With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I think it’s only visit to revisit the fourth installment in the Child’s Play franchise and arguably the most romantic one- Bride of Chucky (dir. Don Mancini).
Directly following the ending of Child’s Play 3, the scattered remains of Chucky (voiced by Brad Dourif), is retrieved and resurrected by his besotted former lover Tiffany (Jennifer Valentine). While Chucky wants nothing more than getting his human body back, Tiffany dreams of entering into unholy matrimony with the deranged killer. However, matters are further complicated by Tiffany’s soul being transferred into a doll. The two manipulate a pair of young lovers (Katherine Heigl and Nick Stabile) who are trying to escape the girl’s controlling police officer uncle (John Ritter) into transporting them to the location of Chucky’s burial site and embark on a bloody road trip.
The film recognises the ridiculousness of a premise of a killer doll and is drenched in typical 90’s cynicism. This is encapsulated by a quote from Tiffany in the film, regarding Chucky’s murder methods: ‘Stabbings went out with Bundy and Dahmer’. Rather than the dark, moody scares that its predecessors attempted to achieve, this film takes a new comedic route. The film’s primary focus on Tiffany and Chucky’s volatile romance is an interesting one, considering the predominantly solitary nature of slashers. The frequent domestic-style squabbling between the main lovers in their inarticulate forms, complete with thrown plates, is hilariously surreal. However, to those with a fear of dolls, the uncanny appearances of Chucky and Tiffany will never fail to send a chill down your spine.
Jennifer Tilly’s performance as Tiffany is a delight to watch, becoming just as much of a horror icon as her plastic paramour in her own right. Her popularity within the franchise is undeniable, appearing in three more sequels, the most recent being Cult of Chucky (2017). However, the other characters in the film lack this charisma, including the beta human couple, Jesse and Jade, whose anaemic ‘Romeo and Juliet’ romance and underwritten characters detract from Chucky and Tiffany’s love story, which is a twisted, violent cross between ‘Natural Born Killers’ and ‘Toy Story’. If the latter description appeals to you and you want a very different kind of Valentine’s Day watch, watch then this is the film for you.
5.5/10.
The Silver Squeam 