Watch Child's Play

Charles Lee Ray is the notorious Lakeshore Strangler, a serial killer who gets a taste of his own medicine in the movie Child’s Play. After being mortally wounded by a police officer, Charles transfers his soul into a children’s doll, named Chucky. Little did anyone know that this innocent-looking toy would turn out to be a horrific killer seeking revenge for the people he thinks wronged him.

In the opening scene of Child’s Play, Charles Lee Ray (Brad Dourif) is being chased by a cop named Mike Norris (Chris Sarandon) through the streets of Chicago. After breaking into a toy store, Charles transfers his soul into a Good Guy doll, leaving his human body behind. Packed with black magic, the doll takes on a life of its own, determined to continue the Strangler’s killing spree.

Meanwhile, Karen Barclay (Catherine Hicks) is a single mother who has just moved into a new apartment with her son Andy (Alex Vincent). Having missed out on getting Andy the popular Good Guy doll for his birthday, Karen buys a used one from a peddler on the street. Unbeknownst to her, that same Good Guy doll is possessed by Charles Lee Ray and has become a real-life killer’s plaything.

As Chucky terrorizes the Barclay family, Andy is the only one who knows who is behind the violence. But, as any kid with a wild imagination, he’s not believed, resulting in Karen being committed for psychiatric evaluation. With no one else to turn to, Andy seeks out Norris to help him catch the killer doll.

The movie takes the audience on a journey through the dark and twisted psyche of Chucky, who carries a grudge against anyone he perceives as his enemies. With every death that occurs by his hands, Chucky becomes more determined to complete his mission of transferring his soul into a human host to live forever.

From the beginning of the movie, the Good Guy doll sets a spooky tone through its unsettling childlike voice and exaggerated facial expressions. The special effects used to bring the doll to life are impressive, ranging from practical effects to animatronics that make Chucky’s movements feel unsettlingly real.

The film is a fun and suspenseful horror flick that rapidly evolved into a cult classic for generations of horror buffs. Not only did it lead to an entire franchise (of varying quality), but it also kick-started a wave of killer-doll movies that continue to this day.

At its heart, Child’s Play is an entertaining blend of comedy and horror that mostly holds up more than 30 years after its initial release. The performances by the cast are convincing, with special praise being reserved for the young Vincent, who carries the movie on his tiny shoulders.

Overall, Child’s Play remains a cultural touchstone in the horror genre, and it manages to deliver on its intended thrills and chills that will keep audiences entertained and engaged. This is a movie that can make you fear innocent toys and never want to turn your back on them—a horror flick that's worth recommending for lovers of classic scares.

Child's Play is a 1988 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 27 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7 and a MetaScore of 58.