Back and better than ever doesn’t even begin to cover this episode.
The series opening on a POV shot reminiscent of child Michael in John Carpenter’s Halloween, replete with creepy heavy breathing and Joseph LoDuca’s spooky score, then transitioning into a shiny new version of that iconic Good Guy doll and Billie Eilish’s electro-synth pop really does embody exactly what Don Mancini is going for in this arc of Chucky’s sprawling saga.
This first episode gets off on the right foot, establishing that Chucky isn’t just a continuation of storylines that began in Curse & Cult, but a fusion of the old legacy and the brave new era of the franchise. The show is made to touch upon all the points in the history of the iconic ginger nightmare, and usher in a new generation of frights to the small screen, beginning in the eponymous killer’s hometown of Hackensack, New Jersey (sidenote: I know Hackensack, and my Jersey-sense immediately went off cause this AIN’T Hackensack. It’s actually Toronto! But the show is so good, I’ll let it slide).
Zackary Arthur, whose last big horror role was playing terrified son Josh in the bonkers Nicholas Cage horror vehicle Mom & Dad, plays protagonist Jake; with excellent awkwardness, especially when interacting with secret crush Devon, played by Björgvin Arnarson. The stellar supporting cast includes Jake’s homophobic and abusive father Lucas, played by none other than Final Destination’s Devon Sawa, who does a surprisingly refreshing performance in his dual role as both Jake’s father and twin brother Logan (for as long as it lasts). Jake’s emotionally distant overachiever of a cousin Junior, played by Teo Briones, and his girlfriend the ruthless mean girl Lexy, played by Alyvia Alyn Lind, are also perfectly devious.
Outside of the newcomers, fans of the series will immediately recognize Jake’s mystery caller as Alex Vincent’s Andy Barclay, Chucky’s OG child victim. Ever since the one-who-got-away turned Chucky hunter after the events of the last two films, I’ve been waiting with bated breath to see Andy back at the forefront of the plot. And what kind of Chucky show would this be without praise for Brad Douriff’s iconic voice acting? I really loved how things go from bad to worse to worst when Jake gets singled out by Lexy and mocked over his crush on Devon, then pulled on stage by Chucky. Chucky doing reverse ventriloquism and pulling off a mean-spirited tight five is on brand and, as expected, very satisfying.
I would be remiss to not mention that I think this show might have already, in its first episode, made one of the most inventive & enjoyable kills in the series when Chucky lures Lucas to the basement, equal parts Kevin McAllister and baby Exorcist as he vomits water at Lucas’s feet and some loose wiring, shocking him to death with the breaker switch before running into position to loom in the shadows with a maniacal face. Now that’s how you do high stakes first kill!
With Chucky sowing the seeds of a partnership as he justifies Lucas’s death and condemns the mistreatment of Jake while offering a chance for revenge, the episode ends with them on shaky ground, and a continuation of the intros’ flashback, showing that the low to the ground perspective was Chucky’s but a very different version: the series’ first instance of Charles Lee Ray as a child in 1965, lifted up into the loving lap of his mother. It’s not just time for Chucky to make an apprentice, it’s time for a secret origin story, baby!
PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS: Zackary Arthur really does sell the character of Jake and tugged at my heartstrings with those sorrow filled line deliveries. And Brad Douriff, of course, do I even need to say it?
VISUAL HIGHLIGHTS: Lucas’s grisly death by breaker-switch & puddle, so well shot, just the perfect setup to drop Jake down into a horror show while he’s already down. Props to the prop department for the grody flayed frog Chucky makes in Jake’s biology lab!
QUOTE OF THE EPISODE:
“He got what he deserved!”
“He wasn’t always like that! When I was younger, he was really cool!”
“I know an asshole when I see one.”
“…After my mom died, he couldn’t deal—”
“Oh, I thought we were talking about the cat.”
“…You really ARE Charles Lee Ray.”
RATING: 10 (Actually Entertaining School Talent Shows)/10. Kicking off the season with the exact type of pacing and setup fans and new viewers alike need to jump in, along with some very fun creepy moments and engaging dialogue. All ye who aren’t totally invested by the 20 minute mark… well, I don’t want to say abandon all hope, but maybe just see what else is on TV while the rest of us have fun.
You can stream Chucky on Peacock!