Sorry Jack, Chucky’s back

Christine Elise survives Chucky in Child’s Play 2

Child’s Play creator Don Mancini is dreaming up yet another installment for the Chucky franchise, and Child’s Play 2 survivor Christine Elise has something to say about it.

“I want back in!”

Should a hopeful Christine get her wish, the actor would be walking into the 7th film of the series and the follow-up to last year’s Curse of Chucky.

“I really enjoyed Don’s direction,” Christine says of the film.

Steering away from the two campy chapters before it, the most recent sequel returned to Chucky’s unadulterated horror roots and that hooked Christine.

“I also found it more artful than your run-of-the-mill horror flick and I really liked the heavily-female cast.”

Among the Curse of Chucky women is True Blood’s Fiona Dourif, daughter of veteran actor Brad Dourif, who has played Chucky’s human form, Charles Lee Ray, and voiced the homicidal doll since the start. With Brad’s major role in the saga, Christine thinks Fiona’s inclusion in the franchise was inevitable and overdue.

“I can’t help but reflect that Fiona probably thinks of Chucky as some sort of extended family member,” Christine imagines. “She probably doesn’t remember a world without Chucky.”

The killer doll first showed its ugly face in 1988 when Child’s Play hit theaters everywhere. After making No.1 at the box office, the horror pic generated over 44 million dollars worldwide and achieved a massive cult following.

The movie’s wide success made way for the sequel, Child’s Play 2, released exactly two years later to the day.

Enter Christine Elise.

An unknown rookie at the time, the former Beverly Hills 90210 star managed to be cast with the likes of Academy Award nominee Brad Dourif, Jenny Agutter of The Avengers and Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Grace Zabriskie of Big Love and The Grudge and Greg Germann, famous for his time on Ally McBeal.

“What incredible company for me, a total newbie,” Christine says. “Amazing character actors, all of them.”

And of course there was a young Alex Vincent in the role of Chucky’s hapless mark, innocent little Andy Barclay.

“We had a little reunion last year,” she remembers. “Surreal. I hadn’t seen Alex since he was 7. He is all grown up and a bit of a lady killer now. I’m a huge fan of grown up Alex.”

If you caught Curse then you also got a look at 33-year-old Alex as he was brought back for a brief appearance as the credits rolled. While there is no word if the actor’s return is hint at what’s to come, it is confirmed that Fiona will reprise her role as Nica.

As a tight-lipped Don drafts more Chucky mayhem, Christine weighs in with her hope that the film continues down the same road as the recent reboot.

“A straight-ahead horror film without so much of the camp might be the more interesting way to go,” she says.

Either way, as long as Chucky is at the forefront of it all, Child’s Play remains a sure thing.

“Folks have a visceral reaction to dolls and clowns, making them especially effective villains,” Christine says reflecting on the success of the franchise.

“I personally respond particularly strongly to supernatural evil as it seems more insurmountable. Chucky has a touch of that power going for him. Bizarrely, he has a likability factor too. The films keep you rooting both for him and his intended victims. Chucky is the best of what makes horror films work. That is the secret to Chucky’s longevity.”

Follow Don Mancini on twitter for Chucky updates and new developments, and find Christine here.

Posted by Marc Andrew on Oct 30 2014. Filed under Interviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.