Dustin McNeill - Reign of Chucky: The True Hollywood Story of a Not So Good Guy

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We may forever argue over whos the all-time greatest slasher Michael, Jason, or Freddy but youll notice no one ever argues over whos the greatest killer doll. Its Chucky, of course, bar none. His long reign atop this unique sub-genre is undisputed. Chucky not only has one of the highest kill counts among his taller peers, but he also boasts the longest unbroken continuity of any slasher rival. As a horror heavy, hes legendary. Hes entertained audiences in theaters and on home video, in haunted houses and in toy stores, and even on cable television. Walk into any Spencers or Hot Topic and youre bound to find him there waiting. Hes conquered pop culture, even outlasting the cultural juggernauts that first inspired him.

Every notable horror franchise has its own dedicated audience and Chuckys is nothing to scoff at. From fan art to tattoos to having their own Good Guy, Childs Play fans are a passionate bunch, united in their love of all things Chucky. Surely such a rich legacy (and loyal fanbase) deserves a lengthy retrospective tome. And that is what we now present you with, the first of its kind Reign of Chucky. The genesis of this book hails from the thrilling success of 2021s Chucky. Each week, we were utterly gripped by the continuing misadventures of the killer Good Guy and his maniacal bride. It was during this time we realized that Chucky hasnt always received the same lavish recognition so frequently bestowed upon his peers.

Few sources have ever covered these films to any large comprehensive degree. As such, it was our sincerest intention to delve into Chuckys filmography in a way that had not been done before. In doing so, we made a most pleasant discovery, that these films are even better than we remembered, certainly better than theyre given credit for. Theyre smartly written, slickly directed, and brilliantly brought to life by strong casts. They have also aged incredibly well. Its our hope that Reign of Chucky might provide some new perspective or reveal something you may not have known about the world of Childs Play. If nothing more, we hope this book will only deepen and enrich your own appreciation of these movies and the people who made them.

Of course, running parallel to the reign of Chucky is the equally impressive reign of Don Mancini, the Good Guys creator, keeper, and champion for over thirty years. This book is, above all else, a tribute to his incredible work in constantly reinventing the franchise. We are so grateful to the several dozen cast and crew who contributed to this retrospective. The timing of this books creation was rather poor, running concurrent to the production of Chuckys second season. As a result, we didnt get to speak with everyone wed hoped to, even those who delighted in the news that such a book effort was underway. Like you reading this, we cheer on their continued franchise work and wait with bated breath to see what will happen in the new season and beyond.

Fans til the end.

Dustin McNeill & Travis Mullins

To be clear, Chucky was never the first childs plaything to menace the big screen, not by a long shot. But ever since his debut, he has been the face of the killer doll genre, and its a mantle hes not giving up anytime soon. Hes Charles Lee Ray, the Lakeshore Strangler, the foul-mouthed Good Guy doll with a penchant for murder whos been entertaining audiences for nearly forty years. Hes a pop culture icon, his name known around the world. His theatrical outings have grossed millions and thats to say nothing of home video sales and the endlessly generating merchandise on which his mug is emblazoned. Despite this praise, Hollywood hasnt always been kind to the redheaded fixture. Hes suffered for his art as much as hes endured. Curious is the fact hes never been anywhere near the top of any Best of slasher list, if featured at all. And unlike his slasher peers, his debut appearance is seldom heralded as a crown jewel of the genre. It would appear his collective legacy is encompassed by more than just that; his later ventures being of equal interest. Needless to say, this Good Guy is greater than the sum of his plastic parts, having successfully weathered a trek through the direct-to-video world perhaps the only franchise to do so and a venue change to television. His creators have reinvented the thematic wheel a handful of times all the while keeping a surprisingly strong hold on the series continuity. But what is it about Chucky that has his fans clamoring for more?

In his 1981 essay Why We Love Horror Movies, Stephen King popularized the apt analogy that watching a horror film is like braving a roller coaster. The ups and downs, twists and turns, and near-death screams serve as a cathartic release one necessary to combat what King calls anticivilization emotions. As he writes, The potential lyncher is in almost all of us [] and every now and then, he has to be let loose to scream and roll around in the grass. [] Anticivilization emotions dont go away, and they demand periodic exercise. If any slasher were in need of exercising these emotions, it would be Chucky and for the audience, thats where the fun derives. Whats most enjoyable about Chucky is theres something about him that perfectly aligns with the struggle of the human psyche. Genre nuts have long bemoaned the decision to dissect what makes a horror villain tick, but that is perhaps Chuckys greatest asset. Unlike his predecessors, he has a defined personality one we can identify with, regardless of whether we root for or against him.

Youll find that throughout human history, our species has been rife with violence. If weve been so inclined to these now primitive urges, then perhaps Chucky is our best outlet for diffusion as far as horror icons go. Theres little resistance on his part to act out on such dark impulses which, maybe morbid to say, makes our voyeurism all the more enjoyable. Chucky is the embodiment of our anticivilization emotions. He embraces his potential lyncher, rebelling against authority. Whether slashing through homes, schools, or corporations, hes anti-establishment all the way. Hes aware his actions arent widely accepted, but he believes himself to be in the right. He cares not about the consequences. Chucky is fun to watch because, in many ways, he is the everyman. Hes an old brand of masculinity the weathered father with little impulse control who unleashes when his own defined sense of order is corroded. Much to our delight, his goals are frequently thwarted, influencing him to react in a number of ways. With such an aggressive personality trapped in doll form, its the equivalent of watching a man child act out a toddlers tantrum. Its often gruesome but hardly nihilistic. Whether its finding a new lease on life, seeking revenge, or even navigating relationships, we relish in Chuckys pursuits.