Cult of Chucky (2017) [SYFY Edit]

 Mancini wrote and directed this film, with most of it set inside an asylum with paralyzed (from the waste down) Fiona Dourif as Nica from Curse of Chucky (2013) taking the blame for Chucky murders. She has this really scummy doctor named Foley (Michael Therriault) who has been fucking Nica while she's "subdued" (drugged and under hypnosis!), mentioning late in the film that he always falls for the crazies! When Chucky even admits that someone is more fucked up than him, you know that person is a real piece of shit. Like many films with asylums, there are patients with a number of issues such as Madeleine (Elisabeth Rosen), inside for smothering her loudly crying baby, Claire (Grace Lynn Kung), suffering serious anxiety, Malcolm/Michael (Adam Hurtig), dealing with multiple personalities (including a Charles Lee Ray personality eventually!), and Angela (Martina Stephenson Kerr), who believes she's a ghost. Eventually Mancini makes sure multiple Chucky Good Guy dolls are in the hospital, allowing Brad Dourif's voice to occupy each one, as they target not only patients but seemingly have plans for Nica. Mancini makes sure the damn movie ties back with the abysmal Seed of Chucky (2004) -- it would have been awesome to just retcon that one into oblivion -- with Jennifer Tilly getting involved as herself/Tiffany. Chucky has big plans for Nica, explaining why he wouldn't let her die from a cut across her arm that was bleeding out and didn't kill her the many times he had the chance.

I got to say that Fiona favors her father so much in the face. When she mimics her father as Charles Lee Ray at the end, it is uncanny how much Fiona is like Brad! And how Fiona's hair is disheveled, along with the facial mimicry and specific enunciation as her father, is really astounding. Bravo.

But, to be honest, the Chucky effects weren't as creepy or scary at all to me. In fact, the Chuckys in the film reminded me of my mischievous nephew, that shit-eating grin as he's about to get into something. He looks like the cat as it traps a bird and prepares to eat it. Nonetheless, if you want more than one Chucky, all voiced by Dourif, in an asylum, making life a living hell for his daughter, then Cult might just be right up your alley.

This marks the full return of Alex Vincent as Andy, trying to stop Chucky, even going so far as to get himself committed at the same hospital as Nica, realizing unfortunately that his adversaries are one step ahead of him. Chuck learned of a voodoo ritual that allows him to transfer his personality to multiple vessels. This film really seems to set up yet another sequel.

The really abused head of a Chucky Andy loved to torture when pulling him from a safe at home could be the film's most impressive special effect..this damaged head taking a drag from some pot Andy was smoking is particularly noteworthy. Oh, and one moment that did make me smile is one of the Chucky dolls buried with a hand bursting from a grave.

Honestly, for me the series is tired. Perhaps watching the two worst Chucky films of the series in one Tuesday evening might not have been such a good idea. 2/5