Review of "Seed of Chucky"

If anyone ever needed proof that Hollywood is prejudiced against the horror film genre, "Seed of Chucky" could supply all the evidence you would need. "SOC" is a smart, funny, sometimes viciously satirical and always outrageously gory entry in the long running "Child's Play" (now "Chucky") series. What this film demands of lead actress Jennifer Tilly (and what she delivers with) really cries out for an Oscar nomination. If the film had been anything but a film about two murdering possessed dolls and their quest to build a family by articifically iseminating real life actress Tilly, this type of effort would have easily put Tilly on the ballot. As it is, she's left with probably thousands of cult film admirers and some good writeups in "Fangoria" magazine; nice but hardly sufficient reward for her efforts.

"SOC" begins years after the last Chucky film ("Bride of Chucky") ends. The progeny of Chucky and Tiffany (two serial killers whose souls have migrated into children's dolls) is now working in an English sideshow for a cruel tormenting master. The sensitive tyke escapes, and sets off to find his real parents, whom he assumes are Japanese (because of the Made in Japan stamp on his wrist!).

Meanwhile, Tilly (who played Tiffany, the human side of Tiffany, in the last film) is desperate to get a role as the Virgin Mary in an upcoming film financed by hip hop producer Redman. When he decides she is not right for the role, Tilly plans to seduce him in exchange for the part. Chucky and Tiffany, who have been deactivated since the last film, have been used as film props on the set of a recent horror film about Chucky. Their son shows up in the special effects department, reads the secret inscription that will revive them, and then is aghast when he finds his parents are both bloodthirsty killers. Tiffany decides she would like to live in Tilly's body (naturally) and Chucky sets his eye on Tilly's chauffeur, who is secretly in love with her. All these characters, plus Tilly's personal assistant and John Waters as a sleazy paparazzi, converge on Tilly's home with various agendas and the result is both tremendously funny and gory.

The director really approaches this type of material with the only type of tone possible, with tongue firmly in cheek. There are tons of in-jokes, including the one involving Chucky's son's name. Chucky, for no apparent reason, names him "Glen", and when the tyke has gender identity issues, he is called "Glenda", an obvious reference to the notorious Ed Wood film. "The Shining" and other horror films are also referenced, usually to great effect. There are some truly berserk moments, such as the scene where Waters spies Chucky masturbating into a cup and mistakes him for a "little person" and connects it to Tilly's kinky character.

But the strongest humor in the film comes from the portrayal of Tilly herself, and this is where I really thinks she deserves great credit. I can't remember the last time I some someone play such a self-effacing role in which the ego had to be checked at the door. Tilly pokes fun at her celebrity status ("I was nominated for an Oscar, now I'm screwing a puppet!"), her weight, her breast size, and even the notion that she is "easy" in this film and she does so with such obvious glee you feel like unearthing this acting jewel and revealing it for all the world to see. This is the type of film that would NEVER be recognized by the Academy, yet when you think about what is required of her it's kind of staggering. She not only plays a very satirical version of herself, she also voices the doll from which her former character was posssessed (got all that?). And how exactly do you manage to make believable a scene in which you are about to deliver a child (her pregnancy is magically accelerated), tied to a bed with your chauffeur, watching animated murderous puppets have a family crisis right in front of you? Somehow, Tilly does it.

I love this movie. I love it because it knows exactly what it is, it never takes itself too seriously and it really holds your interest with all its inspired twists and turns. In a time when sequels are churned out like McDonald's fries (and generally with the same amount of creativity), each of the "Chucky" sequels has had a reason, a sensibility and a sense of purpose. This one is no exception and I definitely look forward to the next one...

Uhm, "Chucky in Space"?..."Chucky in Divorce Court"?, ..."Chucky Vs. Jason..."?

Bring it on!