Curse of Chucky

The horror franchise about a grotesque doll possessed by the spirit of a serial killer—launched with 1988's Child's Play—is back with this direct-to-home-video sixth installment. Don Mancini, writer of all the Chucky movies and director of the last two, moderates the spoof factor of recent entries in favor of a more traditional approach. Of course, there's still a strong undercurrent of mordant humor at work, but the plot is pure simpleminded slasher, as a family is methodically massacred in a dark old house one stormy night—albeit by a nasty, wise-cracking plastic killer. The explanation for why these particular victims were chosen gives Brad Dourif, who has regularly voiced the demented Chucky, the opportunity to appear in human form in flashback. Not surprisingly, the scariest part of this lame effort to revive a better-left-dead franchise is a postscript that leaves the door wide open for further sequels. Not recommended. (F. Swietek)