It took a hurricane in Southern California to make me sacrifice the sleep essential to binge the complete Baby’s Play and Chucky franchise in a single weekend—an important a part of making ready myself to face my largest childhood worry as a part of Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Orlando.
That’s proper, the unattainable lastly occurred—no, not the hurricane in LA, however my inevitable confrontation with Chucky the killer doll. Horror is one among my best loves in all of its sub-genre goodness; slashers, physique horror, discovered footage, folks, paranormal, witchcraft, and clowns—I’m completely okay with all of these. Dolls? I’d run screaming like I did once I was three or 4 years previous and was made to sit down via Tom Holland’s Baby’s Play. I had teen cousins who’d placed on horror movies once they’d get caught with the littles at household events. Oddly sufficient, once they placed on Faces of Dying I used to be tremendous, however Chucky? The second that babysitter flew out of the window, Don Mancini’s creation (memorably voiced by Brad Dourif) saved my dad and mom cash, as a result of from then on they by no means had to purchase me any porcelain dolls, picket puppets, or big-eyed plastic infants. Barbies and small-scaled Disney Princesses just for me!
Over time I’d dodged Chucky at Halloween Horror Nights; he had a bit in a pair Titans of Terror homes and studio tour experiences that I’d run via with my eyes closed. Even outdoors of hang-out occasions or Halloween, I’d must struggle the urge to drop-kick anybody dressed as Chucky. Oddly, sufficient I did handle to look at Bride of Chucky and Seed of Chucky in an try and recover from my worry, for the reason that franchise was leaning into extra of the darkish comedic horror route at that time, nevertheless it didn’t fairly work. The nightmares would return, at all times those the place I’m working from Chucky in a trash landfill or in my childhood dwelling the place he’d be sitting nonetheless and immediately he’d be underneath the mattress.
It was ridiculous, I’ll admit, however issues modified when The Conjuring universe’s Annabelle got here alongside. All of a sudden I may deal with the horror of dolls within the sense that they appeared to be the one scary films that might frighten me in a enjoyable approach. The remainder of the horror style I merely simply loved and typically would get spooked (because of Faces of Dying, I assume). Then got here M3gan, Akela Cooper’s hilarious and violent AI bestie nightmare, which actually turned issues round to the purpose the place I stan our dancing homosexual icon. So when Chucky introduced his haunted home at Common Studios Halloween Horror Nights final fall, I figured why not lastly face the doll that began all of it.
That was a yr in the past—and certain, I did delay the binge till my dwelling in Los Angeles was underneath an enormous hurricane alert that I used to be so anxious over I thought of asking my physician to up my Lexapro dose. Possibly turning to horror was a approach to assist me deal with the unimaginable because it had been all my life. Happily, the hurricane ended up not being such a giant deal as soon as it made landfall—however channeling that stress into specializing in overcoming my worry of Chucky ended up being actually enjoyable. The unique Baby’s Play is a stone chilly horror movie with the stress and divulges simply ramping up act by act. Funnily sufficient, I did discover myself recognizing tics I developed, like being afraid of sitting within the passenger seat whereas nobody was within the backseat at midnight (Chucky is so nifty at entering into vehicles), or venturing too near home windows whereas babysitting, or the final dread of getting my soul taken by any doll. (One of many first shorts my husband and I bonded over was Rodrigo Blaas’ Alma due to that shared worry. I feel that’s the final time I used to be actually scared by a doll movie.)
The remainder of the Baby’s Play films hit the horror sequel notes as anticipated, nevertheless it was Mancini’s Bride of Chucky-to-Chucky-the-series pipeline that made me a giant fan. Me? Thirty years after Chucky ruined my sleep as a toddler, ruined toy retailer aisles, and ruined the notion of sporting stripes with overalls. All of a sudden, I discovered Chucky and Tiffany’s demented household endearing, and fell in love with Glen/Glenda; I additionally loved the meta nature of the movies which arrange their very own enjoyable universe guidelines. Jennifer Tilly as herself and Tiffany is a tour-de-force in each film and episode the style queen exhibits up in. And the brand new youngsters within the Syfy’s Chucky collection have additionally received my coronary heart. The present has such an outlined aesthetic (with massive Hannibal vibes, a collection Mancini labored on with Bryan Fuller) and singular tone, pushed by Mancini’s deft dealing with of its darkly comedic horror and fulfilling mythology call-backs and set ups. I adore it and might’t watch for season three next month.
So all in all you’d suppose I used to be prepared proper? Effectively, final week in the course of the opening of Halloween Horror Nights at Common Studios Orlando, I used to be invited out to go to the occasion and skilled Chucky: Final Kill Rely, Common’s haunted home celebrating Chucky’s iconic kills all through his franchise and within the present. Taking a web page out of the collection’ premise—what if Chucky may put his soul in a couple of doll?—you’re led via a home full of screen-accurate Chucky doll assaults and encounters that left me reeling, laughing, and screaming.
Right here’s the video with some home spoilers for HHN Orlando (strobe mild warning for many who are delicate):
So there you’ve it! I didn’t shut my eyes and did face Charles Lee Ray head on. Did he get me? Clearly, sure. Am I afraid once more? Hardly (perhaps she’s born with it, perhaps it’s Lexapro). Would I personal a Chucky doll? Nah, finest I can do is a Hey Kitty Chucky plush. Are Chucky and I associates until the top? Provided that I can deliver him down with me, in fact. Let’s see if I conquer spherical two at Common Studios Hollywood’s HHN Chucky home, which I’ll be trying out later this week.
For those who’re a fan of Chucky and reserving a visit out to Common Studios Orlando for Horror Nights, make sure to try Chucky’s Twisted Playground on the mid-century impressed Cabana Bay Resort, open to friends staying there for his or her HHN journeys.
Right here’s a gallery of that have and a have a look at the theme park Chucky treats you will discover throughout HHN.
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