Chucky: Chucky Actually

Summary

Dr Mixter, played by Rosemary Dunsmore, gets her karmic payback and the kids start to heal.

I think the last episode would have worked a lot better for an ending to the season as this one feels as though it was just tacked on at the end in order to meet episode quotas. I suppose you could argue that this episode is a sort of epilogue for the season but really it just feels like filler.

I think my big problem with this episode is that I just don’t care about the central trio of teens, as such all of their healing and their big emotional breakthroughs within the episode don’t hit for me as the teen characters are easily the weakest bit of the show. The more interesting plot points of this episode for me is seeing that Nica, played by Fiona Dourif, is now on the course of revenge and that things look all over for Tiffany, played by Jennifer Tilly. Again the episode is guilty of teasing things that are yet to come, but you would expect that from a season finale.

The gore and seeing Lexy, played by Alyvia Alyn Lind, finally snap and kill Chucky, played by Brad Dourif, in a really bloody way feels satisfying and Lexy’s dealing with this new found urge to kill could be something worth exploring come the next season. I would like the next season to separate the teens and have them go on their own journeys as the idea of them all together again in a new location which Chucky can then invade just seems a little old hat and played out at this point.

Overall, a fine epilogue to the series that sets up some interesting ideas and things to explore next time around, however, it is a big step back from the heights of the penultimate episode.

3/5

Pros.

The gore

The set up for Nica and Tiffany

Lexy snapping and bloodily dispatching Chucky

Cons.

The focus on the teens is dull

It feels like a step back from the previous episode

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Chucky: Goin’ To The Chapel

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

Things finally come to a head over the battle for Chucky Prime, played by Fiona Dourif.

This was one of the best episodes of Chucky in the whole history of the show, there were so many great moments such as the interactions between Nica, played by Fiona Dourif, and Andy, played by Alex Vincent, and Kyle, played by Christine Elise, in the Chucky support group as well as the flashback to Child’s Play 2 there are just so many rewards in this episode for long time fans. Also let me just take a moment here to say how Fiona Dourif is the underrated best actor in this show and her performance as both Nica and Nica possessed by Chucky are both great, the show needs to use her more.

In addition I am glad the show finally gave Father Bryce, played by Devon Sawa, his hero moment and had him try and help the kids, it was nice to not see him be a dick to everyone around him even if it was for only a few minutes. Moreover, his death has to be one of the most over the top gore kills of the series thus far, that is not a complaint by the way. I also thought the death of Jennifer Tilly in doll form was a hilarious highlight of the episode.

The one area wherein I thought this episode wasn’t great was with Lexy’s, played by Alyvia Alyn Lind, storyline about her drug addiction and suicide attempt. Honestly, I thought the whole thing was handled poorly, I feel like the show only gave Lexi a drug problem so that she has something to do this season moreover it never really hit true on an emotional level for me so I didn’t care about it and was just counting down the moments until we could get back to the actually interesting stuff.

Overall, the best episode of the second season by far.

4.5/5

Pros.

The rewarding moments for long-time fans

The deaths of Father Bryce and Jennifer Tilly

Fiona Dourif’s great performance

The flashback

It felt like a really good pay off

Cons.

Lexy’s breakdown is boring and makes you want to skip ahead in the episode

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Chucky: He Is Risen Indeed

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

Good Chucky, voiced by Brad Dourif, finally turns bad and there is a traitor inside the School’s ranks.

The Colonel is easily the best thing about this episode once again, and his killing of Chad Chucky with the communion wafer is both shocking and a good use of the setting. It is a shame he gets killed off so quickly, but it does give Andy, played by Alex Vincent, a nice hero moment after he was rendered fairly helpless in the previous episode.

The defecting of Good Chucky and the death of Nadine was a mixed bag for me, it was sad to see Good Chucky turn bad as it could have been interesting for the wider universe of the show if he had stuck around longer and then the question of could Chucky be redeemed ever could have been tackled, but it was fairly obvious he was going to fall to the darkness. The death of Nadine didn’t hugely hit me as much like with the Colonel she wasn’t set up enough to have her death be impactful, if she had survived into the next season and died then that would have hit harder.

Overall, a good episode as exciting things are happening, but the impacts are a little stunted.

3.5/5

Pros.

The Colonel continues to have a lot of good moments

Andy gets a lot of good hero moments

It is very watchable

Fun things are happening

Cons.

Nadine’s death doesn’t hit as hard as it could have done

The Colonel is gone too soon.

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Christmas Bloody Christmas: A New Christmas Classic Is Born

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

A military grade robotic Santa Claus goes on a rampage.

I am very much a fan of the rising talent that is Joe Begos, VFW was fantastic and Bliss I was less keen on but there was still a lot of talent there, but this I think might be his best film yet. There is something so undeniably fun about this film, yes the premise is a little like Terminator minus the science fiction stuff, but that doesn’t take away the gory spectacle we are treated to.

In addition the early part of the film before the slashing even really begins is incredibly strong and that speaks to the strength of both the writing and the characters created. Riley Dandy is fantastic as the lead and is instantly likeable, her and Sam Delich also have great chemistry together and play off each other really well. I ended up caring so much about them as a couple that I was actually sad when his character died and they were parted from each other. The film does all of that emotional work before the first act is even over, that is no mean feat.

I really do hope that Begos and Co bring this back for a sequel with a juiced up robo Santa Claus now even angrier, and have Dandy back as the Ripley of this burgeoning franchise. I think this will probably be a new Christmas classic for me and something that I come back to every year.

Overall, a great film, watch it.

4.5/5

Pros.

Dandy

The gore

The threat

The mania of the final showdown

The commentary, comedy and good back and forth at the start of the film

Cons.

Robbie’s death still makes me sad now when I think about it.

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Chucky: Doll On Doll

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

Chad Chucky and Good Chucky, voiced by Brad Dourif, face off.

I think following on from last week’s episode this was definitely a step back, though the episode was not all bad.

I enjoyed the fight between the two Chuckies, however, I thought the idea of Good Chucky slowly starting to turn bad again was super obvious as it would break the status quo of the show to have Good Chucky permanently amongst the heroes roster for this universe, he always needs to be evil. The crucifixion turned raising from the dead was a nice touch though.

I also liked that Andy, played by Alex Vincent, makes a return right at the end of the episode, I knew the series wouldn’t just kill him off, hopefully he can be a larger part of the last few episodes of the season. Moreover, I thought the Colonel was chilling certainly an interesting take on Chucky and a fun persona to follow, hopefully they are not just one and done.

I would say what held this episode back for me is the very obvious fact that it is a filler episode more content with setting things up for later in the season then delivering for this episode in particular, when thinking about it it is hard to say very much of anything happens in this episode.

Overall, a few neat moments and its nice to see Andy return but other than that a fairly dull episode.

3/5

Pros.

Andy is back

The Chucky fight

Seeing the Glen/Glenda doll return

Cons.

The Tiffany stuff grinds the plot to a standstill

It feels very filler esque

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Chucky: Death On Denial

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

Tiffany, played by Jennifer Tilly, hosts a party for her children’s birthday but during the festivities things start to go awry.

I think this was easily the best episode so far this season for a number of reasons. Firstly, Tiffany and her ever further descent into madness and her relationship with Nica, played by Fiona Dourif, is easily becoming the best thing about the show and is also far more entertaining than any of the school stuff with the kids, plus we get the much waited for return of Kyle, played by Christine Elise, so that is easily an extra point in my book.

Secondly, when Glen/Glenda was mentioned at the end of last season I was slightly apprehensive about how the show was going to handle them, but I have to say Lachlan Watson does a terrific job as both characters and really is the standout star of the episode, they encapsulate the perfect personification imagining of what Glen and Glenda would be like in human form from how they are depicted as in Seed Of Chucky.

Finally, I really enjoyed the beginning and ending of the episode where Chucky, played by Brad Dourif, addressed the audience and did his little bit with WWE superstar Liv Morgan I thought it was quite funny and helped to juxtapose the more serious elements of the episode.

Overall, easily the best episode so far, mostly because it didn’t feature the kids very much at all.

4/5

Pros

The return of Kyle

Tiffany and Nica

Watson

The opening and ending Chucky bits

Cons.

Some of the guest stars other than Morgan were a little annoying

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Chucky: Hail Mary

3/5

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

Chucky, played by Brad Dourif, is captured by the kids and turned good, meanwhile a bigger badder Chucky doll finds its way into the school and brings a new Chad-sense to his murdering.

I liked this episode more than the previous episode, I think the idea of a good Chucky is interesting and I like that it gives Dourif a chance to play against type, at least in terms of this series. I think the idea of another Chucky that is jacked is silly, but therein lies the charm of me its dumb but it’s the right kind of dumb.

Moreover, I preferred the more lively pace of this episode when compared to the previous week’s episode as it felt like more was happening and less like the series was playing for time. Plus this weeks murder is far better than last weeks, not only does it feel more rewarding the gore is also a lot better, Chucky giving a nun a heart attack last week was not as funny or as satisfying as they probably imagined it would be.

In a wider sense the series is getting better and I do like where they are heading with it, even if it is down from the fun week in week out craziness of the first season. Hopefully the second half of the season will be better.

Overall, an above average episode made better by the prospect of a good Chucky.

Pros.

Good Chucky

The stupid idea of Chad Chucky

It feels more lively

Cons.

There is still a lot of teasing and no delivering

The cliches are still there and are starting to effect the story

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Chucky: Sinners Are Much More Fun

2.5/5

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

Chucky, voiced by Brad Dourif, arrives at a Catholic school.

To be blunt with you this wasn’t a very good episode. Very little happens and most of it is just set up for things happening later in the season, that is not to say the things being set up aren’t interesting but they aren’t present in this episode so it doesn’t bring it up.

Moreover, the whole school setting is proving incredibly cliché everything that you would imagine when you think of strict religious boarding schools is shown here and nothing is subverted or done in any form of clever way, its tropes through and through.

I am glad to see Devon Sawa return to the show this time playing Father Bryce and he certainly does manage to bring with him a certain level of gravitas, it is just a shame that his character is clearly being written again as a cliched trope, really just being there to bully the kids and do little else.

I think the wider world stuff is far, far more interesting than what is going on in the school and the idea of Nica, played by Fiona Dourif, and Chucky working together to take out Tiffany, played by Jennifer Tilly, is interesting and one that I will be keen to see how it plays out. Plus the arrival of Glen and Glenda will hopefully spice this season up somewhat.

Overall, a weak set up episode.

Pros.

Nica and Chucky working together

It is watchable

It sets up some interesting things for later on

Cons.

Teases and set up make this episode feel like filler

Everything to do with the kids at school is dull

Father Bryce is a cliché

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American Horror Story NYC: Thank You For Your Service

3.5/5

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

Gino, played by, Joe Mantello is abducted by the killer and Dr. Wells, played by Billie Lourd, further explores the origins of her mystery virus.

I am still quite enjoying this season of AHS I think that the mystery is interesting and that both strands of it are coming together nicely. I am keen to keep watching as I want to know where it is all heading.

Moreover, I liked that this season is really hitting on how hard life was for LGBTQ+ people in this time and place and showing how the cops not only don’t want to know but actively at times hate them. I think the scenes wherein Adam, played by Charlie Carver, was detained by the police simply for speaking out about his experience and held without merit were both infuriating and also moving.

Where this season is losing me is like all Ryan Murphy series the fact that many scenes just boil down to softcore porn. Now, I don’t mind this when these scene service the plot in some way, but more often than not it just feels stuffed in to both pad for runtime as well as to titillate Murphy and Co.

Overall, the second episode continues to further the mystery in interesting ways, but the constant forced sex scenes are holding it back.

Pros.

The mystery

The performances of Lourd, Tovey and Mantello

A degree of unpredictability in what might happen next

The ending of the episode

Cons.

The needless sex scenes

Pacing issues

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Terrifier 2: More Isn’t Always Better

3/5

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

Art, played by David Howard Thornton, is back at it again.

I have been looking forward to this for a long time, and my expectations were both met and not met at the same time.

I liked that the gory carnage of the first film continued on and if anything this film was even more ambitious taking things to a whole new extreme. However, therein lies an issue I have with this film, if anything the violence goes way beyond what the first film had and does cross into a place of being gratuitous and nasty. I think the gross out spectacle of this film is put before everything else and as the film gets carried away with its larger budget it never stops to think about how far is too far.

In terms of story we get more of a classic slasher narrative here than we did in the first film, we are introduced to new final girl Sienna, played by Lauren LaVera, and she and Art do battle. I liked LaVera’s performance and saw quite a lot of a young Jamie Lee in her, I think that if she sticks around within the genre she can easily become a new and beloved scream queen in time. I would say however, that the plot of this film falls apart in the last twenty minutes where things just happen and nothing really makes sense. The film is badly paced and does go on for too long, as you reach the end of the film where the narrative starts to eat itself you are quite ready for it to just be over.

Overall, more doesn’t mean better.

Pros.

LaVera

Art is still a great villain

I liked that this film deepens the lore

Cons.

The violence borders on the tasteless at time

The third act falls apart and then sets fire to the whole film

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