REVIEW: Living With Chucky is a Emotional and Educational Treat
Director Kyra Elise Gardner brings us up close and personal with the killer doll horror fans have come to know and love (and fear) in her documentary.
Gardner is the daughter of make up artist and puppeteer Tony Gardner; who has worked with Child's Play franchise for many of Chucky's bloody escapades. Gardner gives this series a unique perspective, talking about it as someone growing up with the franchise firsthand all from the people behind it.
The documentary begins with a great history lesson on the horror genre pre-chucky, with interviews from horror film veterans like Lin Shaye (A Nightmare on Elm Street, Insidious) discussing horror icons such as Freddy Krueger who paved the way for Chucky. The film also contains many veteran members of the Chucky family such as Alex Vincent, Fiona Dourif, Brad Dourif, John Waters, Christine Elise, and Jennifer Tilly. Gardner give the series a full dissection as it explores it's highs and lows and all the bloody insides of production a fan can want. The documentary also contains interviews from other icons such as Abigail Breslin, Marlon Waynes and Dan Povenmire.
The documentary takes us from the point of conception with Don Mancini's original draft of what would become the iconic 1988 horror film Childs Play all the way to the beginning of Chucky's small screen debut. One by one, film by film Living With Chucky peels back the curtains and shows the franchises innards in an intimate and touching way.
One of the most touching aspects of the documentary is the strong theme of family presented throughout. Gardner grew up with the franchise with her father an essential part of the Chucky family. Living with Chucky really makes you feel for how far the Chucky family tree expands, and a family that slays together, stays together.
Overall, Living With Chucky is a brilliantly emotional and thorough documentary exploring the franchises highs and lows, it's fanbase, and the many talented people behind the legendary slasher villain, Chucky.
Living With Chucky is available to watch today on Screambox and all major digital platforms in the USA and Canada. The Living With Chucky Collectors Addition Blu-ray will be released on April 18th and will be available in the USA and Canada.
Special features include: Exclusive artwork by Creepy Duck, Candid Conversations, Favorite Death Scenes, Strange Families and Director’s Commentary.
Be sure to check out my interview with Living With Chucky filmmaker Kyra Elise Gardner on YouTube now. (You can check that out right here at this link: https://youtu.be/-G_7DaIUhFY )
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy!
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