Child’s Play writer Don Mancini, who has penned all of the entries so far, continues to guide us through Chucky’s (voiced by Brad Dourif) murderous adventures. Like the previous entry, Seed of Chucky, he also directs this one.

Curse of Chucky didn’t get a theatrical release; it was straight-to-video, the first in the series to be shot digitally, and while there are definitely humorous moments, the series definitely returned to its horror movie roots in this entry.

It also keeps the story in the family by introducing us to Nica, as played by Fiona Dourif, Brad Dourif’s daughter. It also makes sure to tie itself into all the previous films, in all manner of enjoying ways. That’s one of the best things about Mancini writing all of them: the internal consistency and continuity.

Nica is wheelchair bound and living in the family home with her mother, Sarah (Chantal Quesnelle), when they receive a package… enter Chucky, his appearance slightly modified (which caused some consternation amongst fans, though it pays off later in the film).

When Sarah ends up dead, mysteriously, Nica’s sister, Barb (Danielle Bisutti), brother-in-law, Ian (Brennan Elliott), niece Alice (Summer H. Howell), and nanny, Jill (Maitland McConnell) arrive to help tend to things.

And that’s exactly what Chucky wants, to continue his body count and to exact revenge on this family.

Some of the digital effects aren’t great, but that’s reflective of the time and the budget that Mancini had to work with. His work on the film served as a bit of a soft reboot for the series. And it also sees Chucky, more or less, getting away with his plan.

It’s got some solid moments in it, and as enjoyable and goofy as Seed was, this one ends up being a stronger film, and it works delightfully. There are some well-crafted sequences, and for the most part, Mancini strikes the needed balance for the series, walking the fine line between horror and some comedic moments.

I do like the overall sense of continuity that Mancini has created for the series, and the introduction of Nica, and her fate works incredibly well. It’s interesting to see Chucky’s plans succeed as much as they do in this one.

And that tag at the end. Perfect.

The puppeteering and animatronic work on Chucky is great. There are little touches that have been added, the pupils of his eyes changing, little positioning, and expressions that really lend this incarnation a real believability. Inasmuch as it’s a walking and talking doll.

The setting is great, it’s basically a haunted house story, with a little bit of gothic thrown in to darken it up even more. It’s well thought out, and plays. If you know the influences at work, it’s actually really enjoyable.

Chucky films aren’t supposed to be taken too seriously, but when they are done well, like this one is, it’s definitely easy to have a good time with them.

There’s one more film in the series, so let’s see if it ends on a strong note. Next time, it’s Cult of Chucky!