which is marked as such). See also below for a breakdown of what's included and please click here for more details. This release ships with a non-embossed slipcover. No digital copy code is included.

UHD:

• Audio Commentary: Director Tom Holland.
• Audio Commentary: Actors Alex Vincent and Catherine Hicks along with "Chucky" Designer Kevin Yagher.
• Audio Commentary: Producer David Kirschner and Screenwriter Don Mancini.
• Audio Commentary: Chucky.

Feature Film Blu-ray Disc:

• Audio Commentary: Director Tom Holland.
• Audio Commentary: Actors Alex Vincent and Catherine Hicks along with "Chucky" Designer Kevin Yagher.
• Audio Commentary: Producer David Kirschner and Screenwriter Don Mancini.
• Audio Commentary: Chucky.
• NEW! Birth of the Good Guy -- An Interview with Writer Don Mancini (1080p, 12:07): Mancini looks at the film's novelty and structure, sophisticated animatronics, the process of writing the script, the film's title, Chucky's original name, story and character development and design, story depth, the editing process, alternate endings, and more.
• NEW! Friends Till the End -- An Interview with Actor Alex Vincent (1080p, 15:12): An in-depth exploration concerning his acting career, auditions, production logistics and animatronics, friendship and work with Ed Gale, acting with Brad Dourif, making challenging scenes, and more.
• NEW! Believe Me Now? -- An Interview with Actor Chris Sarandon (1080p, 10:41): Sarandon discusses how he modeled his character, shooting conditions, working with cast and crew, acting with the Chucky doll, the rigors of the shoot, and more.
• NEW! Chucky the Great and Terrible -- An Interview with Producer David Kirschner (1080p, 26:01): A lengthy interview that focuses on a broad swath of content, including Kirschner's early career and his involvement in Child's Play, including script changes, a tussle on the set, working with various cast and crew, test screening concerns, and much more.
• NEW! Windy City Chills -- An Interview with Production Manager Robert Latham Brown (1080p, 5:33): Brown discusses diving into the Horror genre with this film, getting the film back on track, some clashes with Director Tom Holland, performances in the film, bringing Chucky to life, score's impact on the film, and the film's reception and legacy.

Blu-ray Bonus Disc:

• Making Chucky: Behind the Scenes Special Effects Footage
• Making Chucky: Howard Berger: Your Special Effects Friend 'Til the End
• Making Chucky: Life Behind the Mask: Being Chucky
• Featurette: Evil Comes in Small Packages
• Featurette: Chucky: Building a Nightmare
• Featurette: A Monster Convention
• Featurette: Introducing Chucky: The Making of Child's Play
• Featurette: Vintage Featurette
• More Child's Play: TV Spot
• More Child's Play: Theatrical Trailer
• More Child's Play: Behind-the-Scenes Photo Gallery
• More Child's Play: Posters and Lobby Cards Photo Gallery

Child's Play 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Child's Play's Chucky ranks at the top of the second-tier of 80s Slasher villains, behind the cream of the crop trio of Freddy, Jason, and Michael (who debuted in the 70s but was a cinema staple throughout the 80s). The film, and its first two sequels, are now on the UHD format with very good releases, this one boasting rock-solid video and audio and a boatload of extras, including several new interviews. Highly recommended!