Kyra Elise Gardner is a director and writer who grew up with a famous horror icon. It’s an icon that spawned many films and continues as a TV series. If you haven’t guessed, I’m referring to the famous killer doll named Chucky! If you wonder how Kyra grew up with Chucky, you must watch the documentary to find out for yourself. Based on Kyra’s experience growing up, she decided to seek out the many involved with not only the creation of Chucky but also the continuation of his story. Kyra has successfully interviewed many talented people for this feature, including Brad Dourif, Fiona Dourif, Jennifer Tilly, Alex Vincent, Billy Boyd, Lin Shaye, Marlon Wayans, Christine Elise, Adam Hurtig, Abigail Breslin, John Waters and many more! Those who have worked with Chucky have a bond with the killer doll, just like Kyra does, and each of these talented people share fascinating insights and trivia about the entire Chucky/Child’s Play franchise.
Taking us back to the start, Child’s Play (1988), Living with Chucky sets up the 80s wonderfully and explains in depth what life was once like when it came to horror films. In the early 80s, the world was starting to gain introductions to icons known for their evilness, gruesome and bloody kills, outrageous humour, and likeability, such as Freddy Kruger. This documentary reveals the story of Chucky’s creation and the challenges; after all, Child’s Play was made before CGI was introduced. Filmmakers had to be more creative and deliver something extraordinary to make their films successful and convincing. Living with Chucky recaps each film individually (excluding the 2019 remake Child’s Play) and even includes a solid introduction to the new and current TV series Chucky.
Visually, I found this documentary to be remarkable. All interviews look sharp and include a clear-sounding audio track. Fans of the film franchise will also love seeing the many behind-the-scenes clips and excerpts from past movies. The editing between interviews is perfect, with tight cuts that feel natural. Due to good pacing, I never got bored or disengaged with the interviews. Discussing each Child’s Play film led up to a touching, fun and heartfelt surprise that was rewarding. I found the documentary fun and playful.
Overall, growing up, I was always a fan of Chucky and the Child’s Play franchise. Living with Chucky goes on a highly insightful journey into the creation of the famous horror icon, starting with the first film. Thankfully, the documentary focuses on more than a popular film franchise and a horror icon. Plenty of interviews here give great details about the franchise, and the insights generally surprised me, and I enjoyed them immensely. There’s also a heartful story behind this film, which surprised me, and while I found this unexpected, it also felt highly fitting and rewarding. Ultimately, I was left not only feeling educated and obtaining more knowledge about Chucky, but I was given a touching reason to make the documentary much more substantial than anything I’ve seen in some time!
Living with Chucky (2022) 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.
8.0/10
17th April 2023
Written by Peter Walkden
WALKDEN ENTERTAINMENT
PODCASTS ARE AVAILABLE!
0 Comments