Review - Spirit Halloween Good Guy Doll (Chucky)

 

The Lakeshore Strangler awakens...

I've been on a major Chucky binge the past few months - it started when I rented the entire series from the Family Video at which I worked (rest in peace), and I haven't been able to shake it since. It's like a horrible, orange-haired chimp clung to my banana wielding psyche. Or something. 

Just recently, I snatched up this wicked little guy - er, Good Guy. Spirit Halloween's newest model of the titular terror, complete with replica box! 

Chucky's looked pretty different from film, to film - to TV show, nowadays. Just like Godzilla's ever-changing appearance, Chucky's design depends on everything from plot, to creative direction, to budget - making for plenty of variety between incarnations.

This particular edition seems to aim for a sort of generalized take on the character, though I think it looks most like the "disguised" Chucky as seen in Curse of Chucky. It's the buck teeth and heavy, sunken eyes. Admittedly, the face sculpt could use a bit of work - I'm not sure what it is, but something about the eyes and forehead seems pretty off when you're looking through the eyes of an over-scrutinizing fan. It isn't enough to completely throw off the likeness, but it certainly isn't what I'd call one-to-one. More like... three-and-a-half-to-one.

However, that aside, it should be noted this doll isn't particularly dedicated to onscreen accuracy, beyond some neat little details such as the patterns on the soles of his bright red shoes, or the open, sort of pointing sculpt on his hands. I'd venture to guess any semblance it has to one particular version or another is pure lucky coincidence - it's definitely a Good Guy doll, and that's all it needs to be.

At the end of the day, calling this a poor representation of the character by any stretch of the word just isn't fair. This is most definitely Barbie mode Chucky, at his glazed, glassy-eyed best. If you're looking for a Good Guy that leaps off the screen, you'll have to go a bit higher end.

 Something I'm a bit less receptive toward, as far as accuracy goes, is the box; the most glaring of which is the "Chucky" tagline across it's face, which was never there in any of the movies. It's one of those things where I understand why it's there - I just wish it wasn't.

The packaging is designed to be very reminiscent of it's onscreen counterpart - and, make no mistake, it gets the job done - but, choices such as the entirely new art of the Good Guys, or the self-referential additional taglines, sadly null any real accuracy the box could've had. 

Still, will I lose any sleep over the box being less than perfect? Of course not - it looks cool regardless, especially with the Chuckster sealed away inside. The colors are right on, and at about 31 inches, it looks just as tall and imposing as it did lining the warehouse shelves seen in the memorable climax of Child's Play 2.

Holding NECA's Ultimate Chucky

Chucky stands - that's right, stands! - about an inch shorter, making him quite a bit taller than most budget Chucky dolls. His head can turn, albeit very tightly, and both arms have been fitted with a bendable wire allowing for some simple posing. Allowing him to stand is very dense stuffing throughout his lower body; meaning, sadly, his legs and torso have almost no poseablity. It's awesome he can stand on his own, but I do wish he could at least sit down. 

To hopefully noone's suprprise, he's more of a decoration than a legitimate doll or action figure; which, to me, is why issues such as it's inaccuracies feel so important to point out. If he's designed for display, I'd think one may as well have aimed for the stars in lieu of the limitations necessary for your average toy.

Cult of Chucky establishes that the Good Guys brand has been reissued and remade ad-nauseum throughout the years, becoming something of an infamous horror icon - not unlike the ever-evolving, ever-trashy Child's Play saga. Maybe this is an example said reissues, what with the somewhat updated package design and, again, self-referential taglines. I could certainly see the demonic Play Pals cashing in on Andy Barclay's raves of killer dolls.

Personally, despite my criticisms, I dig this Chucky! It's not perfect, but then, for a representation of an extremely creepy doll from the 1980's... I'd say he's ticked all the boxes, really. 

Here's hoping I survive the night. 

Update - Messing around with him, I noticed the bendable wire actually does thread down into both legs. Still not very poseable, though - movement starts around the knee. Thought it was worth a mention!