Child’s Play

Tags

1980's, Alex Vincent, Brad Dourif, Catherine Hicks, Child's Play, Chris Sarandon, Horror, Tom Holland

Film Title

Child’s Play

Director

Tom Holland

Starring

• Brad Dourif as Charles Lee Ray/Chucky
• Catherine Hicks as Karen Barclay
• Alex Vincent as Andy Barclay
• Chris Sarandon as Detective Mike Norris

Dolls have always been a source of terror in the horror genre and the addition of Chucky who features in Child’s Play ranks as one of the freakiest. A creepy slasher film, Child’s Play moves at a thrilling pace and delivers the scares with some well-executed(pardon the pun) scenes of gruesome havoc and murder.

Child’s Play opens with Detective Mike Norris in pursuit of renowned serial killer Charles Lee Ray, who has an obsession with voodoo . Charles manages to hide in a nearby toy shop after his getaway driver Eddie drove away upon seeing police. Mortally wounded by Mike and swearing revenge on both him and Eddie, Charles through use of dark magic transfers his soul into a ‘Good Guy’ doll. The next day is the sixth birthday of Andy Barclay who is excited to get presents from his widowed mother Karen. Seeing that her young son desperately wants a Good Guy Doll, she buys one from a peddler, little realising that it is the one that Charles is inhabiting. Young Andy is over the moon with the doll who has the name Chucky and is barely seen without the toy. Yet after the horrifying death of Andy’s babysitter who was pushed out of a high window, the malevolence becomes known. Andy knows that Chucky is the culprit, but everyone just thinks that Andy is lying and that his talk of the doll coming to life are completely ridiculous. Mike Norris is put on the case and is baffled by the mysterious death, initially believing Andy could be a suspect as he was the only one home when the babysitter was murdered. Yet as the blood continues to spill thanks to the doll, it’s up to Karen( who comes to realise the truth in Andy’s claims) to protect her son from the horror as he becomes the next target of the murderous spirit in doll form. Part of the reason is because Chucky must transfer the evil soul of Charles to the first person he revealed himself too as he is becoming more human by the minute. This means that young Andy is in very real danger. It’s getting people, most of all a skeptical Mike, to believe in the evil doll’s intention that is going to be Andy and Karen’s problem as his life is put in jeopardy repeatedly, he is placed in a mental hospital and Karen must finally see the evil that poses a threat to her son’s life.

Tom Holland’s direction is to the point and filled with imaginative touches that relish the tension and terror of the presence of Chucky. While it is no surprise to the audience that Chucky is the instigator of the horror that is blamed on Andy, this device actually works in the movie’s favour and still contains chilling suspense. We are put in the position of frightened Andy who in the beginning adores the new toy but slowly sees that the games he plays are horrifying and out of control. By using the technique of having us in Andy’s shoes, we want the grown ups to take notice and finally see the engulfing terror brought by the evil doll and this is where Holland’s strong suit lies. I will admit that as the film went on, some of the fact that the grown ups don’t realise what’s going on got a bit frustrating and a few instances have some tin-eared dialogue, but this thankfully was made up for when the real horror is unleashed and such things take a back seat to effectively staged scenes of creepiness. Chief among these is the murder of Andy’s babysitter and the big showdown between Chucky, Karen, Andy and Mike. It surprised me too how well some of the effects hold, particularly in the creation of evil Chucky. Granted it’s a film from the 80’s the effects have something of a dated quality that is to be expected, but many of them are still largely impressive and not overused. And with the creation of Chucky, a new creature of dread was born to terrorise viewers.  An electronic pulse sets the unnerving tones of Child’s Play from the beginning with a synth heavy and echoing score backing up the strange supernatural parts of the film.

A competent cast inhabits their roles very well, in particular Brad Dourif. Voicing the malevolent Chucky to sneering perfection, his inflections are decidedly creepy and frightening. Dourif briefly portrays the human serial killer in the thrilling opening sequence and does that well, but his excellence begins with his voicing of the now iconic killer doll. Catherine Hicks is emotionally effective as the terrified mother desperate to get to the bottom of what is going on and protect her son, despite her confusion of what is truly going on at first. The little Alex Vincent stands out as the traumatised child Andy who comes under attack and suspicion due to Chucky. For a child so young, Vincent displays a naturalness that generates audience sympathy without getting overly cute. Rounding out proceedings in Child’s Play is Chris Sarandon starring as the detective involved in both linking cases and someone who is unwilling to believe in any hocus pocus. Sarandon does a credible job in the part as his views are turned upside down.

Some me parts of it show the film’s age, but Child’s Play largely holds up well as an eerie horror film that introduced the world to the malevolent Chucky and no doubt creeped everyone out in the process. I have a feeling that the sales of dolls may have taken a nosedive when Child’s Play was released in cinemas.

Alien Resurrection

Tags

1990's, Alien Resurrection, Brad Dourif, Dan Hedaya, Dominique Pinon, Gary Dourdan, Horror, J. E. Freeman, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Kim Flowers, Leland Orser, Michael Wincott, Raymond Cruz, Ron Perlman, Science Fiction, Sigourney Weaver, Winona Ryder

Film Title

Alien Resurrection

Director

Jean-Pierre Jeunet

Starring

• Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley
• Winona Ryder as Call
• Ron Perlman as Johner
• Dominique Pinon as Vriess
• Gary Dourdan as Christie
• J. E. Freeman as Wren
• Raymond Cruz as Distephano
• Brad Dourif as Dr Gediman
• Dan Hedaya as General Perez
• Michael Wincott as Elgyn
• Kim Flowers as Hillard
• Leland Orser as Purvis

Coming after the misunderstood and much maligned Alien 3, Alien Resurrection emerges as a mixed bag. We’ve got the horror and action for entertainment as well as some interesting and very stylish ideas, but also some wasted opportunities that could have been expanded on.

Two hundred years after Ripley sacrificed her life to kill the alien that was growing inside of her, scientists aboard the spaceship Auriga, have managed to create a clone of her, as well as the Alien. The corrupt and greedy scientists are part of an illegal experiment in raising the creature and developing many other like it. The operation is overseen by General Perez, corrupt scientist Wren and creepy Dr Gediman. Perez enlists the illicit services of a group of mercenaries in bringing human cargo aboard. The group of mercenaries consists of leader Elgyn, sarcastic Johner, enigmatic Call, paraplegic Vriess, weapon-bound Christie and Elgyn’s romantic interest Hillard. Once aboard, the cargo that they have provided will be used as the hosts for the Alien. Meanwhile, because of the cloning procedures, Ripley has developed super strength, acidic blood and a mental link to the Alien. Her personality has drastically changed and she is now a slinky, ambivalent and almost predatory shadow of her old self. The Alien itself has also evolved and is now more dangerous than ever. The mysterious Call discovers Ripley and it is revealed that she is part of a resistance movement that want to kill the cloned Ripley, in order to wipe out the Alien. Call is too late and soon enough the intellectually advanced beasts manage to escape and leave a trail of bodies in their wake. The newly cloned Ripley teams with the group, which also acquires the services of soldier Distephano and Purvis, one of the humans who was used as a host for the Alien spawn. There is also the presence of the Newborn, a loathsome hybrid of human and Alien that has been born from the Queen Alien to contend with. With time running out before the ship lands on Earth and carnage erupting from every possible place, Ripley and the group must fight to stay alive and make it out safe.

Alien Resurrection may aim for the claustrophobic impact of the spaceship setting of the original Alien, but there’s something hollow to it here that doesn’t match the iconic first film. Sure, the set design is great with slippery surfaces, dark tunnels and Alien nests to get through, but this style is not enough to sustain an impact. The ghost of the previous and more effective films hangs over Alien Resurrection and thus makes it a weaker sequel to such illustrious predecessors. There is also a wealth of interesting themes at play here, such as the dangers of cloning and hybridity, but they are not developed enough to be sufficiently interesting for the audience. Where Alien Resurrection succeeds is the action and horror, which are both in high supply. Standout sequences include the gang having to swim to another chamber while being chased by the rapidly advancing Aliens, Ripley’s descent into the nest and the gory scene of the Alien’s putting in motion their brutal escape from confinement. Jean-Pierre Jeunet is in the director’s chair and brings an unusual and eerie quality to this entry of the science fiction saga. Always keen visually, he brings verve to the corridors of botched clones, slimy pits and blood that score highly in my book. There can be an over reliance on special effects to be found in Alien Resurrection, but at least for the most part, Jeunet manages to keep it under wraps. The score provided makes uses of slithering percussion and punctuating brass, twinned with bristling cymbals and twinkling piano to symbolize the link between Ripley and the Alien, as well as the growing terror that the characters are plunged into.

Sigourney Weaver imbues this version of the Ripley character with slinky sex appeal, eerie cynicism and effective strength. Weaver really seems to relish showing us this newly modified Ripley, who may not have the humanity of her human counterpart but still has the unmistakable steel and wits to survive. Essaying the role for the fourth time, Sigourney Weaver is once again as riveting as ever. Winona Ryder brings a mix of pluck and vulnerability to the role of the enigmatic Call, who has own agenda for coming aboard the ship. Ron Perlman brings his familiar quality of being a super bad ass to the part of the dryly humorous Johner, while Dominique Pinon as the wheelchair-bound but heavily armed Vriess is clearly having a blast. Gary Dourdan brings intensity to the part of the skilled fighter Christie, whereas J. E. Freeman oozes oily menace as one of the corrupt scientists aboard the ship. Raymond Cruz is wasted as a renegade soldier who teams with the survivors, while Brad Dourif chews the scenery as the twisted Dr Gediman. Unfortunately Dan Hedaya, Michael Wincott, Kim Flowers and Leland Orser and chronically underused and given barely anything really memorable to do in the film.

A film very much full of ideas but not as thrilling as it could have been, Alien Resurrection is despite its flaws quite entertaining and manages to just about get the job done.

 

 

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Tags

2000's, Andy Serkis, Bernard Hill, Billy Boyd, Brad Dourif, Cate Blanchett, Christopher Lee, David Wenham, Dominic Monaghan, Elijah Wood, Epic, Fantasy, Hugo Weaving, Ian McKellen, John Rhys-Davies, Karl Urban, Liv Tyler, Miranda Otto, Orlando Bloom, Peter Jackson, Sean Astin, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Viggo Mortensen

Film Title

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Director

Peter Jackson

Starring

• Elijah Wood as Frodo
• Ian McKellen as Gandalf
• Sean Astin as Samwise “Sam” Gamgee
• Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn
• Andy Serkis as Gollum
• Liv Tyler as Arwen
• Billy Boyd as Pippin
• Dominic Monaghan as Merry
• Miranda Otto as Éowyn
• Orlando Bloom as Legolas
• David Wenham as Faramir
• John Rhys-Davies as Gimli
• Billy Boyd as Pippin
• Dominic Monaghan as Merry
• Bernard Hill as Théoden
• Cate Blanchett as Galadriel
• Christopher Lee as Saruman
• Hugo Weaving as Elrond
• Karl Urban as Éomer
• Brad Dourif as Gríma Wormtongue

Now for the second entry into my Lord of the Rings marathon. Picking up where Fellowship of the Ring left off, The Two Towers is a superb continuation to this engaging trilogy that balances great characters, mythology and some of the best battle scenes ever put on film. Darker than its predecessor, Two Towers is just as good as the first and introduces us to more engaging characters who populate the lands of Middle Earth. If this doesn’t get you excited for the final concluding entry in the trilogy, I don’t know what will.

With the Fellowship now fractured and Gandalf sacrificing himself in the mines, the various factions that remain continue travelling. In one segment, Frodo and Sam continue the perilous journey to destroy the evil ring and are joined by Gollum, the ring’s former owner whose life was tortured by his desire to the ring and the inability to resist taking it. Gollum knows the way to Mordor, but Sam distrusts him and warns Frodo about what Gollum may do. In another strand; Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas travel to Rohan which is about to come under attack from the forces of Sauron. Along the way, they encounter an old ally. A now reborn and stronger Gandalf who aids them in bringing the king of Rohan,  Théoden out from under the spell cast by Gríma Wormtongue, one of Saruman the dark wizard’s workers. And in the other segment, Merry and Pippin flee after being captured by orcs into the forest where Treebeard, an ent who listens to them and journey’s on. Busting apart the common idea that the middle film of a series is the weakest, The Two Towers contains gorgeous locations, breathtaking scope and the all round magical feeling of a fantasy quest you will never want to leave.

Peter Jackson again fashions a fantasy epic of staggering proportions with this entry. Having three separate story strands could have been a risky move, but in this case it pays off handsomely as we watch not just one journey, but three. This entry also focuses more on Aragorn as a character and his emergence as a skilled warrior who may finally have to reclaim his right to the throne in the future. As is to be expected from an epic like this, the locations are spectacularly captured in long panning shots as mountains, dales and volcanos come into view.You watch scenes like this and really understand the unparalleled power and splendour that Jackson has brought to the screen. Peter Jackson handsomely combines action with an emotionally involving hero’s journey to overcome the forces of evil whilst battling against the many foes along the way. The Battle at Helm’s Deep is in my book one of the best battle sequences recorded on film, the sheer scope and meticulous craft on display is so mesmerizing as Aragorn leads men against the orcs and other forces of darkness.

Once again, the vast ensemble cast delivers, with newer additions adding impact along the way. Elijah Wood successfully continues his role as Frodo, here showing the burden that has been put on him and how he attempts to remain resilient to the dominating force of the ring. Ian McKellen shines as the resurrected Gandalf, who is as wise and powerful as he ever was. The scene when he appears to Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas in a vast array of light is a stunning sight to behold. Sam Astin continues to impress as loyal Sam, in this film it is Sam who really anchors it and functions as the narrative’s heart as we watch his friendship tested but never loses faith in his friend. Viggo Mortensen  is given more of a fleshed out character here, this further adds to the interesting dimensions of his character of Aragorn. He is strong, hopeful and above all a brave character, embodied by Mortensen with outstanding skill.

It is Andy Serkis who makes the biggest impact in the film. His fluid and strange movements combined with amazing CGI create the character of Gollum, the one who once owned the ring that has poisoned his mind forever. Gollum is an interesting character in that sometimes you feel utter revulsion for him, whereas on the other hand he is sympathetic as you see how the powerful ring of the title has shattered his sanity. Liv Tyler continues her luminous portrayal of Arwen, Aragorn’s elf lover who has now left her immortality much to the chagrin of her father. There is a beautiful scene in which Elrond predicts a melancholy for her and Arwen begins to cry. Instead of giving up on her love she replies “There is still hope” in a sincere and emotion filled voice, as the tears run down her pale face. Miranda Otto is beautiful and strong as the king’s niece Éowyn, who falls for Aragorn along the way. David Wenham plays Faramir, brother of the late Boromir, whose path crosses with Frodo’s. Orlando Bloom and John Rhys-Davies are on form as Legolas and Gimli, their characters adding a certain amount of banter to the proceedings.  Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan are as good as before as Pippin and Merry, who evade capture by hiding in the woods. Bernard Hill is suitably imperial as Théoden, the king given his life back by Gandalf after being a zombie for Sauron. In a small but memorable role, Cate Blanchett reappears as the wise Galadriel, who predicts what may happen if the war comes into fruition. Christopher Lee is villainy personified as the fallen Saruman, now heading a war against mankind. Hugo Weaving is stately and wise as the elf lord Elrond, while Karl Urban is a success as the exiled heir and Brad Dourif a slimy presence as a force of evil.

A stunningly mounted second entry into an exciting and emotionally involving saga, The Two Towers is not to be missed by anyone.