In 2023, the name Chucky is synonymous with the horror genre, and the documentary “Living with Chucky” showcases the creative nightmare that brought this infamous franchise to life. After 35 years of films including a reboot and now two seasons of a successful TV show, Chucky is firmly planted as a staple of pop.culture and the many jump scares, kills, chills and laughs that have been had along the way. The introduction of other characters like Glen, Glenda and Tiffany have all changed the horror landscape and reinvented the genre.
Living With Chucky features interviews with key writers, producers and cast as they peel back the layers of silicone, gore and arcane magic that went into creating the cult classic. The hour-long documentary asks the question, what is it about Chucky and this franchise that makes it still relevant today?
Provided with interesting and little-known facts, we see how notorious real-life killers such as James Earl Ray, Lee Harvey Oswald and Charles Manson provided the inspiration behind everyone’s favourite murderous doll.
As the franchise producer David Kirschner and writer Don Mancini tell us exactly how they made a toy seem so incredibly frightening, Chucky comes to life through each film as technology (and the budget!) increases as each film goes on. A great setup of each films VHS and DVD being put into a player to introduce the next film is a great way for this to be divided up into chapters.
However, as the documentary continues, and each film in the franchise is examined, we are given less information, and instead, see the perspective of different notable actors in the horror genre – some who have nothing to do with the Child’s Play franchise including Marlon Wayans, Abigail Breslin and Lin Shaye. This seems like an interesting decision to have these perspectives on the franchise added when they don’t offer much weight to the conversation that is attempting to be had from the franchise filmmaker’s perspective.
Unfortunately, the documentary feels more like a long-running DVD extra, than a fully fleshed-out documentary. There are perhaps too many films in the franchise for it to be a fully fleshed-out documentary with such a short run-time. Later on in the feature, things do pick up with Billy Boyd talking about his stint as Glen/Glenda in the franchise.
Horror aficionados may be left feeling unsatisfied, and lifetime fans of the Child’s Play franchise will probably already know much of the information given in this feature. Watching the evolution of the Chucky doll and the talented puppeteers and designers who innovated to get Chucky to walk and be as realistic and convincing as he is throughout the films is a fascinating story point. Watching the franchise get bigger and better is exciting to watch, however, in the final 20 minutes, it drags out and really loses its momentum. Some snappier editing may have improved this. If you’re wanting to increase your random horror trivia knowledge, you may enjoy it.
Living with Chucky is available on all major Digital platforms, including Apple iTunes / Google Play in UK & Ireland on April 24th, and in Australia & New Zealand, from April 26th.
