Don Mancini, the creator of “Chucky,” is quoted as saying “Child’s Play 3” is his least favorite movie he’s created. If that doesn’t tell you how bad this movie is, then hopefully this article will.
Okay, okay, this movie isn’t all that bad. Given a 29% by Rotten Tomatoes, this is actually the highest rated movie I’ve covered in my lowest rated movie series.
The “Child’s Play” series was initially meant to be a play on the capitalization of the toy industry. Mancini wanted to create a series that would expose the side of the toy industry that preyed on children and their families. “Child’s Play 3” is the last of the franchise to truly have fun with that concept. Most of the rest of the franchise is a fever dream (but still better than this movie).
“Child’s Play 2” ended with Chucky turning into melted plastic at a Good Guy Doll factory and this third installment begins with the cleanup of that mess. The creator of the Good Guy Dolls had decided to create a new line of dolls. And to save money (because this guy totally needs more of it), they’ve decided to literally use the same dolls as before.
Good old corporate greed is the creator’s downfall, however. The first doll off the line is, of course, Chucky (voiced by the amazing Brad Dourif) and he starts things off with his favorite pastime. The creator is the first to be killed.
The first two movies focused on Andy Barclay (played by Alex Vincent in the originals) and this movie isn’t much different. Now played by Justin Whalin, Andy is 16 and going to military school after many failed foster families (since Chucky killed his mom in the first movie).
Chucky has been looking for a body to possess since he became a doll and until now, he’s been focused on Andy. In this movie, however, he instead decides he wants to take over the body of little Tyler (played by Jeremy Sylvers). Chucky makes a joke about becoming a “bro” since Tyler is Black.
Tyler’s character is the weirdest part of this film. He looks to be at least 11 but is treated as if he’s only six. He’s old enough to tell Chucky to watch his language but isn’t old enough to think it’s weird that Chucky is a walking, talking doll. His age is also never even mentioned.
Anyway, Chucky definitely has his fun on a military school campus. He switches fake bullets with real ones in the rifles used for war games, takes hostages and even kills the barber. Because how dare that man (who is weirdly sexual about cutting children’s hair) try to chop away at Chucky’s luscious red locks.
Chucky eventually runs away to a carnival that is conveniently situated right next to a military school (literally why?) and takes Tyler to a fun house called the “Devil’s Lair.” He hides out with the ambiguously aged child and begins his famous chant to transfer his soul.
But wait! Is that Andy coming to save the day?
Andy shoots off one of Chucky’s arms, then shoots his chest. This stops the chant and saves Tyler. Tyler and Andy have a happy reunion that is immediately ruined by Chucky waking up and choking Andy out.
Tyler hands Andy a knife and Andy cuts off Chucky’s other hand. This causes Chucky to fall into a large fan that is exposed for some reason and the doll is chopped into pieces.
A happy ending! Or is it?
Alright, this movie isn’t horrible. It’s kind of just another Chucky movie. Nothing really stands out and Chucky’s jokes aren’t even as funny. This movie came out ten months after “Child’s Play 2,” which isn’t a lot of time to work on a movie. Mancini was literally writing the script for “Child’s Play 3” while they were filming the second movie.
If you want to watch a Chucky movie, there are definitely better ones out there. Even “Seed of Chucky” (because, yes, Chucky ends up getting married and having a genderfluid doll child thing) is better than this film. So, just watch the original or watch the TV series because that has the good stuff.
