Child's Play 2 (1990)

Sorry Jack, Chucky's back in the first sequel, coming only two years later. Young Andy Barclay (Alex Vincent) has now been placed in foster care after the previous incident leaving his mother institutionalized. All seems to be going well for Andy whose foster parents seem loving and caring but the red haired devil has come back and with a new paint job. He then begins his hunt for Andy once again. 'Child's Play 2' was the first film in the series I saw and it wasn't exactly a nice memory. Obviously being too young to watch it at the time, it naturally scarred me for life. All kidding aside, it was a truly scary experience and one of the earliest I can remember so it's only natural that I would continue to go back to this one again and again for many years.

It's hardly anything worth getting scared over now, but 'Child's Play 2' is still a very entertaining sequel and as far as second chapters go for horror flicks, it's up there with the best. Brad Dourif returns as the killer Chucky and as always no matter how good your story or other characters are Dourif will always keep this franchise afloat and much like 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' it simply isn't 'Child's Play' without him. His Chucky is funny and malicious and it's his personality and silly one liners that make the fans love him so much. Despite a small gap between the two films, 'Child's Play 2' shows a considerably stronger visual style and a much larger budget. Even with the opening scene, in which we see the burnt and disfigured Chucky doll from the first film being reassembled like some modern Frankenstein monster has a colorful toy box like color pattern which is retained throughout the film and that epic opening score by Graeme Revell is one of my favorite horror scores of all time. It's certainly a better musical piece than a killer doll film deserves.

Alex Vincent returns as Andy and here he does a much better job. He has aged a little and you can see he's gotten a lot better at delivery and his expressions. It's a shame he hasn't been in much since but thankfully we'll be seeing him return in the upcoming 'Cult of Chucky' very soon. His co-stars are also great here, with no one really going overboard and staying relatively grounded. I particularly liked Jenny Agutter's role as the foster mother and Christine Elise as Kyle remains one of the best characters in the franchise and hopefully she'll make her return. The Chucky Doll effects are also ramped up from the previous entry, with the animatronics showing advanced emotions and very scary expressions. It's probably my favorite looking Chucky in the whole series because he looks the most realistic here. Chucky himself is also a lot more vicious this time around leading to some memorable kills and hands down the best climax in the entire 'Child's Play' series.

'Child's Play 2' does tend to show some of the series' future flaws albeit in smaller doses here. Chucky's one-liners can get a little silly sometimes and the film will rely on jump scares and drops the suspense of the original entirely. And while the film goes at a much brisker pace than the original, it still tends to lag in the middle which is never good for a film that's roughly only 80 minutes. It's really that epic opening credits along with the epic climax in the toy factory that makes 'Child's Play 2' so memorable and rewatchable. It has a lot of the flaws you'll find in the usual 80's and 90's slashers, but really if you're watching 'Child's Play 2' you are likely already far down the rabbit hole and care little. It's not the best sequel, but it's definitely my personal favorite.

( A )

(( Listen to the opening theme I mentioned and let me know what you think))

Child's Play (1988)

'Child's Play' was directed by Tom Holland and stars Katherine Hicks as a single mother who is seeking that perfect birthday present for her son Andy (Alex Vincent). She happens to come across the one thing young Andy wants more than anything: A Good Guy doll named Chucky and brings it home only to discover that her good fortune was too good to be true. Chucky is in fact possessed by the spirit of a recently gunned down serial killer (Brad Dourif) and is now looking at young Andy for a new human form and won't let anyone stand in his way.

The 'Child's Play' franchise was my introduction to the modern horror genre after growing naturally with the Universal Monsters and 50's B Movies and of course still being a young child by that point, it naturally scared me for many years. I think most people will tell you Chucky was one of their first childhood boogeymen and that mainly comes down to two things: the character himself, and the concept of a child's toy acting on its own. When one grows up however, you do lose much of the strength in the film but we do still get the character which you could swear was specifically written with Dourif in mind as he elevates both the original and the many sequels to come above the usual 'killer doll' cliche. He's wickedly funny, has one hell of a scream, and is threatening all of which earns him a spot alongside your Michael Myers, your Jason Voorhees, and your Freddy Krueger.

Really if you want to go by statistics, the 'Child's Play' franchise has had far more hits than misses when compared to your average horror franchise and some of that I would attribute to the loyal creators Don Mancini and David Kirschner, who have both stayed on the series since day one with Mancini having directed the last three films himself. These two know the characters, they know the world and its rules so even when a newcomer comes in you always have Mancini and Kirschner to keep everything in line. Is 'Child's Play' the best horror movie? No. Is it the best killer doll story? No, in fact that honor I feel should go to the classic 'Twilight Zone' episode 'Living Doll' as it has a much better pace and more suspense. 'Child's Play' let's you know from frame one that the doll is in fact alive and evil, which I feel should have been stretched out more, making the film more tense in wondering whether young Andy is committing these acts or if its in fact his doll.

Minor spoilers here, but I think the best part to let the audience know the doll is in fact alive would have been to cut out the whole beginning and only revealing the truth once the dolls batteries are shown to not have been in the doll. That could have made the film overall and specifically that scene even more memorable. The acting at times can also be a little lopsided, particularly from young Alex Vincent and I really don't mean to pick on a kid but we don't see him at his best until the sequel. I also wish we could have had more time with Kate his mother to get some more emotion in there or had her have more scenes with Chris Sarandon's policeman to get some more development there.

 Overall, 'Child's Play' does hold up well but it has some cracks here and there. The story and Chucky himself will always be timeless, but the film's pacing, suspense, and acting are of lesser quality and really despite being the start of the franchise, it's far from the best.

(C+)

'Cult of Chucky' will be available on October 3rd. We will be reviewing the other films in the franchise for the rest of the month. We'll also be looking at the newest 'Chainsaw' film 'LeatherFace'.

Flatliners (1990)

'Flatliners' is directed by Joel Schumacher and stars Kiefer Sutherland as Nelson, a medical student who wishes to seek answers from the afterlife. He manages to recruit his fellow students in conducting a deadly experiment in which they deliberately stop the heart for several minutes before recovery, in the hopes of seeing what lies beyond. But soon Nelson and his friends begin to experience the horrific consequences of their experiment and some may not come back from the other side. The film was released back in 1990 to mild success but I wouldn't say that 'Flatliners' has really had that large of a following in the years since. Even for a fan of Schumacher such as myself, I tend to forget it's on his filmography, but with it becoming the newest remake/sequel/reboot victim this weekend, I felt I should take a look back at the original.

For the most part, 'Flatliners' remains strong in several aspects with the cast being the biggest pro of the film. This is one of Kiefer Sutherland's better roles in film, but where the film really shines is with his friends, played by Julia Roberts, Kevin Bacon, Oliver Platt, and William Baldwin who shine beyond anyone else in the picture. It makes the script seem very lopsided in that we are introduced to Nelson but before long, he really doesn't become the main focus and we instead follow the various problems of the friends only to throw a bone at Sutherland at the end. However, when we do focus on the friends it is at least engaging with Bacon and Roberts getting the biggest highlight scenes of the film and Bacon's scenes involving his guilt with bullying a girl in his past has some strong and well done drama in what is mostly a sci-fi/thriller.

The film's main flaws do lie in juggling all of these wonderful actors and their problems and before long it becomes a cluttered mess about halfway through. I feel that if the screenplay had cutback a little on the main characters we might have been able to have a little more focus. Schumacher has since go on to make some of the best (Falling Down) and worst films (Batman & Robin) of all time and here I feel he's in between. His talents are obvious and he was hardly an amateur by this point, having directed the amazing 'Lost Boys' only a few years prior, but I feel that the script left very little for him to work with as far as visual strength goes. As far as science fiction goes, the film looks very bland, neutral, and overall a big letdown. If I didn't know any better, this feels more like a movie of the week rather than a big theatrical release.

While I don't feel that 'Flatliners' really deserves the praise it tends to get, it can be enjoyed for its great cast and intriguing premise. Even if the film downplays it's concept and uses poor cinematography and generic design. Perhaps the upcoming film of the same name will add a little more depth.

(( C + ))

Friend Request (2016)

'Friend Request' is such an oddity. Releasing a full year and a half after various preview screenings and delays it makes little sense to me to release a film like this in theaters when it belongs in the bottom of a $5 bin at your local Wal-Mart. First off and what should be the most obvious flaw is that making Facebook an evil entity that preys on someone for revenge is not only an extremely dried up concept, but it's also an incredibly stupid one. Did we not learn from 'Unfriended'? That film had a major studio behind it and it still flopped so what chance did this unknown overseas company possibly think it had? However, I will say that even tired horror tropes and concepts can be used for at least mild entertainment, but 'Friend Request' even fails at this. The film has so little to it even when you consider the numerous other 'Ring' and 'Grudge' rip offs and sequels out there. It takes and takes without giving anything to the audience besides heartburn and a migraine.

I think I've hit a record here with 'Friend Request' being my shortest review to date, and if you've unfortunately seen it you can figure why. It's 'Drag Me To Hell', 'The Ring', 'The Conjuring', 'The Grudge' and a million other fucking things and done so poorly and with such ineptitude that I think 'The Bye Bye Man' has finally been topped. This is by far the worst horror film of the year and that's something I hope you take to heart before you think of going.

(( F ))

IT (2017)

'IT' is one of the best Stephen King adaptations to come along in a very long time. It sports an excellent cast of young actors who all give strong performances and you grow to like each one of them very easily. You also feel for them and want to see them prevail from both the natural and supernatural evils that plague them in their little town of Derry, Maine. I think that's what gives 'IT' the strong appeal it has and continues to have since its original 1985 release. The novel wasn't just about an evil clown attacking children but about the real life horrors that we deal with every day such as bullies, parental abuse, and the overall dangers of reality that children and adults face. Pennywise is just a key that opens the door to these other horrors and also what helps the Loser's Club face their fears in an ironic twist that King is very good at.

I think that's what ultimately makes this newest version a much stronger outing, that Pennywise is the catalyst and not the star of the show. Director Andy Muschietti wisely keeps the sinister clown as much in the shadows as needed, while letting us get to know the kids and letting them carry the whole thing which is what the novel did and was its main strength. That's not to say Muschietti underutilizes Bill Skarsgard's take on the Dancing Clown and I was surprised to see that he turned out a better performance than even I expected. He is creepy as hell, and while I won't spoil any of his antics in this review I'm just letting you guys know beforehand that you will come to love this rendition of Pennywise not as a superior but rather on equal but different levels to Tim Curry's 1990 outing.

Any minor gripes I have with 'IT' comes down to the various continuity or seemingly missing scenes that left me with questions. Again, I will not spoil anything but one scene does leave a hole in the story that I couldn't help but let eat at me but overall, it's minor at best. If you are going into this new 'IT' with low expectations or preparing to compare it to the original mini-series, please allow me to relieve your fears. 'IT' 2017 is an amazing adaptation of a classic Stephen King novel that does the author's work justice and I cannot wait until 2018 when we see the Loser's Club return to Derry. BEEP BEEP!

(A-)

Stephen King's IT (1990 Mini-Series Version) Review

'Stephen King's IT' first aired as a two night mini-series on ABC back in 1990 to strong ratings and above average to positive critical notice. This series is 27 years old now and in those many years (99% of my entire lifetime) the mini-series has garnered a huge fan base from both fans of the book and just horror enthusiasts in general. Tim Curry by far shares the majority of the praise for this show and even after all this time, I feel he still deserves that praise as he's the best thing about it. But now, I'm afraid I have to shatter your nostalgia bubble: 'IT' 1990 version is really not good, in fact it's pretty weak in contrast to its source material and modern television today. While many would say it's a sign of the times, let's not forget that 'Twin Peaks' came out on the same channel and in the exact same year of 1990 and it holds up. So if we can't place the blame on the television standards of the time, then what is it exactly?

It's the second half involving the Loser's Club as adults returning to Derry to finish IT off, plain and simple. The first half isn't anything spectacular either and it contains its own cringe-worthy cheesy dialogue and special effects but what keeps this first part so engaging is the child actors and their above-average performances. Interviews with director Tommy Lee Wallace shows him having his own distaste for the film and even Curry himself recently came out against certain aspects falter and it all seems like the story was simply too much for Wallace and the crew. Having to make a mini-series is no picnic and requires a lot of work. I'm not saying Wallace wasn't up to the task (the man helped make the 'Halloween' franchise after all) but you can see his disinterest in the overall project in the second half. The story goes full off the rails and we get some very bad acting, even from vets like John Ritter and Olivia Hussey and one of the worst climaxes to a horror story I've seen in a while. It reaches B-Movie levels and by that time you've simply stopped caring.

So is everything I remember about 'IT' completely destroyed? No, not at all and really I don't mean to be so dramatic about it. I simply see it with older eyes now, and can't forgive the many holes and problems this adaptation brings. I still love the kid segments and overall the first half of the special as a whole. They're just as relatable and likeable as they are in the novel (I myself would have likely started a Loser's Club as a kid) and Tim Curry gives one of his best performances in his career, which he really didn't have to do. Curry is an amazing actor because no matter the material, he will give his very best much like the equally underrated Brad Dourif. He could have easily breezed through 'IT' and taken the money, but you can see in both the special and even today that he was very glad to have done it even if he has his criticisms. And that's overall what I would say as well about 'IT': it's got a lot of problems that I was less willing to accept this second time around but it's no less entertaining and I'm glad I went back and watched it.

I just think most people who re watch 'IT' are likely to find it as disappointing as myself, especially with the upcoming adaptation showing some strong early reviews. As far as Stephen King movies, it's far down the bar and it's not as good as you remember but for those new to the novel or just haven't seen it in a while, check it out. Just keep your expectations a little low.

Oh, and try not to laugh at this ridiculous thing like I did.

(C-)

10 Favorite Stephen King Films

"IT" is coming in less than a week and I went back and took a look at all the flicks I could. It took a while, but now I'm here and I'd like to share with you some of my favorites. Let me know what yours are down at the bottom.

#10 -- Storm of the Century (1999)

Written exclusively for the small screen by King himself, 'Storm of the Century' manages to provide high tension and thrills all with a small budget and a cast of talented actors and crew. An old mysterious man arrives in a coastal town and after that shit starts hitting the fan. I'm not sure why King did not produce this as a novel first, as it's pretty damn good but at least it manages to stray away from the usual problems that plague a television film based on King's work and stands as likely the best TV movie he's been involved with.

#09 -- The Dark Half (1993)

In all honesty, this George Romero adaptation is not as faithful to the novel as many fans would have liked but it still holds up rather well and is one of Romero's last strong efforts. 'The Dark Half' is one of if not my favorite novel by King because it's one I feel is one of his most personal, a dark insight into the man himself as a writer and the idea of himself revealing a darker side and going too far is one of the most engaging ideas for a story I've read and it's inspired me in my writing deeply. Romero's film keeps this theme well enough and the dark visuals for the most part are kept intact. While many of the more philosophical ideas and supernatural themes are somewhat downplayed throughout, I think 'The Dark Half' still manages to come out the other end strong.

#08 --Creepshow (1982)

'Creepshow' is one of the best horror movies in the genre let alone a great Stephen King film. Inspired by 'Tales from the Crypt' comic books from the early 1950's 'Creepshow' takes this inspiration to the extreme from the garish color scheme and even shooting the film with comic panels, special lighting and background effects during a moment of terror or intensity, and the fun camp found in these pulp kiddie books of the time. It's the biggest love letter to those old tales and its all thanks to George A. Romero and Stephen King's brilliant writing and directing. King himself even makes an appearance in my personal favorite segment 'The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill'. If you've never seen 'Creepshow' grab some fast food, some booze, and a group of friends and like the tagline promises 'It's the most fun you'll have being scared'.

#07 -- Needful Things (1996)

A film that I feel deserves much more attention and a lot more love is 'Needful Things'. Not only is it one of my favorite novels, it's inspired pop culture since its publication including an entire episode of 'Rick & Morty'. Ed Harris plays a sheriff in the town of Castle Rock and yes, the town was in fact created by Stephen King. Anyway, things get out of hand in Castle Rock when an elderly man arrives and opens a store named well..'Needful Things' of course. Max Von Sydow does his usual excellent job here as the devilish owner and Harris shows off the beginnings of his eventual award winning career. Throw in some excellent dark humor and the over the top tone of the film and you've got a great black comedy that every King fan should check out.

#06 --The Dead Zone (1983)

It's odd how a lot of fans of David Cronenberg seem to overlook this little gem based on an early novel by King. It may be due to its far less extreme tone when compared to 'Scanners' or 'Videodrome' but I feel 'The Dead Zone' was the first film that showed his range which we now see in films such as 'A History of Violence' and 'Eastern Promises'. For being a story about a man with psychic powers, Cronenberg goes for a subtle and slow burn thriller and delivers and with Christopher Walken's strong performance I consider this film to be a classic. Oh, and be sure to check out the USA Network series with Anthony Michael Hall as it provides a really good time too.

#05 -- Carrie (1976)

Even after 41 years, 'Carrie' holds up surprisingly strong. Brian DePalma has sadly seemed to have vanished from the spotlight, but there's no denying his contribution to the film industry and 'Carrie' is one of his first, but also one of his best. Sissy Spacek deserves all the praise she got at the time as her portrayal of Carrie White has us so drawn into the movie that we can't help but feel for her, even when she becomes violent and a hazard to those around her. Her performance made me like her and want to help her escape from the torment she had to endure. Sadly, we know that is never meant to be and in the end that strong ending is what stays with you and that's great storytelling and great filmmaking.

#04 -- Pet Sematary (1989)

While I won't argue that this film is definitely due for a remake, rewatching it recently I discovered even to this day I still am genuinely bothered and creeped out by 'Pet Sematary'. It really has problems as far as a film goes, with the biggest coming from the actors portraying Lewis and his wife who come off as wooden and monotone whenever they speak their dialogue. It's all about the story, the visuals, and the overall unsettling nature of 'Pet Sematary' that keeps it strong and what keeps people going back. That undead baby is still one of the most nightmarish things I have seen in a film and even Stephen King himself isn't very fond of the story due to its macabre nature. If the director of the upcoming 'IT' does in fact get to redo this one, let's hope for something truly showstopping.

#03 -- The Shining (1980)

"What?! Only number three?! What kind of blasphemy is this?!" you might be saying through your monitor. I didn't say 'Best' did I? I said my favorite and while I love 'The Shining' a lot more than many King fans it's far from a casual watch for me. In fact, this movie can be somewhat of a chore unless you're in the mood for it. Often times I'll find myself putting it on, only to quickly shut it down after about twenty minutes or so. It's a film that requires your full attention, but when it has it man its a hell of an experience and like all of Kubrick's work, there's truly nothing else like it. Yes, I know its not accurate to the novel in many ways, but while the 1999 television remake did follow the novel closer, it was mediocre at best so in the end do you want accuracy? Or do you want excellence? I choose the latter.

#02 -- Secret Window (2004)

The adaptation that sparked my initial interest in all things writing, 'Secret Window' may not be even close to the best but it's strengths far outweigh its shortcomings. Johnny Depp has sadly fallen far off the rails as of late, but before his second wave with the 'Pirates' film series he starred in this small little picture about a depressed and isolated author who becomes harassed by a southern man who claims he plagiarized him, leading to deadly consequences for both. The film has all the best aspects of a Stephen King story and David Keopp's screenplay keeps those strengths intact for the most part. What I really love about 'Secret Window' is the ballsy ending which I won't spoil here but like 'The Mist' it's a much stronger one than the novella's and was a welcome change. If you haven't seen 'Secret Window' in a while or at all I recommend it highly especially if you're a Johnny Depp or Stephen King fan.

#01 -- Misery (1990)

The only Stephen King film to win an Academy Award (Kathy Bates for Best Actress) 'Misery' has director Rob Reiner return after the equally excellent 'Stand By Me' for 'Misery' a top five novel by King as well as my favorite of his films. Kathy Bates deserved every single bit of praise she got and deserved that gold statue as she's absolutely intense here. This is still her strongest role to date and while I love her films, nothing still quite tops this. Even James Caan, who usually plays the heavy in most films does so well here and really against type. You feel for him and really want him to get out of this situation, hopefully with all of his parts intact. William Goldman's screenplay is one of the most accurate to the novel's and brings all the intensity to the silver screen and sits as the final puzzle piece to what I consider not just my favorite Stephen King film, but his absolute best film.

Thanks for reading guys and be sure to check back here for my review of the new film 'IT' this weekend.  Keep reading on and be sure to like, comment, or whatever.