Chucky: Season Two Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.0

Chucky: Season Two Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman March 30, 2023

Universal has released the second season of the fan favorite TV series 'Chucky,' based on the killer doll character first seen in the 1988 Horror film 'Child's Play' and subsequently starring in a number of follow-up films. The character's transition to the small screen was a success; season one, which Universal released to Blu-ray in April 2022, was both a departure for and a coming home of the character and the genre. Season two arrives much like season one: eight episodes on two discs and light on the extras.

Official synopsis: Chucky is back! The notorious killer doll continues his onslaught of terror in Season Two of the hit horror series from franchise creator Don Mancini. This season finds Chucky (voiced by Brad Dourif) hellbent on exacting revenge against teens Jake (Zackary Arthur), Devon (Bjorgvin Arnarson) and Lexy (Alyvia Alyn Lind), as well as his ex Tiffany (voiced by Jennifer Tilly), after they successfully thwarted his murderous plot in Season One. While Jake and Devon encounter trouble as a couple at their new Catholic school, Chucky embarks on a whole new killing spree, crossing paths with familiar franchise faces along the way.

Chucky is certainly built for hardcore franchise fans. The character has been a cinema staple for well over three decades now, and with a plethora of films under his belt, and with the first season of Chucky also in play, to say that the backstory is somewhat convoluted would be an understatement, especially considering where things ended in season one. But as Horror fans know, death and dismemberment are just details, and for Chucky things are no different. Season two sees the story continue as the battle rages between Chucky and the "3 Amigos" who find themselves once again confronted with the doll. It's every bit as bloody and blasphemous as audiences would expect, especially now with a season two setting that is primarily within the world of a Catholic reform school. The show goes out of its way to offend religious sensibilities, but chances are its targets for derision aren't watching, anyway. Still, the show is unafraid of pushing various verbal, visual, and sexual boundaries. The cast is certainly game and thrives on depravity, particularly Dourif, who has not only fully embraced the Chucky persona but who essentially inhabits it, much like the soul of the once flesh-and-blood killer he portrays. So, this season is pretty much standard Chucky and Child's Play fare, offering audiences everything they want while pushing the envelope about as far as it can go, and certainly season three will find new and inventive ways to push it even harder into the future of Horror.

The following episodes comprise season two. Summaries are courtesy of the Blu-ray packaging.

Disc One:

• Halloween II: A year after seemingly defeating their nemesis Chucky, "3 Amigos" Jake, Devon, and Lexy begin receiving mysterious, threatening calls from an all-too-familiar-sounding enemy.
• The Sinners are Much More Fun: Our 3 Amigos struggle with the strict rules and institutionalized homophobia of their new Catholic reform school, especially when Chucky arrives with a murderous agenda. Meanwhile, in Beverly Hills, a suspicious detective threatens Tiffany’s imposture as “Jennifer Tilly” and the discovery of her secret hostage, Nica Pierce.
• Hail, Mary!: With Jake and Devon’s relationship already under strain, the reveal that multiple killer dolls exist causes Jake to propose the unthinkable: brainwash the captured Chucky and turn him into an ally.
• Death on Denial: In this “very special episode of Chucky,” Tiffany’s secrets are threatened by the return from college of her 18-year-old kids Glen and Glenda, and by a surprise intervention conducted by several of Jennifer Tilly’s loved ones, who are concerned about their old friend’s odd behavior.

Disc Two:

• Doll on Doll: Devon worries that Good Chucky can't be trusted. Tiffany spirals from the surprise party.
• He Is Risen Indeed: Incarnate Lord goes on lockdown with the Chucky dolls inside. Nica moves forward with her plan.
• Goin' to the Chapel: Ade due Damballa! The survivors band together with Father Bryce to perform an exorcism.
• Chucky Actually: Back in Hackensack for the holidays, the 3 Amigos receive a special gift. Tiffany plots her escape.

Chucky: Season Two Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Chucky's season two Blu-ray release looks very similar to the season one release. In fact, it's a seamless transition from season one to season two. There are no aesthetic changes, no obvious changes in photography style or quality, and no real changes in the overall Blu-ray look and feel, either. The digital source is efficient. The show is well textured in close-up, offering crisp, satisfying details to both human skin and various doll plastics. Clothes are complex and various environments offer sparkling clear imagery. The image overall is very clean, presenting with high end clarity within the digital construct. There is some source noise to contend with throughout, as well as some examples of banding that teeter on bothersome; one good early example comes at the 13:19 mark of the season's first episode. Color output is solid, with bold and vivid primaries commonplace, particularly in good light, but even in low light situations the image is well capable of offering the sort of high yield output audiences demand from a high-quality Blu-ray, which this is. The picture is not a standout by any means, but its overall quality cannot be denied. Fans will be satisfied with this Blu-ray work.

Chucky: Season Two Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack is likewise right in-line with the output parameters and overall quality from the season one release. The presentation is very good and very efficient, offering listeners a well-defined sound field that extends through the fullness of the 5.1 setup. Music presents with rock-solid clarity and wide front-end engagement while also blending into the rear channels with balanced -- never light, never overpowering -- support. Surrounds carry plenty of content during more intensive action and horror elements as well, yielding, again, perfectly good clarity and exacting presence around the stage. Light atmospheric fill pops in where necessary, creating a nicely immersive and detailed soundstage. Dialogue is always clear and center positioned for the duration.

Chucky: Season Two Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This season two Blu-ray release of Chucky includes delete scenes on both Blu-ray discs. No DVD or digital copies are included with purchase. This release does ship with a non-embossed slipcover.

Disc One:

• Deleted Scene (1080p, 0:31): A single scene from "Halloween II."

Disc Two:

• Deleted Scenes (1080p, 1:45): Scenes from "Goin' to the Chapel."

Chucky: Season Two Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Chucky's second season is a continuation of the first, narratively and structurally alike. The show builds the character and story while it also pushes boundaries in taste and in excess. It toes the line between playful and repulsive, and it's sure to divide audiences right down a line between the two. Universal's two-disc Blu-ray offers solid video and audio presentations, but extras are very slim. Recommended to franchise fans.