Child's Play (2019)

"Child's Play" (2019, Lars Klevberg, Orion Pictures, KatzSmith Productions, BRON Creative) is a reboot of the original film with a different take on the story and character.

A disgruntled employee at the toy factory manufacturing the Buddi high-tech smart doll does a bit of reprogramming to remove the learning limiters and safety nets on the chip of the doll he's working on. The doll winds up in Chicago where single mum Karen (Aubrey Plaza) brings him home for her son, Andy (Gabriel Bateman), as a birthday present. As Karen and Andy have recently moved in, Andy is looking to meet kids his own age, and despite thinking the doll (Mark Hamill), who christens itself Chucky, is childish, he and it bond and eventually he meets some other kids in the building.

The doll learns from the world around it, however, but without the safety software in place Chucky begins to display some disturbing behaviour including murdering the family cat after it scratches Andy, and coming at the kids with a knife after seeing a serial killer movie on TV. Unfortunately, no one believes Andy's warnings and Chucky steps up his game dramatically before the adults begin to take note.

I'm a big fan of the original franchise, specifically the original film and, of course, "Bride..." and "Seed of Chucky" which are extremely good fun. Its difficult to separate this film from that franchise, but if you're able to the film itself is a fun ride, if not exactly flawless.

I felt Hamill's voice was underutilised and could have definitely been used more. The doll is pretty sympathetic, too. It's not evil, it's just doing what it's programmed to do from what it's been exposed to. Sure it does some vile stuff, but unlike the Charles Lee Ray we know from old, this Chucky is more of a chaotic character than a bad guy. The likelihood of a factory programming individual dolls is also pretty... sketchy. But I guess it has to glitch somehow.

The plot is more "Small Soldiers" than Chucky, but as a standalone film it was entertaining. The tone is a little odd; it doesn't seem to know what audience it's aiming for. The gore is pretty good and the acting is strong. The kids specifically give a great performance, and overall, I think if it had been its own thing, and not a reboot of a well-loved series, it would have likely been better received.

[Image: Orion Pictures]

Hani

Sleepwalkers

"Sleepwalkers" (1992, Mick Garris, Columbia Pictures) is a film based on a short story by Stephen King.

Charles (Brian Krause) and his mother, Mary (Alice Krige), are the last surviving creatures of a clan of shapeshifting energy vampires called Sleepwalkers. They are also terrified of cats. As well as being mother and son, the couple are, well, an incestuous couple. *shudder*

Charles meets Tanya (Mädchen Amick) at school and begins a romantic relationship with her in an attempt to feed from her life energy to keep himself and his mother alive. Unfortunately for Charles, things do not go to plan. Especially when a local police deputy sheriff (Dan Martin) and Clovis, the police cat, catch up on the would-be feast.

The film clumsily straddles the genres of campy horror comedy and a more serious vampire movie. It begins somewhat strongly but tapers off into a bit of a farce around the halfway mark. Although, that's not to say that it is not enjoyable; it is. It's just perhaps more enjoyable for more humorous reasons than initially intended.

Mary plays out as the most interesting character with her flimsy nightwear and penchant for setting bear traps in which to snare the neighbourhood felines who have taken to sitting on her lawn. And Charles is a somewhat sympathetic character up until he begins his games of cat and mouse (pun intended) with both Tanya and with the deputy sheriff.

The film enjoys some fun, physical effects and an entertaining ability of the Sleepwalkers to make themselves invisible, into cat creatures or to add a glamour to any given object.

A sincere yet cheesy piece that also enjoys a short cameo from both Mr. King and Mark Hamill as well as a small but memorable role for Ron Perlman.

Come for the intriguing premise, but stay for the batshit crazy action. Killer corn on the cob!

[Image: Columbia Pictures]

Hani