Top 10 Things Child's Play (2019) Got Right

While the original 'Child's Play' movies slowly introduce comedy later in the series, this reboot brings out the laughs almost immediately. Due to a lack of inhibition in the new robotic Chucky, his owner Andy Barclay quickly finds out he'll say just about anything. Whether it's Chucky's foul mouth or Detective MikeNorris’ bad jokes, the film has you laughing as often as it has you screaming. One of Andy's friends even hilariously tries to make the doll say 'This is for Tupac' when they play with him. Though Chucky declines at the time, he laughably drops the line as he stabs his first on-screen victim. This ongoing humor gives the terror more weight and keeps the movie fun when it's not chilling audiences.

Throughout the film, we're shown glimpses of a strange man named Gabe, who installs cameras and fixes machines in the Barclays' apartment complex. Though the actor’s resemblance to Jack Black gives off a goofy energy at first, Gabe's reveal as a menacing tech voyeur becomes a haunting turn of events. It's terrifying to see him spying not only on the attractive women in the building, but also listening in on families like the Norris'. Though he ends up repairing a broken Chucky as well, Gabe is creepy enough on his own. And by giving depth to minor characters in an already strong film when it comes to its cast, director Lars Klevberg shows us that he really cares about detail.

Our new high-tech Buddi doll is full of wireless features, which let you control and connect to your toy through a mobile app. Andy initially uses Chucky's live video feed to not only prank his mom's boyfriend, but also watch the results from a safe distance. However this gimmick becomes more horrific when Andy's forced to watch the doll grab a knife and stalk his neighbor Doreen from a first-person perspective. Chucky also cleverly broadcasts his sight to up the tension when he's hiding from Andy. This viewpoint realizes the app in a more cinematic and stirring way, while also evoking horror films like 'Halloween' and 'Friday The 13th.' It's the modern edge this aspect brings to 'Child's Play though, that helps make the film feel unique.

To help them memorize things about their owners, the Buddi dolls record audio and video from their surroundings. However Chucky only seems to record the bad things people say about each other, and plays them back to stir up drama. But after our villain murders Andy's cat Mickey Rooney, hearing the recordings of his meows are eerie and heartbreaking. The death cries that the doll plays are particularly disturbing, and adapt the Buddi doll's selling point in an intriguingly sinister way. Plus the way Chucky uses his videos with murder evidence to blackmail Andy into silence really shows how demented his personality is. With so many ways to use his simple technology, the filmmakers really tap into Chucky's new arsenal well.

Though Andy is a few years older in the reboot, he's given a hearing aid this time to make him more physically and emotionally vulnerable. While this does leave him wary of other people, it's interesting that the film avoids using his poor hearing for cheap scares. Instead, Chucky uses the hearing aid to wirelessly communicate with Andy without anyone else listening in. These intimate chats further Andy's feelings of isolation, and create truly unnerving moments within the film. And as refreshing as it is that 'Child's Play' doesn't use Andy's disability tastelessly, it still explores the frightening possibilities that come with it.

While the scares in 'Child's Play' hold your attention, the filmmakers also leave plenty of subtle details for keen-eyed fans. Despite their different stories, the first human death in the reboot and the original film both feature someone falling out of a window onto a car. Even Detective Mike's final words to Chucky echo lines from the 1988 Andy. Meanwhile, the kids’ viewing of 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2' not only foreshadows Chucky's skin-peeling violence, but also nods to this reboot's mix of comedy and horror. Then there’s the doll's rejection to being named Han Solo, which is especially hysterical given that Luke Skywalker actor Mark Hamill voices Chucky. Later on, 'Child's Play' production company Orion Pictures even references their film 'RoboCop' as well with a quote from a toy car. With plenty of discreet visuals, 'Child's Play' certainly encourages repeated viewings.

The Buddi dolls in this new 'Child's Play' are the product of a tech company named Kaslan Corp, which creates smart-devices for daily use. So it's actually a selling point that their dolls can be used to control smart homes to keep children happy. Chucky, on the other hand, uses this feature to terrifyingly throw his voice around a room through built-in speakers, among many other things. Whether it's cranking up the heat or sending drones after people, Chucky's wireless tech is a fun commentary on the perils of rampant smart-devices. His ability to control self-driving cars is as chilling as it is clever. Plus by highlighting the dangers of the future, 'Child's Play' avoids rehashing its past.

While a horror movie is usually defined by its frightening music, the most notable song in the new 'Child's Play' is seemingly for well... children. Soon after coming out of his box, Chucky sings his 'Buddi' jingle to Andy like it's his life's calling. The tune is amusingly sweet, though there's certainly a few worryingly clingy lyrics towards the end. Despite its cuteness, the track pays off satisfyingly by allowing Andy to play with Chucky's emotions in the film's climax. By comparison, composer Bear McCreary's title theme for 'Child's Play' is eerie and punchy, and taps into his epic work on shows like 'Battlestar Galactica.' But 'The Buddi Song' works best as an emotional device in the movie thanks to its innocent charm.

One of the most interesting changes in this 'Child's Play' reboot is that Chucky isn't actually evil when we first meet him. Though his violence and language restraints are removed at the beginning of the film, his bad language and behavior come from the people around him. Chucky is actually goofy in his early attempts to talk to Andy while he sleeps and when he helps him brush his teeth. The fact that Andy's excitement for slasher films encourages Chucky to be violent actually indicate his love for Andy rather than his bloodlust. Director Lars Klevberg even seems to suggest that the Buddi doll's glowing finger might be a nod to their E.T.-like innocence. It's this commentary-driven reinvention that gives 'Child's Play' a unique twist from its predecessors.

Rather than trying to become human this time around, the new Chucky is also notable for his desire to be Andy's best and only friend. This change in motivation shows a new possessive side of Chucky, and his “good” intentions are a fascinating double-edged sword. The doll's first two victims had hurt Andy first, so it's fascinating to watch Chucky recording his owner as he talks about how upset he is about them. In this way, Chucky is an oblivious kind of protector for Andy, who transforms into a tragic antagonist as his friendship is rejected. By creating a villain you can actually sympathize with, the new 'Child's Play' gives Chucky's violence a compelling explanation.