Since U Didn't Axe Me: "Curse of Chucky" (2013) Review

25 years have passed since Chucky terrorized Andy Barclay and his mother in the original "Child's Play." When an anonymous package shows up at Nica's house, Chucky unleashes another malicious scheme to tie up some old loose ends. The sixth sequel for "Chucky" returns to the creepy vibe of the original "Child's Play," while attempting to connect the dots of the admired franchise.

"Curse of Chucky" is a 2013 horror sequel written and directed by Don Mancini. Starring Fiona Dourif (as Nica), Danielle Bisutti (as Barb), A. Martinez (as Father Frank), Maitland McConnell (as Jill), Brennan Elliot (as Ian), Brad Dourif (as the voice of Chucky), and finally, Jennifer Tilly (as Tiffany). This return-to-form sequel brings back the spooky atmosphere of the original, but hastily tacks on plot points from early films.

Another long stretch of time had passed before this "Chucky" follow-up was released, and unfortunately, it was sent directly to video which may have hurt its reception. On the flip side, by this point the franchise had amassed a large enough following that fans of Chucky were ready to feast their eyes on the next blood-soaked chapter.

"Curse" focuses on a young woman named Nica (Fiona Dourif) who is restricted to a wheelchair. She shares a home with her mother, Sarah (Chantelle Quesnelle) who seemingly dies by suicide one day (not really a spoiler). Nica's relatives come to pay their respects to Sarah, and that's really when the mystery behind the suicide starts to unravel. Yes, it involves Chucky in some way!

Returning once more to helm the series is Don Mancini as writer and director. With "Curse of Chucky," Mancini shows that he is capable of shifting tones without compromising what's happened already in the franchise. There's a nice blend of old and new with "Curse," and there really isn't another director that could have pulled it off better than Mancini. From a directing standpoint, "Curse of Chucky" is just fine, but sometimes the pacing feels uneven, and audiences may lose interest after the first act.

Much of the special and visual effects in "Curse" look cool, but there is a noticeable downgrade in certain areas. Some of the rain effects are CGI, and sadly, some shots of Chucky are assisted by CGI. On the other hand, it's understandable that the filmmakers would use visual effects on the wide shots of Chucky, but the die-hard fan inside of me misses the good 'ol days of full-on puppetry.

"Curse of Chucky" is a welcomed return to form for Chucky, and is a sometimes an enjoyable watch. There are interesting moments in the film that will get any fan of the series going, but the film's momentum is hindered at times by the script and pacing. The elements from previous films feel a bit tacked on as well, and that also hurts the film. If you can overlook its flaws, "Curse" is a decent addition to the well-loved horror icon's string of slasher flicks.