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Movies / On DVD / Child's Play
Child's Play

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Child's Play (1988)

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70 %
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Reviews Counted:27

Fresh:19

Rotten:8

Average Rating:6.3/10

Runtime: 90 mins

Genre: Horror/Suspense

Synopsis: The Lake Shore Strangler, a mass murderer who has plagued the Chicago area for months, meets his untimely end when he gets shot in a toy warehouse. Left for dead, the killer summons the strength to... The Lake Shore Strangler, a mass murderer who has plagued the Chicago area for months, meets his untimely end when he gets shot in a toy warehouse. Left for dead, the killer summons the strength to recite a voodoo chant which causes his soul to be "reincarnated" into one of the dolls resting on the shelves. The incantation also sparks an unnatural lightning storm, and when lightning hits the warehouse, it burns to the ground. Only one doll survives: the doll possessed by the killer's soul. Later, a mother innocently buys this doll as a present for her son. At first, everything seems fine, but soon the doll starts communicating with the young boy. Then he slays the child's babysitter. That's only the first of his many gruesome exploits, however. So watch out...because just when you think Chucky's gone--he might be coming back. Horror master Tom Holland (FRIGHT NIGHT) directs this horror classic that spawned several sequels. [More]

Starring: Catherine Hicks, Chris Sarandon, Brad Dourif

Starring: Catherine Hicks, Chris Sarandon, Brad Dourif

Director: Tom Holland

Director: Tom Holland

[See More Credits]

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Reviews for Child's Play

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Bubble View | 1 2 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 
Reviews
Tomatometer Critic Review Category
tomato
3/5

Kim Newman

It's nothing wildly original, but it is pacey and entertaining when it gets going.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 21 2008 11:09 AM

Empire Magazine

tomato
3/5

Richard Luck

It does, however, have some decent scares, a lot of good lines and a memorable villain.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 21 2008 11:09 AM

Channel 4 Film

tomato

Holland's sure handling of the suspense and shock moments lends the film a sharp and scary edge.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Feb., 09 2006 03:17 AM

Time Out

splat
2.5/4

Is anyone ever going to make a really good movie about toys coming to life to kill people?

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 21 2008 11:06 AM

TV Guide's Movie Guide

splat

Variety Staff

Fun withers in stretching the thin material to feature length.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 21 2008 11:04 AM

Variety

tomato
3/4

Dustin Putman

With humor taking a backseat to good, old-fashioned suspense, Child's Play is an impressive horror highlight of the late-'80s film scene.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 15 2008 01:04 PM

DustinPutman.com

tomato
4/4

Lucius Gore

'Child's Play' is one of the scariest movies ever.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Sep., 27 2008 11:02 PM

ESplatter

tomato

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Insidiously effective.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Sep., 18 2008 07:15 PM

Combustible Celluloid

tomato
4/5

Scott Weinberg

While the sequels may have gotten progressively more campy, I'm pleased to note that the original Child's Play holds up just as well as I'd hoped. (And the new DVD rocks.)

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Sep., 10 2008 03:06 AM

FEARnet

splat
2/4

Eric Henderson

I'm sure Child's Play was far from the only film of its era sold as one of the great scareshows of all time.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Sep., 08 2008 09:22 PM

Slant Magazine

tomato
4./5

Uncle Creepy

Even after twenty years, Child's Play shows no ring rust. The little flick plays just as well now as it did in its heyday.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Sep., 05 2008 01:20 PM

Dread Central

tomato
7/10

Chuck O'Leary

An inadvertently silly but effective shocker. Director Tom Holland definitely knows how to spin a scary yarn.

comment Comment | Mar., 04 2006 09:15 PM

FulvueDrive-in.com

splat
2/5

Emanuel Levy

No review available.

comment Comment | Aug., 10 2005 09:37 PM

EmanuelLevy.Com

tomato
3/5

Ryan Cracknell

No review available.

comment Comment | May., 05 2005 10:30 PM

Movie Views

tomato
3.5/4

Stefan Birgir Stefansson

°classic horror

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Apr., 16 2005 10:41 AM

sbs.is

tomato
5/5

Luke Y. Thompson

A gem, with one of the best "sudden reveals" ever committed to celluloid

comment Comment | Sep., 09 2004 01:56 AM

New Times

tomato
3/5

Caryn James

[A] clever, playful thriller.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Aug., 30 2004 10:17 PM

New York Times

splat
C-

Eric D. Snider

It is not funny enough to be a comedy, but not scary enough to be a horror, either. It does, however, star a malevolent talking doll, which scores a lot of points in my book.

Full Review Source: | comment 2 Comments | Jul., 10 2004 08:45 AM

EricDSnider.com

tomato
3/5

Spence D.

No review available.

comment Comment | Dec., 25 2003 10:22 PM

IGN Movies

splat
0/5

John Esther

No review available.

comment Comment | Aug., 22 2003 12:24 AM

Pasadena Weekly

 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Bubble View | 1 2 >> >|
all

Latest News for Child's Play

September 09, 2008: Child's Play Partners Look Back, Discuss Remake Opens in new window
A brand new 20th anniversary edition of "Child's Play" hits store shelves today; to celebrate, Don Mancini and David Kirschner talked with ShockTillYouDrop about the little... More...

August 22, 2008: Weekly Ketchup: Superman gets rebooted, Poltergeist gets remade
This week's Ketchup bottle has news about a Superman franchise reboot, and remakes of Poltergeist, Child's Play, and Highlander. More...

October 23, 2007: Here Comes a Child's Play Remake
Well, we knew it was only a matter of time, right? Shock Till You Drop reports that Child's Play producer David Kirschner is preparing to give his franchise the remake/reboot... More...

See All

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