Cult of Chucky Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Cult of Chucky Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman October 2, 2017

The 80s Horror landscape is populated by so many iconic screen killers that even today they collectively remain quintessential watching for any genre fan. Perhaps not since the barrage of Universal monster movies in the 1930s has a decade been so defined by a steady diet of classic screen villains. But unlike the Universal monsters, many of whom had their origins in classic works of literature, the 80s saw a deluge of new, never-before-seen faces doling out the pain for a number of reasons: revenge, wanton mayhem, mental illness. Iconic names that have become synonymous with 80s slashers include Freddy, Jason, and Michael (who made his screen debut in 1978 but enjoyed his heyday in the 1980s), but leading up the second tier of unforgettable decade death dealers is Chucky, the diminutive, red-haired doll that made his screen debut in 1988, right on the heels of the Cabbage Patch doll craze. The franchise, like these 80s psychos, cannot be killed. It was revived a few years ago with the well-received Curse of Chucky, and 2017's Cult of Chucky ups the ante again, returning plenty of old favorite characters and crafting a movie that's as creepy, chaotic, and crazy as any the franchise has yet released.

Nica (Fiona Dourif), scarred by her encounter with Chucky that left her family dead, has been committed to an insane asylum where she's been led to believe that she, not the demonic and murderous doll, is responsible for the deaths. Her life at the asylum has been plagued by abuse and uncertainty, and things grow increasingly difficult when her doctor (Michael Therriault) makes a Good Guy Chucky doll the centerpiece of her and her group's therapy. Of course, the body count begins to mount while both Chucky's bride (Jennifer Tilly) and arch nemesis (Alex Vincent) arrive on the scene.

"Crazy" is certainly the right word to describe Cult of Chucky. The film takes place in an insane asylum and the plot is chaotic and convoluted, early on blurring the line between reality and imagination as a handful of mental patients, each of whom are battling their own demons, mind-altering and body-stifling medications, and of course Chucky himself, who is introduced as a form of therapy, fight to figure out what's real and what is not, what heinous things they have done in their lives and what they have not. Chucky, of course, kills off characters one-by-one in a number of insanely grotesque ways; drills through the back of the head and out the eye, heads severed by shattering glass, stomped craniums, and eviscerated bodies are some of the more memorable ways characters meet their fates. The Chucky dolls themselves take on a number of wounds as well, including a severed and badly carved-out head that is still fully aware that Andy keeps to torture. But beyond the violence is a tale that reunites many familiar faces -- in more ways than one -- and is in, in some ways, the ultimate Child's Play film, blurring the line between reality and nightmare, expanding the universe in a few unexpected ways, and bringing much of the series full-circle in one 90-minute film.

Structurally, though, the film's complex plotting, slow reveals, and gradual story construction don't do it many favors, at least not when it comes to pacing. It can be frustrating early on, particularly for audiences less familiar with the franchise's history and happenings. It gains steam as the body count increases and the plot threads begin to tie together in a more elegant manner beyond the jumbled knots of the first half. Writer/Director Don Mancini, who has penned all of the film in the franchise, certainly assumes audience awareness with this episode, doing little to make newcomers, or those who have simply long forgotten all but the most basic plot details and character arcs, feel welcome. But the film will certainly be a treat for series veterans. It brings together plenty of interesting plot elements, reshapes some franchise lore, and delivers one of the most grisly and visually stylish films in the series. Much of the picture takes place in stark white locations, interpretable in several ways as a visual cue (though the filmmakers comment in promotional interviews that it's essentially only to allow the red blood to pop), that give the movie the most unique look of the franchise's nearly thirty-year history. Key performances are layered and complex, particularly as Fiona Dourif navigates through her character's complexities and evolution throughout the film. Brad Dourif doesn't miss a beat as the voice of the diabolical Chucky. Alex Vincent reprises his role from the original film.

Cult of Chucky Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Cult of Chucky's 1080p Blu-ray presentation leaves little room for complaint. The image, sourced from a digital shoot, is clean and robustly detailed. Intimate skin textures are well defined, Chucky's clothes are complex, the doll's "skin" maintains an appropriate plastic-y texture, and various examples of gore, such as the badly destroyed Chucky head Andy keeps in a safe, are very revealing of the finest textural qualities. Colors are well saturated. Red blood does pop against the predominantly white backgrounds, particularly in a couple of shots where it's pooled on the ground and words have been written in it. Chucky's clothes and a few other choice colors are the only real standouts in a movie that's deliberately heavy on the white. Black levels hold fairly deep but can't always achieve true black. Skin tones are fine. Mild source noise is apparent throughout, but no other source or encode artifacts are readily apparent.

Cult of Chucky Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Cult of Chucky features an active and engaging DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The presentation is never at a loss for expansive stage envelopment. Music plays with seamless spacing, impressive width and depth that's accompanied by near flawless clarity. Ambient effects are well integrated into the entire stage. Whether light restaurant din in one early scene or heavier elements like booming thunder that lingers with a satisfying diffuse presence, the track is always capable of bringing environments to rich sonic life. Action scenes are capable of supporting every critical moment, whether aggressive gunfire, a whirring electric drill, or sounds of chaos that reinforce the movie's goriest moments. Dialogue is clear and stable with consistent front-center positioning and expert prioritization.

Cult of Chucky Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Cult of Chucky contains several bonus features as well as two cuts of the film: the Rated Version (1:30:03) and the Unrated Version (1:30:56). A DVD copy of the film and a voucher for a UV/iTunes digital copy are included with purchase.

• Deleted Scenes (1080p, 5:36): Nurse Carlos Sells Photos of Nica, Madeleine's Prescription, and Nurse Carlos Makes Amends. With optional Director/Writer/Executive Producer Dan Mancini commentary.
• Inside the Insanity of Cult of Chucky (1080p, 6:43): A look at the character's enduring legacy, audience attraction to him, making key scenes, returning characters, locations, visual style, kills, visual effects, and the possibilities for future installments.
• Good Guy Gone Bad: The Incarnations of Chucky (1080p, 5:03): An in-depth look at how the doll is made and operated for the film, matching movements and attitude to recorded dialogue, and controlling various motor functions.
• The Dollhouse (1080p, 7:37): A number of Child's Play cast and crew veterans share some thoughts on their work throughout the franchise's history.
• Audio Commentary: Director/Writer/Executive Producer Dan Mancini and Head Puppeteer/Associate Producer Tony Gardner deliver a fairly breezy and well-versed track that explores franchise history, film specifics, character details, production design, Chucky dolls, and much more.

Cult of Chucky Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Cult of Chucky will please fans and frustrate newcomers or those not intimately familiar with the franchise. It's slow out of the gate but undeniably stylish and complexly constructed. It brings plenty of franchise history and lore to the table, offers some new perspectives, and is dotted by some of the grisliest kills in franchise history, all while setting up shop for another sequel, by way of some delicious plot twists, down the line. Universal's Blu-ray delivers high-end video and audio. A handful of quality extras are included. Recommended, but newcomers or fans whose memories have lapsed a bit would be best served by revisiting the entire series; Universal has, alongside Cult of Chucky, released a complete-series boxed set perfect for a first or return trip through the Child's Play world.