Cult of Chucky

Cult of Chucky is a 2017 American slasher film written and directed by Don Mancini. The seventh installment of the Child's Play franchise, following the 2013 film Curse of Chucky, it stars Brad Dourif as Chucky, with a supporting cast of Fiona Dourif, Alex Vincent, Jennifer Tilly and Summer H. Howell – all of whom are returning cast members from previous installments.

Cult of Chucky
Promotional poster
Directed byDon Mancini
Produced by
Written byDon Mancini
Based onCharacters
by Don Mancini
Starring
Music byJoseph LoDuca
CinematographyMichael Marshall
Edited byRandy Bricker
Production
companies
Universal 1440 Entertainment
Distributed byUniversal Pictures Home Entertainment
Release date
  • August 24, 2017 (2017-08-24) (FF2017)
  • October 3, 2017 (2017-10-03)
Running time
91 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$2.2 million

The film began production in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada in January 2017. It premiered at the London FrightFest Film Festival on August 24, 2017. As with the previous film, it was not released to cinema[2] but was released with rated and unrated versions distributed by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment via Blu-ray, DVD and VOD on October 3, 2017.[3] As of October 2017, the film has grossed over $2 million from DVD and Blu-ray sales.[4]

Plot

Four years after the events of Curse of Chucky, an adult Andy Barclay still has the head of Chucky, which is conscious and deformed after being repeatedly tortured by Andy in retribution for his crimes. Meanwhile, the wheelchair bound Nica Pierce has spent the past four years in a mental institution after being framed by Chucky for the murders of her family. After therapy, she now believes she was responsible for the murders and that Chucky was a manifestation of her psychosis. Dr. Foley, Nica's doctor, has her transferred to the medium-security Harrogate Psychiatric Hospital.

In group therapy, Nica meets Malcolm, a man with multiple-identity disorder; Angela, an old woman who believes she is dead; Claire, a woman who burned her house down; and Madeleine, a patient who smothered her infant son to death. Dr. Foley introduces a technique involving a Good Guys doll. Most of the patients are unsettled by the doll except for Madeleine, who treats it as her baby.

Nica is visited by Tiffany Valentine, the legal guardian of her niece Alice. She is devastated when Tiffany informs her Alice has died, apparently from a broken heart. Tiffany leaves Nica a Good Guys doll, which she claims was a gift from Alice. That night, Chucky awakens and discovers Nica has attempted suicide. The next morning, Nica finds that her wrists have been stitched up, with a message stating "not so fast". She discovers Angela has been killed, leaving the message "Chucky did it." After realizing that Valentine was the last name of Charles Lee Ray's girlfriend, Nica understands Chucky is real. Fearing Madeleine is in danger, Nica has Malcolm try to warn her. However, Madeleine throws both the doll and Malcolm into an empty grave. The orderlies rescue Malcolm. Chucky kills Claire next. Andy learns about the murders online and realizes Chucky has somehow managed to transfer his soul into multiple bodies at once.

In a private session with Foley, Nica agrees to be hypnotized in order to access any repressed memories about her involvement in the murders. Foley, who has been sexually abusing Nica, is hit from behind by Chucky. Foley believes Nica is the one who assaulted him but is willing to keep quiet in order to blackmail her for sexual favors. Madeleine smothers her Good Guys doll with a pillow, forcing her to confront the repercussions of her real child's death. Orderlies bury the doll in order to placate Madeleine.

Determined to end the carnage and save Nica, Andy commits himself into the institution by assaulting one of the security guards. Carlos, a nurse, delivers a package to Foley: another Good Guys doll. Madeleine is visited by her own doll, which has risen from the grave, and she allows the doll to kill her so she can finally be with her baby. Foley attempts to assault Nica but is knocked out by one of the Chucky dolls. The Chucky doll awakens the doll Andy had sent. The three Chuckys reveal that the original Chucky found a voodoo spell on the Internet, which allowed him to separate his soul into multiple host bodies. Alice was one host, but she was killed. All the dolls then kill Carlos in front of Nica.

Tiffany returns and kills a security guard by slashing his throat. One of the Chuckys transfers his soul into Nica, giving her body the ability to walk again. She then stomps on Foley's head, using high heels that Foley had given Nica earlier, killing him. She stumbles upon Malcolm, who confessed to killing Nurse Ashley, and is subsequently killed by Madeleine's Chucky. A short-haired Chucky attacks Andy, but Andy reaches into the doll's chest and pulls out a gun he had planted there. He shoots the doll before stomping its head, killing him. He then shoots at Nica Chucky, only to discover that he has no ammunition left. The institution is sent into lockdown, resulting in Andy being locked inside his cell, Madeleine's Chucky going into hiding, and Nica Chucky escaping. Nica Chucky reunites with Tiffany before driving off together with the Tiffany doll, which is revealed to be alive as well, containing Alice's soul.

In a post-credits scene, Andy's former foster sister Kyle from the second film enters Andy's house, having been sent by Andy to continue torturing the original Chucky's severed head.

Cast

Production

Development

In December 2013, following the release of Curse of Chucky, Don Mancini confirmed that he was planning on developing a seventh installment in the Chucky franchise.[7] By February 2015, Mancini was in the process of writing the script for the film.[8] A year later, Mancini, Jennifer Tilly and Fiona Dourif confirmed that shooting would soon begin for the film.[9] In December 2016, the production office for the film was opened in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.[10] On January 5, 2017, the premise, cast, production schedule and distribution details for Cult of Chucky were revealed, with shooting set to commence four days later.[3]

In an October 2013 interview, Mancini revealed that since Child's Play 3, he had always wanted to introduce the concept of "Multiple Chuckys" but was unable to do so due to budget constraints. He eventually used the concept in Cult of Chucky, 26 years later.[11]

Casting

On January 5, 2017, the principal cast for Cult of Chucky was announced, featuring Brad Dourif as Chucky, Fiona Dourif as Nica Pierce, Alex Vincent as Andy Barclay, Jennifer Tilly as Tiffany and Summer H. Howell as Alice.[5][12] Each of them was featured in previous films, with Brad Dourif in all of them, Vincent in Child's Play (1988) and Child's Play 2, Tilly in Bride of Chucky (1998) and Seed of Chucky, and Fiona Dourif and Howell in Curse of Chucky (2013). Cult of Chucky marks Vincent's first principal role in the franchise since he was a child actor, in Child's Play 2, twenty-seven years prior.[5] Although Andy appeared in Child's Play 3, he was played by a different actor, Justin Whalin, due to the events taking place eight years after the second film, which came out less than a year earlier. Alex Vincent also appeared as Andy during a post-credits scene in Curse of Chucky.

Filming

Principal photography for Cult of Chucky began in Winnipeg on January 9, 2017, with the cinematographer from Curse of Chucky, Michael Marshall, returning in the same capacity.[3] Tony Gardner returned to create and perform the Chucky character as he had done previously for Seed of Chucky and Curse of Chucky.[13] Filming ended on February 18, 2017.[14]

Release

Cult of Chucky was released on Blu-ray, DVD, and Netflix (in the USA) on October 3, 2017. It domestically grossed $2.2 million during the first two weeks.[15][16] Unlike the Blu-ray and DVD versions of the film, the Netflix version was not unrated.[17] The rated version is about a minute shorter than the unrated cut, and does not have a post-credits scene.[17]

Shortly before its release, the full film of Cult of Chucky was leaked on to YouTube, which led Don Mancini to tweet, "To the geniuses who leaked #cultofchucky & tweeted about it Congrats, not only are u terrible people, now Universal lawyers know who u r".[18]

Reception

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 78% based on 23 reviews, and an average rating of 6.08/10.[19]

An early review posted on Bloody Disgusting was very favorable of the film. Benedict Seal stated: "Seventh films have no right to be this good or break this much new ground. Cult of Chucky takes this wild story in a whole host of new directions that franchise fans are sure to get a kick out of. There are so many batshit delights, especially as things escalate towards the finale, but to spoil them would be to ruin Mancini and co.'s grand carnival. Without a doubt, Child's Play is a horror franchise worth treasuring."[20] Stephen Dalton of The Hollywood Reporter also had mostly positive things to say about the film, writing, "the bratty quips and cheerfully nasty murders come thick and fast, with drillings and decapitations, high heels and compressed air canisters all part of their repertoire. Mancini's low-key shooting style also shifts up a gear with slow-motion split-screen action and deranged psycho-lesbian clinches, like Brian De Palma on an indie-movie budget. A lean 91 minutes long, Cult of Chucky is part self-spoofing slasher, part lowbrow bloodbath and all guilty pleasure."[21] Scott Mendelson of Forbes said, "Cult of Chucky is either the Final Chapter or a New Beginning. Either way, this most tenacious of horror franchises can walk on with its head held high."[22] William Bibbiani, writing for IGN, gave the film 7.4 out of 10, and specified, "Too many horror sequels feel like cheap and soulless cash-ins. Cult of Chucky has big ideas, strong performances and some moments that rank among the best in the series. The other classic slasher franchises may be failing, but lately, Chucky is making entertaining horror sequels look like child's play."[23]

Accolades

The film received a nomination for Best DVD or Blu-ray Release at the 44th Saturn Awards.

Future

In October 2017, Don Mancini expressed an interest in having Glen/Glenda from Seed of Chucky return in a future film. Most references to the character had been cut from Cult of Chucky .[24]

TV series

In February 2018, it was announced that a Child's Play television series is in the works, with involvement from Mancini and producer David Kirschner, and is set to be a continuation of the film's story arc. Mancini also stated that as well as the series, feature films will still continue.[25]

Remake
Main article: Child's Play (2019 film)

In July 2018, Collider reported that a modern-day version of Child's Play, was in development at MGM without the involvement of Universal, Mancini, Kirschner or Dourif. Lars Klevberg directed the film, David Katzenberg and Seth Grahame-Smith served as producers. Mark Hamill, Gabriel Bateman, Aubrey Plaza and Brian Tyree Henry starred in the film.[26][27] The plot reportedly featured a group of kids and a hi-tech version of the Good Guy Doll.[28]

References
  1. Barkan, Jonathan (June 30, 2017). "FrightFest 2017: Cult of Chucky's World Premiere Leads a Stellar List of Horror". Dread Central. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  2. "Cult of Chucky: Horror Sequel plot details, teaser video revealed".
  3. Collis, Clark (January 5, 2017). "Cult of Chucky: Horror sequel plot details, teaser video revealed". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  4. "Cult of Chucky (2017)". The Numbers. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  5. Orange, B. Alan (January 5, 2017). "Cult of Chucky Trailer: The Killer Doll Is Back". MovieWeb. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
  6. "Cult of Chucky recruits Grace Lynn Kung". Joblo.com. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  7. Miska, Brad (December 3, 2013). "BREAKING: Chucky Will Return In Seventh 'Child's Play'!". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  8. Barton, Steve (February 18, 2015). "New 'Child's Play' Still In the Works!". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  9. Gallagher, Brian (February 23, 2016). "'Chucky 7' Is Shooting Soon, Jennifer Tilly Will Return". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  10. Miska, Brad (February 23, 2016). "The 'Chucky 7' Production Office is Now Open!". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  11. Bibbiani, William. "The Chucky Files- Don Mancini on CHILD'S PLAY 3 (1991)". YouTube. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  12. Miska, Brad (January 5, 2017). "'Cult of Chucky': The Next 'Child's Play' Begins Filming on Monday! (Trailer)". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
  13. Smith, Jerry (October 4, 2017). "Interview: Tony Gardner Talks Cult of Chucky FX". ComingSoon.net. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  14. "Filming ends on Cult Of Chucky". Twitter. February 18, 2017. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  15. Schwartz, Terri (September 19, 2017). "Cult of Chucky Will Be Available to Stream on Netflix in October". IGN. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  16. "Cult of Chucky (2017)". The Numbers. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  17. Squires, John (October 3, 2017). "The Version of 'Cult of Chucky' on Netflix is NOT Unrated". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  18. Dan Zinski (September 25, 2017). "Cult of Chucky Director Responds to Movie Being Leaked". Screen Rant. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  19. Cult of Chucky at Rotten Tomatoes
  20. Seal, Benedict (August 25, 2017). "[FrightFest Review] 'Cult of Chucky' Cements the Franchise as One of the Best!". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  21. Dalton, Stephen (September 8, 2017). "'Cult of Chucky': Film Review - FrightFest 2017". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  22. Mendelson, Scott (September 28, 2017). "'Cult Of Chucky' Review: It's The 'Fast Five' Of The 'Child's Play' Films". Forbes. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  23. Bibbiani, William (September 28, 2017). "Cult of Chucky Review". IGN. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  24. "Interview: Don Mancini Talks CULT OF CHUCKY and the Enduring Controversy of SEED OF CHUCKY - Daily Dead". Dailydead.com. October 5, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  25. "Child's Play TV series coming - Coming Soon". Coming soon.net. February 9, 2018. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  26. "Exclusive: Aubrey Plaza, Brian Tyree Henry in Talks to Star in 'Child's Play' Reboot". September 19, 2018.
  27. https://screenrant.com/childs-play-movie-reboot-cast-filming-start/
  28. "'Child's Play' Reboot In the Works at MGM From 'It' Producers". July 3, 2018.
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