Since U Didn't Axe Me: "Bride of Chucky" (1998) Review

One month after "Child's Play 3," Chucky is resurrected by his old girlfriend, Tiffany. Once brought back to life, he (minor spoiler) kills Tiffany, and places her soul into a female doll. Chucky and his bride then take a road trip of mayhem in this fantastic sequel.

"Bride of Chucky" is a 1998 horror-comedy written by Don Mancini and directed by Ronny Yu. Starring Jennifer Tilly (Tiffany), Brad Dourif (as the voice of Chucky), Katherin Heigl (Jade), Nick Stabile (Jesse), and John Ritter (Chief Warren Kincaid). The highly anticipated return of Chucky blends comedy with horror, and sends the viewer on an edge-of-your-seat ride chock full of thrills, chills, and laughs.

There was a long wait for audiences between "Child's Play 3" and "Bride of Chucky," and the excitement going into this film is, what makes this one the best Chucky sequel, hands down! With its dark and creepy intro, the Rob Zombie tune cranked up, and the pervasive gothic vibe, "Bride of Chucky" is where Chucky becomes really interesting.

In a classic reveal, we are introduced to Jennifer Tilly as Tiffany, and she is perfect in the role. She's sexy, silly, and doesn't shy away from killing people--she's definitely Chucky's match! Brad Dourif as Chucky, delivers the rom-com lines with ease, while still preserving Chucky's stubborn and evil personality. John Ritter is great as always as Jade's uncle Warren, and you can tell he had fun with his part. Unfortunately, our main protagonists aren't very good in "Bride of Chucky," and they can be cringeworthy. Katherine Heigl (Jade) and Nick Stabile (Jesse) seems to struggle, and their lines come off as quite wooden and awkward. It may have been a script issue, but I really think it comes down to their chemistry--that is probably the film's biggest eyesore.

Ronny Yu did an outstanding job directing this movie, and that's quite surprising, because he doesn't come from the American film industry. He was able to take his style from his previous effort, "The Bride With White Hair," and paint Chucky with new shades of light and darkness. I really dig "Bride of Chucky" because of its use of light, and the cinematography gives the film a gothic yet modern feel. There's really no time to breathe in this movie, and the action sequences and set pieces are fast, vicious, funny, and necessary. Don Mancini and Ronny Yu worked well together, and the results are on the screen--it's a lot of fun!

Finally, Kevin Yagher and his team returned to the "Chucky" series by giving Chucky his new look, and it's great. The stitched up, ugly visage of Chucky gives him a menace not seen in the other sequels. Yagher provides the dolls a rich dimension and depth, and the amount of emotions they show really make Chucky and Tiffany multilayered characters.

"Bride of Chucky" is an exciting blend of horror and comedy. With a lean plot and fast-paced action and kills, "Bride" raises the bar and thrusts Chucky into a new, bold direction. You'll scream, you'll laugh, you'll have a blast! Check it out!

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