PREVIEW CHILD’S PLAY (15)
RELEASED in 1988, slasher horror Child’s Play brought to life a demented doll, which goes on a bloodthirsty rampage after a serial killer transfers his tormented soul into the benign plaything.
The popularity of murderous mannequin Chucky sparked various sequels and a vast line of merchandise.
A spin-off TV series is
currently in production for broadcast next year.
To lay the groundwork for the small screen incarnation, Lars Klevberg directs a remake of the original with significant plot alterations.
Widowed mother Karen Barclay (Audrey Plaza) relocates to a new city with her deaf 13-year-old son Andy (Gabriel Bateman). The move is hard on the lad, who makes a few friends, including Omar (Marlon Kazadi), Falyn (Beatrice Kitsos), Chris (Anantjot S Aneja) and Pugg (Ty Consiglio).
Soon afterwards, Karen purchases Buddi (voiced by Mark Hamill), a cute doll which connects all the Kaslan Corp appliances in the family’s home. Andy christens the new arrival Chucky.
A technical defect transforms the plaything into a knife-wielding harbinger of doom. Andy tries to warn his mother and other adults about the danger but they dismiss his tearful pleadings.
It is left to Andy and his friends to end Chucky’s reign of terror before they become another grim statistic in the case load of detective Mike Norris (Brian Tyree Henry).