Bride of Chucky (1998)

Kris 0:03

Dawn, I think what you have achieved here tonight is the understatement of a fucking century. What do you mean this movie's only a little bit horny? By the early 90s, Horror's favorite killer doll had already chased a young boy through a foster home and a military academy. And three movies in, creator Don Mancini felt creatively drained, and he later called the third film the weakest of the series, placing his blame on his own script. He and producer David Kirschner agreed the next chapter needed a new direction. And they found inspiration with the Universal's classic, Bride of Frankenstein. Giving their killer doll a girlfriend opened up a whole new set of possibilities. Mancini created a character who shared his horror icon's appetite for murder, but had very different expectations about romance. Suddenly, the series had room for jealousy, domestic arguments, and two killers trying to make a relationship work. The story follows a woman who resurrects her serial killer ex, setting off a reunion that draws two young lovers into a road trip with a pair of highly dangerous passengers, who, unbeknownst to them, have plans of their own. This week we're talking about Bride of Chucky. Spooky season, greetings and salutations, and welcome to Hacker Slash. If you're joining us again, welcome back. If this is your first time listening, welcome to the party. My name is Chris, I'm your friendly neighborhood slasher enthusiast. This week I'm joined by the classic horror connoisseur Sean.

Sean 1:38

Tiffany, let's die a little.

Kris 1:40

And the paranormal pair more bigs Arby, eat your heart out.

Sean 1:45

You're tuning into Bride of Chucky, but if you support the show, you'll also get to hear our B-side at the end of this episode where we get into some of horror's most toxic couples.

Kris 1:55

Well, I can't wait to get into that discussion, but we have a toxic pair to really round things off tonight. Folks, who's seen this one before?

Sean 2:03

You know, I feel like this is one like if you grew up in this time in the 90s, it's even if you were in the early 2000s, this is something you've seen before. A lot of people probably may have started with this one and then worked their way backwards potentially. I think I feel like this is definitely one that I've seen before, probably a good handful of times at least. But it does feel like it's been a long time.

SPEAKER_05 2:27

Same. I mean, this was my Chucky movie, you know. Like I was six years old when this came out, and I remember thinking Tiff was so badass and crazy. Perhaps it was probably because of the goth look of it all, but I was looking forward to this rewatch particularly because it has been a long time, and I don't really know why.

Kris 2:45

Yeah, man. I'm thinking back on just like the child's play franchise as a whole. This was absolutely a staple for the Chucky franchise for me. And obviously, we've talked about in the past you have the child's play franchise and the child's play era, where it was almost like a proper horror film, but then it gets really off the rails and off the wall with the Chucky in the title. I watched this a ton when it came out, it was on replay alongside Halloween H2O and the other late 90s classics for sure. I have not seen it in years though. And when I consider what an anchor this is in its own franchise and really the direction that it goes next. This is one that I looked back on and I have to wonder, does the comedy still hold up? Because we get a really bonkers movie next, and the Chucky series really had to bring me back to believing in Charles Lee Ray and Chucky as a villain. But I'm pleased to say it did. Damn, I can't believe I found this money again.

Sean 3:50

I know, I'm right there with you. I forgot how funny and fun this movie is, how campy this one is. There, like you said, it's the it's the separation. Like we it's we go from the child's play series. This is the first iteration into now the Chucky series. Obviously, same universe, same franchise, but there was a shift in direction here. And I think that there is so much going on in this movie. It's just fun, it's campy, it's you know, I guess you could say it's like weirdly romantic in a way. It's also just a little bit horny. And I think it has a lot of jokes that you would think maybe coming back to this one is like, am I gonna like this? It's 1998. We might be saying some weird shit that maybe isn't isn't kosher nowadays. Never was kosher, but like you know what I'm saying. Like, does it does that does it still feel funny? And it it kind of does, it doesn't really take it too far over the edge, it's just enough playfulness that I think is pretty good.

Kris 4:48

I just want to share. We're recording this on the night of our ninth anniversary of a pot as a podcast. This is our ninth birthday of Hackerslash, and Sean, I think what you have achieved here tonight is the understatement of a fucking century. What do you mean this movie's only a little bit horny? It's super horny.

Sean 5:08

Well, it is pretty horny, that is true, but you know, I don't know. It is it is a little it is a little bit, it is horny, yes. We'll say it's just horny.

SPEAKER_05 5:17

That's hilarious. I hate to think what like the horniest film would look like then at that point in terms of what we review. That's crazy.

Kris 5:23

Yeah, I mean, listen, we've watched some horny stuff to be infinity pool. That is true, that is true, super gross. But you know what else blows my mind? How stacked this cast was in retrospect. So you have John Ritter, may he rest in peace, Catherine Heigel, Jennifer Tilley, just the tip of the iceberg here. Okay, and I was just thinking about this because we have John Ritter in this Bride of Chucky, and then just a few years later, we have his son Jason Ritter in Freddy vs. Jason. This is a great year for the Ritter boys on Hacker Slash.

Sean 5:59

It's so true. You know what the best part of this movie is, though? Like the cast is great, like it's funny, but the best part of this movie for some reason is it just feels undeniably 1998, like exactly when this fucking movie came out, even down to the soundtrack where literally almost every single song that was in this movie was released in 1998. Like this is frozen in time. If you want to know what 1998 was like, watch this. It opens up with fucking white zombie, which, well, that is an 80s song, to be fair, but still, Dracula's in there, 1998.

SPEAKER_05 6:36

Dude, the way that my eyes like just like exploded. I was like, what? What? No wonder this movie is like the perfect capsule in time. But it's also the costume and the makeup. Like I said, I saw Tiff when I was a kid, and I was like, no fucking wonder I'm the person that I am today. Between her and the craft, are you kidding me? It was just, oh my God, the music, the sense of humor, like you were talking about earlier, the casting, everything is just exactly what it was in the 90s. Just fucking right. And I think that again, you have to maybe have a particular sense of humor or be a part of a particular generation, maybe even a certain type of person to really enjoy this movie, especially for the sense of humor and the look of it all. I think it definitely makes fun of toxic relationships and it's meta, most definitely about the times and the franchise itself. But it's just so great for someone who just really wants to go back to their youth, specifically 1998.

Kris 7:40

Genuinely. Man, okay, this is a pre-Y2K movie. It is so it's so fun to just like sit back and really think about what was life like in 1998 and how the fuck did this movie get made and it still aged so well. That absolutely blows my mind. And being she mentioned, yes, it's about the toxic relationships of this. I cannot believe how well informed this movie is about the toxicity of relationships. Given that we still had so many decades left of people really just squeezing the juice out of Harley Quinn and Joker and just glorifying them for all the worst reasons. This movie like really stands a test of time in that respect. And you know, one of the things that I was actually super excited about, I believe I mentioned this before. I watched Bride of Chucky before I ever saw Bride of Frankenstein. So now reviewing this movie after not seeing it for a very long time, and now having seen Bride of Frankenstein multiple times since then, it really adds a whole nother layer to the experience. And Sean, I can't wait to hear what you're gonna dig up here in relation to Bride of Frankenstein. But my god, it it is so shocking how a movie can be so funny, so insightful, and still take so many great parallels from a classic Universal Monster movie.

Sean 9:01

I mean, that is 100% like a big theme for sure. There's no denying that. But I think one of the things that really stood out to me in this movie that I think is surprising, like you go into this movie, maybe even for the first time, and you're thinking Bride of Chucky, okay, is this gonna be, you know, is this just gonna be a female Chucky? Like, what is this gonna bring to the table? Is this like even gonna be interesting? But what Jennifer Tilly as Tiffany brings you is just so much more than just a female Chucky. I I genuinely feel like when you leave this movie, you're remembering Tiffany more than you're remembering Chucky for the most part. You know what I mean? Which I think is saying something. So there was definitely something that stood out there. I think the doll effects are really impressive, especially for a 1998 movie. The practical work, fantastic. I think it's just the person the personality of the animatronics is just there's so much of it, and it just works in this movie.

SPEAKER_05 10:00

Yeah, it's definitely like permeating through the screen consistently. I mean, there's so many lines of dialogue here that are extremely quotable. Again, down to the soundtrack itself. If you were to just listen to the music, you almost feel like the grunge and the grit and the camp of the movie. And I mean, yeah, I could talk about Tiffany until I'm blue in the face, but I think in general, the ensemble as well of the cast brings out like these fun little quirky moments. Again, the sense of humor has some like very interesting innuendos, like we talked about. There's certainly a little bit of horniness in this movie, but it lands in the most perfect way. And if you are wanting to kind of revisit Chucky in a sense that it's like not too far removed, but close enough to where you kind of get the sense of humor, you want to like be as close to the 2000s and the tones of it. I think that this is the definitely the movie for that, down to the very end, like literally the last second.

Kris 11:02

Yeah, man. I I was just thinking back as you were saying that, and thinking about like the cast as a whole. You remember how in Sinners we talked about how unfair it was that Michael B. Jordan had that much chemistry with himself? The only thing that can even get close to the stratosphere of his performance is the obnoxious way that these fucking dolls have so much chemistry with each other. And again, that's just great voice acting, all right? Obviously, it's not a serious comparison to the great work that is Sinners, but the chemistry of this really, really works, which is why I think it makes it so palatable. This is a gross horror movie in a lot of ways, but also it's just funny enough, just irreverent enough to really make this an easy watch for someone who it let's say like it's now it's a spooky season, you have a friend who doesn't really love seeing gruesome, brutal things. This is, I think, a perfect safe zone to play in. If you want to add just a little bit more blood to the mix, because again, that comedy, the late 90s cast, it is it's something that's gonna win the hearts and minds of people, even when it has no business doing so.

Sean 12:15

100%. Yeah, I I think for all the people out there with, and it's no shade to anybody, but for all the people out there that maybe aren't into like older horror movies, aren't into like classics, black and white movies, and you don't really care to watch something like Bride of Frankenstein, this is a really fun way to catch that that kind of theme, that kind of story. In essence, it's the same pattern, you know what I mean? You're getting the same things out of the movie, but in a in a more campy, fun, very 1998 kind of way, with something that only Chucky and some plastic dolls can really give you. And so I think that you know this can reach a different type of person that consumes a type of horror type of movie. I think you if you just enjoy obviously fun slashers, if you like campy one-liners and silly kind of movies like that, all of this is probably going to be the right movie for you. I think it's just fun. I don't even know how you can't have a good time watching this movie, to be honest with you. I really don't.

SPEAKER_05 13:17

And it's caught up in a ton of other horror films that came out that year alone. So to me, it's almost like it's the comedy of the horror films that came out in 1998 to an extent. Like it's the camp, it's the closest to like scary movie, I suppose, in a way, of that year. I mean, the faculty, which funny enough, I actually was just watching before we started recording. That came out in 1998. We have Halloween H2O that we were discussing earlier. That came out in 1998. I still know what you did last summer. That's a fun one. Funny. Jack Black, shout out to you. I mean, there's a lot of really good classic horror movies that came out in 1998 specifically, but of that list, Bride of Chucky is the fuck it. We're just going and we're being ridiculous, whether it be the humor, clearly the dolls of it all. So if you just want something to shake it up a little bit, if you're trying to revisit that year in particular, you need to see this.

Kris 14:19

I'd almost argue that Jack Black in I Still Know What You Did Last Summer is more ridiculous than anything we get in this movie. Is it the the dreads? It's a hundred percent the dreads. That man had no fucking business in that movie.

Sean 14:31

It's so true. Just even when we watch that back again and it had been so many years, and then seeing him come on screen and totally forgetting that he was even in the movie, it's just a gem in that movie that is just absolutely absurd.

Kris 14:45

Um, gem is about as generous of a statement as you say his movies only a little horny.

Sean 14:51

So funny. I listen, 1998. I'm telling y'all, it's a good year. It's a good year for horrors, a good year for a lot of great albums came out in 1998. I had a good time in 1998. I would definitely relive that year.

Kris 15:06

Sam, I think I was living in Texas in 1998. It wasn't so bad then. Yeah, it was fine. Everything still made sense in the world, but we have to start making our way towards our actual rating of this movie. But before we do, Sean, how'd you describe the gore score?

Sean 15:21

The gore in Bride of Chucky is definitely bloody, I would say. It's creative. I think it's incredibly fun, but it's not particularly disturbing. You know what I mean? Like it it's the kills are designed more to make you go, like, maybe like holy shit, then laugh, and then make you maybe not even cover your eyes, because it's not even that way, but like it's just something that you you react to. It's I think the kills are there for fun for reactions. There's enough blood and practical effects to satisfy, I think, some of the gore hounds out there. It's not over the top, it's nowhere near the kind of like visceral stomach-turning gore that we'd get from modern slashers, but I think it's just enough fun, just enough blood to earn itself a solid medium gore score.

Kris 16:06

And what about the animal report? Well, no animals were hurt during this matrimony. Thank God. You know, I wouldn't pet it past Chucky, but for now, let's go ahead and get into our ratings. Bride of Chucky, 1998. Or slash. I'm gonna kick things off real quick and keep it nice and simple. This for me, in my heart of hearts, is Peak Chucky. This movie fully embraces and solidifies the path for his camp, his absurdity. And then, of course, you have Jennifer Tilly's Tiffany that brings a personality in the backbone to match him. After watching the Chucky TV series and then going back to where it all began in this movie, I am consistently blown away by how their chemistry drives the comedy in this movie, and it still holds up. And I I have an even deeper appreciation. Something that was lost on me watching this as a kid was the Bride of Frankenstein parallels because it also gives Tiffany's story more emotional weight, more than I could have ever understood as an untested and untried eight-year-old in 1998. Especially surrounding the topic of companionship and the expectations we place on love. That shit hits different when you're in your 30s and single. But revisiting this after reviewing Breder Frankenstein gives me a whole new appreciation for not just the funny ha-ha of this movie, but the damn, sometimes it really do be a slash into make you think kind of energy. This movie is chaotic, it's wildly entertaining, it creates a strong, strong blueprint for the franchise's future, and that makes it an undoubtable slash.

SPEAKER_05 17:49

Yeah, I certainly agree. I think that this film is a classic for a reason. Like we keep saying, it's a 90s film that has the jokes, the perfect comedic timing, certainly some weird characters, but memorable nonetheless, and it's just a generally really, really good time. The cast is iconic, and there are a ton of one-liners, like I keep saying, that you can reference. And I think that that's something that tells you that they were spitting fire in that writer's room and they had no care in the world. It was just really telling of the times. And there are scenes, even that I think are absolutely hilarious. They're gonna stick with you. It's its own meta horror, about its own franchise. And I find that to be so brave and so good because it just kind of breaks the mold. We're kind of just talking about what we already know. And for God's sake, it's literally a doll times two now. It's gonna be a good time. There's no need to take it seriously. And I think that that's what makes Chucky, just as an IP, really, really great and singular, at least to me. I think that ultimately Chucky and Tiffany may not be the couple goals you want to be, but they're certainly the ones that you love to see. And that chemistry is insane. I mean, to this day, people still are dressing up as Chucky and Tiffany. I mean, the merchandise and the references and everything, the looks, it's just withstood the test of time, right? And I think that there was a really great decision made when they decided to kind of take the Bride of Frankenstein and kind of apply it here. I love this movie. I think it's so much fun. And again, like you said, Chris, where this ends up going just gets zanier and zanier, and I'm here for it. So of course, this is a slash for me.

Sean 19:41

Yeah, I mean, come on. Like I love Bride of Frankenstein, I love campy horror. When you mix the two, it really can't get much better of a vibe than that. I completely forgot just how much fun Bride of Chucky is. I remembered, you know, the basic premise. I remembered Tiffany, I remembered Chucky being hilarious, but watching it again after years and years, I was literally laughing pretty much the entire film. I think this movie is just an absolute blast. The biggest question is whether this campy, wise-cracking version of Chucky is actually better than the more serious horror of the original child's play movies. And I don't know that I would say it's scarier because it's not that it's scarier, but it might just be more entertaining, to be quite honest with you. And I think Chucky has completely embraced being literally a little shit. Tiffany is absolutely fantastic. The jokes are flying throughout the whole movie, the kills are creative, they're bloody, they're genuinely just fun to watch. And literally, can we just talk about how much more grotesque Chucky gets as this franchise goes on and on? And he starts to look like someone took a good guy doll, threw it into a wood chipper, and then literally gave it some anger issues and spat it out. And like somehow it just makes him more fun. It just adds to the the bit that each movie that goes on. And I think the practical effects, the animatronics are still absolutely top-notch. They still work, they still hold up today. Chucky and Tiffany actually feel alive with the personality they bring, and I think seeing what they were able to accomplish with those puppets in 1998 is seriously impressive, to be honest with you. Ultimately, I think Bride of Chucky is one of those rare sequels that completely changes the tone of a franchise and somehow still makes it work. And if you if you want the creepy, suspenseful, you know, killer doll from the original, you might you might be a little bit disappointed, but I really don't think you would be if you're willing to embrace the camp, the comedy, the ridiculousness, and just two murderous dolls in this toxic relationship. This thing is ridiculously entertaining. So I'm definitely giving Bride of Chucky a slash. It's bloody, it's hilarious, it's completely bonkers, and honestly, Chucky and Chucky. Tiffany has some serious doll chemistry that you just can't ignore. I think this movie may be a little bit twisted, but damn, they really know how to make a killer couple.

Kris 22:09

So well said, Sean. And with that, Bride of Chucky has earned a universal slash. Now we're gonna take a quick break, and when we return to the spoiler zone, we're gonna get into the kills, Chucky and Tiffany's relationship, if you can call it that, and the Bride of Frankenstein connections. We'll see you in a bit.

Sean 22:42

That's right, today we're talking about something every sexually active doll needs to know. Rubber protects plastic. Now, we know what you're thinking. I'm a doll. I'm made of plastic. What could possibly go wrong? Well, children, have you seen what happens when you let a certain good guy doll get lucky? That's right, one night of unprotected passion can lead to nine months of doll liveries. Sleepless nights, and potentially the birth of another homicidal little bastard. Remember, kids, just because you're unconventional doesn't mean you're reproductively invincible. Now, Chucky may be a good guy doll, but that doesn't mean he's making good choices. Chucky has spent years teaching us that knives are dangerous, strangers can be killers, and absolutely nobody should trust a doll that talks back. But today, he's learning one more important lesson. You can pull out a knife, but you can't pull out a whole damn child. Listen, pal, I've been getting lucky since before you were born. And that's precisely the problem, Charles. Condoms help reduce the risk of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. They're a little piece of latex standing between a passionate evening and a lifetime supply of tiny murderers. Think of it this way: Latex today keeps the little splashers away. And remember, condoms aren't just for humans, they're for anyone whose bedroom activities might result in an unexpected sequel. Now, children, babies are wonderful, they're precious, they're adorable, and every baby deserves love, care, and a safe home. But before you decide to start a family, ask yourself three important questions. Can you afford diapers? Are you emotionally prepared to raise a child? Is there any chance your child might inherit daddy's homicidal tendencies and mommy's complete disregard for human life? Because sometimes the stork brings a little something extra. Remember, family planning isn't about stopping love, it's about making sure you're ready for the consequences of it. Because the only thing scarier than a killer doll is a killer doll with a college fund. This educational film was brought to you by the Good Guys and Gals Health Initiative, proudly reminding sexually active dolls everywhere don't be a dummy, wrap your chummy. Yeah, I mean, let's get into it because the kills are inventive in this movie. They're fun. The movie gets a lot of mileage out of Chucky's size, specifically. He can't simply overpower people, which we all know. So the kills frequently involve using the environment, setting traps, or exploding people's assumptions about him, which I think is great. And there's so many fun kills in this movie. I don't know which one stood out to you, but I think you know the list goes on and on in this movie.

Kris 25:54

I mean, I kind of want to just start. It wasn't the first kill in the movie, but I think the one that made me laugh the hardest before we get to the real meat and potatoes of this of this film, and that was Damien because he was such a simp for Tiffany. You have this guy who can't even work up the nerve, he's just a poser. He's pretending to have killed someone and doesn't even cover it up enough because she clocks his fucking painted nails in the photo. But the whole and okay, we talked about how horny this movie is. The foreplay of this scene, him honestly, like just teasing Chucky and being a complete dick to him. Chucky, he's so 80s, he's not even scary. And just antagonizing him along the way while Tiffany sets him up as well. It was everything that you need to make his death all the more satisfying when he finally goes. And it's not enough that they just kill him, it's that Chucky sits on him, smothers him, so he's suffocated, and then he's just talking shit about him the entire time. It is just fucking diabolical.

SPEAKER_05 27:07

A toy sitting on a pillow, and that's how you go is absolutely hilarious. Listen, I uh it was the jaw drop at the beginning when I realized, like, oh my god, Alexis Arquette is in this damn movie. Rest in peace. Another cast member of this incredible ensemble, Lost Too Soon. I literally was like, girl, you're in this movie. And Damien's look already is just it's just peak 98. It's just peak fucking Chucky. Of course, you would have a kill like that played out in that manner. It reminded me of Friday the 13th and all these other like Freddy movies that we love to explore. It's just a great moment. What a great way to tone set.

Kris 27:49

Yeah, and it's also because it it establishes their relationship because they have this shared indifference that there's a man literally dying in front of them.

Sean 28:00

Yeah, it's yeah, it's the play on like their toxic relationship, but the disregard for like not giving a shit about killing anybody around them or making it just so nonchalant, which I think adds to the bit. But what I also loved about that kill was like later when they're fighting, and then she goes to lay down in bed, and his body is still lifeless in the bed, and she's just like curling up, comforted, like just getting into bed and being upset and just being totally okay with it. Amazing.

Kris 28:28

But it's all fun and games until she's the one getting got.

Sean 28:31

I know it's true. And I mean, what a fun way to go, you know, the classic television in the bathtub. I mean, we were waiting for it. We were waiting for something to happen. You knew as soon as you locked that little guy up and he found his way out, something was gonna go down.

Kris 28:48

Sean, you gotta take us there though, because obviously there's a lot to be said about this death in particular. There's the fact that she's watching Bride of Frankenstein, and there's a parallel. Take us through.

Sean 28:59

Yeah, I mean, you're I mean, that's exactly what we're looking at, right? Like we we have the classic Bride of Frankenstein movie playing in the background. She's there waiting and taking a bath, not knowing what's going on, oblivious. Chucky comes in, you push the TV in, it's the electricity. So you've got this whole parallel of there's a lot of themes here, right? The the the themes that call back to Bride of Frankenstein, obviously. You have the electricity, which we know is you know how we resurrect bodies in Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein. You've got the theme of you know, like creating creating a bride against the will of this of Tiffany in this case, and we can say there is a lack, there's a major lack of consent for sure. We know that Chucky's probably a little bit lonely, wants a mate, so you know there may be a little selfishness to this, you know. So yeah, you have that, and then obviously after this, love turns into a disaster, like it probably was when they were together as humans, you know what I mean? And so, like you see all of these, you see all of these themes, and then obviously what I just said, now I'm just thinking of it. The bride, which is now you know, the bride of Chucky becomes the movie's defining image, which is literally what we're looking at, right? Like now, and that's exactly what I said. I finished this movie, and all I could think about was Tiffany, not Chucky.

Kris 30:24

Yeah, it's true. But I think there's also something interesting there because at least in the Bride of Frankenstein, she is created uh out of this like really fucked up desire for there to be a mate, and you have the monster, the creature who was so often feeling like unloved and unwanted. And Frank and quite frankly, Chucky's desire to have a mate was not the reason why he killed Tiffany. He killed Tiffany because he was a petty little bastard and really wanted to just get his lick back.

Sean 30:54

Vengeful.

Kris 30:56

Exactly. But then that petty like kickback then turns into lust when he realizes that she looks hot as a doll, which is also fucking weird. It it works out perfectly for them, but for the thing that creates life to be the thing that takes life and then also really ground it in the difference of of why she was even created, I think it just really sets like the stage very nicely for what's to come in this movie.

Sean 31:21

100%. Yeah. I mean, you could probably guess there's a there's another kill that I enjoyed a lot. I'm not necessarily being thematically tied to any classic callbacks, but from just a pure fun kill when we have when we have Warren getting nailed, literally nailed in the face. I mean, what a fun, fun death. Literally nailed, like how many nails? I don't know, driven into his face. Well, actually, I lied, it is a callback to to Hellraiser. There was a little one-liner in there that that called back to Hellraiser. So I think this movie is just filled with so many fun little lines, so many nods, so many Easter eggs, so many things that are just so fun to watch. If you are a horror fan, this movie is just a fun movie for you, and the kills add to it.

SPEAKER_05 32:12

Another one, R.I.P. John Ritter. I mean, I was actually a little surprised when he was gone so soon. I I didn't recall that, of course, but it also reminded me that later on we would have Final Destination 3 and that kill, right? So it just kind of goes to show you that even with like the through line of nails to the face, that kill is gonna re be revisited very soon.

Kris 32:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 32:35

But there, but that one is a good one. I mean, also because man, that is a character that again we'll get into later, but I'm sure I I just felt like that's some weird, weird tension, weird innuendos, weirdness, period. Question mark. He's gotta go.

Kris 32:52

Not mine, Jack Tripper.

Sean 32:54

A hundred percent. A hundred percent. Obviously, the the honeymoon suite kill is classic. I mean, just the I mean, this is classic Chucky using his surroundings obviously to to help him out in these situations, and or Tiffany, uh, I think actually smashes the champagne bottle into the mirror ceiling and sending glass crashing down onto Russ and Diane. So, like, what a great kill for a double kill, to be honest with you.

SPEAKER_05 33:24

Listen, Tiffany is a smart woman, she's resourceful and she gets it done, and she gets it done quick. Is she crazy?

Sean 33:33

I think you know, as this is going on, Chucky's like falling more and more in love. Like, oh my god, look at this, you know, look at the craft of this woman.

SPEAKER_05 33:42

Oh, absolutely, absolutely, without a doubt in my mind. I thought of when the water like spurting out, it reminded me of Nightmare on Elm Street, and just like overall, just like the blood flowing out everywhere, the water mixing. It's just so gross all around. It's chaotic as hell. But I loved the cameo that happens when they're discovered by my hocus pocus queen. That was very awesome. I was like, Jesus Christ, this movie really like whether I liked it or not, this subliminally like was meant for me.

Sean 34:12

It's fantastic. You gotta love it for sure.

Kris 34:16

Okay, so I really just had to look something up. And and there isn't an exact answer here, but Bings, if you had to assess what sign you think Tiffany Valentine is, what would it be?

SPEAKER_05 34:32

Interesting. Maybe like a cancer or like a Gemini, perhaps.

Sean 34:38

Gemini is a good one.

SPEAKER_05 34:40

Yeah, very smart. Well, like, you know, it's more like analytical, but very passionate people.

Sean 34:47

Sure. Calculated craziness.

SPEAKER_05 34:50

They don't like to be tied down a bit, you know. She was very like a step above or a step ahead type way. I and I and cancers are romantics as well, so that's why I'm also thinking maybe a cancer, but I don't know. What what does the internet say? I could be very off base. Well, it's Scorpio, that's just because it that I don't even believe, because that's just because she wears all black, and that's like uh that's that's couldn't even be closest to the truth. Because Tiffany would have just basically killed that doll instantly. Instantly.

Kris 35:18

Okay, well, let's first acknowledge that Jennifer Tilly is a Virgo. She's born September 16th, 1958.

SPEAKER_05 35:24

She sure is.

Kris 35:25

Now that I knew. But Tiffany Valentine, according to child's play lore, is born sometime within November to December 1967.

SPEAKER_05 35:35

Oh, so a Scorpio. Yeah, but yeah, I don't oh yeah, that's it.

Kris 35:39

But no, November to December, that could be Sagittarius.

SPEAKER_05 35:42

Oh, I guess true. Oh, good true. Okay, which fire.

Kris 35:46

Shout out to Shigles in the chat who predicted Scorpio.

SPEAKER_05 35:49

God, I mean no, that sounds like oh, she wears all black, so let's just say she's a Scorpio. There's there's more to it, guys. There's more to it.

Sean 35:58

Well, so there's a lot that goes on in this movie, right? There's a lot of other random deaths, not as eventful as we get towards the end of the film when we get, you know, the final showdown between Chucky and Tiffany and everyone. And Chucky gets shot a few times. He does a little one-liner, you know, dying hurts or sucks or whatever, and we get that going on, but Tiffany gets it pretty bad. She's literally burned in the RV, she's beaten with a shovel, I think ultimately stabbed through the chest by Chucky. There's a lot going on here. She took she took a pretty good beating by the end of this movie.

Kris 36:36

You know, did she deserve it? I don't know that she did. I mean, I guess she I mean, who am I to say that, right? She's a fucking serial killer, so of course she did. But the beating that she takes and where she ends up as a character only makes me even more upset that we didn't get her earlier into this franchise. So there is like the devastation of her and what she experiences, then obviously with the end of this movie. But I really just want to shout out uh what I think is the most consequential uh part of this movie, and that was the sheer puppeteering of Chucky and Tiffany. And did you know that right now you can buy a life-size Chucky and Tiffany?

Sean 37:19

That's fun.

Kris 37:20

Yeah, I'll drop a link in the show notes. So if you are trying to be an owner, a purveyor of the Chucky and Tiffany combo, don't worry. You're you're fucking lucky to have the opportunity in front of you right now, thanks to the internet.

Sean 37:35

You know, if I had the space, I'd collect 'em.

Kris 37:38

I think I have a little bit of space, but I don't love Chucky that much. I mean, this is a great fucking movie. I don't love Chucky that much because I'm gonna feel really bad for not buying Glen.

Sean 37:49

I mean you can always get Glenn later.

Kris 37:52

I don't want Glenn.

Sean 37:53

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_05 37:55

Glenn is cursed. Now that that doll is cursed looking.

Sean 38:00

I hear ya. I hear ya. But you know what? I think that this movie, I just have to, you know, as I always do, I just have to give it up for these practical effects because I think honestly the effects work, the effects that that they did in this movie, I think it's one of the strongest production elements. I think that you the movie was made at a point when I think, you know, CGI was definitely becoming more common, but the filmmakers still put an enormous, enormous amount of work into making Chucky and Tiffany physical tactile characters. Um, the Kevin Jaeger productions handled the Chucky and Tiffany puppet effects, which is really great. The animatronics are probably definitely just the star of the production. For for Chucky alone, the production reportedly built nine different puppets with different versions designed for different movements and shots, and each doll could require seven puppeteers plus a computer playback operator and puppet coordinator. So, just thinking of all the work that went into just making these things come to life, and the facial animation was uh especially sophisticated. Three puppeteers controlled the facial features through radio-controlled mechanisms while other puppeteers handled the body movements through cables. I mean, that's just why Chucky and Tiffany can actually act with their faces, you know. Like when we're actually getting some of those facial movements, which really is sometimes subtle. You're maybe you're not processing it, but it adds to the realism of what you're seeing. And I think you get those subtle reactions, the smirks, the anger, the confusion, all of that stuff that make them feel like characters rather than just puppet. That material change was important. The dolls looked so good in this movie.

Kris 39:50

I also, though, want to shout out Ed Gale and Debbie Lee Carrington, who both were in-suit performers scenes where the animatronics couldn't cut it. So just a note here Ed Gale, who played Chucky, a veteran stunt performer who stood at four feet four inches, and then Debbie Lee Carrington stood at three feet ten inches. Highly accomplished actress and stunt woman, also started in Return of the Jedi. So it wasn't just the puppeteering folks.

Sean 40:24

Yeah, it's true. You gotta give it up to to Ed and Debbie for sure. But yeah, a lot of great work in this movie to bring all this to life. Just think about it. Just think about it.

Kris 40:34

Okay, we also had, I mean, this just in, uh, Sean from your boy Pin Squid in the chat. I believe this was the last film that the original puppeteer for Chucky did. Also, the lead puppeteer for Chucky is the same puppeteer for the Cryptkeeper in Tales of the Crypt.

Sean 40:49

That's true.

Kris 40:50

Shout out to that being the better Crypt Keeper because apparently now he looks terrible.

Sean 40:55

Like straight up, fuck the new Crypt Keeper. It just looks so weird. It looks so weird. I'm not even gonna say what I think it looks like because it's not appropriate, but it just doesn't look right.

Kris 41:06

Savage. Sean, who has said all manner of inappropriate things on this show, still will not tell you what he thinks of the Crypt Keeper.

Sean 41:14

I won't. This is where he draws the line. I'm very upset about it. I was very excited to hear that we were gonna get the Crypt Keeper hosting and doing stuff in Shudder this month, and then I started seeing snippets of the new Crypt Keeper, and they can keep that fucking thing back in a crypt because I don't want to see it.

SPEAKER_05 41:33

That's incredible. Incredible. Man, I don't know. These dolls are incredible, and I just feel like I can't imagine owning life-size ones in my home because as much as I love the camp and the look on the movie screen, okay, in real life, I don't know. That's where we start to get a little bit too much for me. That's where we start to get a little bit too scary. One fucking move, and I'm running out of my house. So I love how realistic it looks in the movie. So much so that as a kid, I was looking at my dolls twice. My American girl doll, I was looking at twice. I was like, Don't you dare bat an eye, girl. We're gonna have problems, you and I.

Sean 42:20

The dolls, the dolls.

Kris 42:22

Also, just brace for shock here because we're doing Bride of Chucky this week and then next week we've got Annabelle.

Sean 42:28

Well, we're just we're just an on-the-doll kick right now, for sure.

Kris 42:32

Hell yeah. I want to go see Robert the doll just for shits and giggles now.

Sean 42:35

Man, we gotta make that drive. Listen, we have to bring up, I mean, we've talked about it a little bit, but we have to bring up some of the big horror Easter eggs that are in this movie, and I gotta imagine just at the beginning of this movie, Chris. Come on, you had to have been eaten that up.

SPEAKER_05 42:55

Yeah, I was thinking of you specifically when I saw that mask. I was like, wait a minute.

Kris 42:59

Listen, who doesn't love fucking slasher Easter eggs within slasher movies? This is exactly why I love Behind the Mask the Rise of Leslie Vernon so much because it lives and acknowledges it's in a world in which all this shit is real. So fuck yeah, I loved it, Sean. Fuck yeah.

Sean 43:18

It's so good. It's like the it was it made no sense, but it's like the slasher hall of fame or the horror hall of fame. You had like the the Michael Myers mask from Halloween, you had Jason's mask in there, you had the chainsaw from Leatherface, you had Freddy's glove, you had the creep show crate, you had the you know, puppet master puppets floating in there. Like there was so much to pull out of that one scene, it was just so good. It was so good. I loved it.

SPEAKER_05 43:47

It was a perfect again commentary of the meta of it all. I was just gold, pure gold. It made no sense, and I loved every second of it.

Sean 43:58

So good. I loved it. I loved it. It there was so many things. We talked about the Hellraiser reference, obviously, which was great. We talked about the DNA of Bride of Frankenstein, but Damien as a character, we had like the omen reference hidden in his name, like obviously Damien being the Antichrist child, but Mrs. Baylock, his last name, Baylock, Mrs. Baylock, his satanic nanny. I mean, it doesn't get better than throwing some of that at us for fun. You even get the exorcist callback when Chucky turns his head completely backwards and getting that whole callback. Truth be told, there's even a really great callback to the original child's play when Tiffany enters the motel room and Russ and Diane are having sex. The camera movement, the way that she approaches the room, mirrors a shot from the original child's play where Chucky moves like out of Andy's room and past Maggie and going through it. Just the subtleties in that I think was just fun.

SPEAKER_05 44:58

I feel like not a lot of people realize how many little Easter eggs to just the horror genre as a whole live in this film. At least I certainly didn't. And I feel like for something like this, I'm like, man, you would almost think it's almost like Scream or like Wes Craven is involved to some capacity because of because of that, right? Like even the lines that are said and just like the overall dynamic of the characters, everything is just so like reminiscent of the genre. Whether and like several different subgenres, I should say, specifically, that it's almost like, man, Wes Craven must have fucking loved this movie somehow, or maybe been involved, fucking ate it up, I would hope. Just seems very adjacent to him, I guess. But to me, I have to call out specifically the transformation scene of Tiffany, okay? Talk about a girl's awakening. Talk about like you want to start the morning right and feel like a badass bitch. Just watch that scene, girl. At a time like today, at a time like now, watch a scene like that. And just like the way look, I don't even like cigarettes, all right? But somehow, why is it that a doll smoking a cigarette after that badass montage feels so fucking cool, man? What?

SPEAKER_00 46:21

1998, it was cool.

Kris 46:23

Oh my god, no, no, no, not the peer pressure.

SPEAKER_00 46:27

It was so cool back then, you know?

Kris 46:29

Yeah, that's okay. That's why you had smoking sections in restaurants back then, Binks. Because of Tiffany.

SPEAKER_05 46:35

God, no, I I I hate to say it. I'm the first one to be like yuck, but but I got I gotta be real. I gotta be honest.

Kris 46:42

It's Tiffany Valentine and the Marlborough man.

SPEAKER_05 46:45

Neck and neck, neck and neck, and blondie, man. The soundtrack is crazy, but Blondie too, oh, a work of art. Put it in the Louvre.

Sean 46:55

It's very good. It's very good. It's a great scene. I also really love just the the whole ritual aspect that where Tiffany's trying to bring Chucky back to life, or you know, she successfully does, but doesn't think so at first. But it's probably one of the it's probably one of, if not the essential scene in the movie, obviously. But you have the gothic atmosphere, you've got the spooky vibes, you've got the you you're getting the start of the the Bride of Frankenstein homage going into her death, but the performance, Chucky's return, the whole thing, the shift toward comedy, I think the obsession with him and just Chucky immediately being an asshole is perfect. You know what I mean? And I just think it feels like the moment that Bride of Chucky announces like we're not making another child's play, we're literally making this movie.

Kris 47:45

Man, there's so much good in here to sink your teeth into. And uh, you've both shared some really, really specific and great moments, but I have to say, just in retrospect, I'm actually looking here at another horror movie that was a rom-com, and that was hard eyes. And I'm just stunned now. I remember watching Hard Eyes and thinking, wow, how has this not been done before? I can't believe dumbass me forgot that Bride of Chucky was a fucking thing. Because there's so many moments in here that do lend themselves clearly into rom-com territory. I love it so much because while, yes, it's a parody of that, it also takes us through so many phases of relationships. You have reunion, you have disappointment romantically, renewed attraction, intimacy, domestic conflict, disillusionment with all the structure of the doll story. I also really love that the movie really highlights and underscores throughout so many little moments, especially with Tiffany acknowledging at long lust that they belong dead. Their compatibility as killers doesn't mean they belong together. And you can have chemistry with a person, and it doesn't mean that they're actually your person. And if why the fuck is a movie about dolls sending me that deep of a message?

Sean 49:11

Speaking of deep messages, I don't think we can go on without talking about or acknowledging the sex scene. Because listen, I'm not gonna say that it's you know it's necessarily a great scene, but it is one of the most absurdly memorable moments in the entire franchise. The fact that the filmmakers actually committed to making Chucky and Tiffany have sex is peak bride of Chucky.

Kris 49:40

John, I cannot believe you use me saying deep as the transition into this.

SPEAKER_03 49:46

Exactly. Exactly.

Sean 49:47

I had to take that moment. I had to take that opportunity. I mean, not that deep, they're just little plastic dolls, but you know, can't be that big.

SPEAKER_03 49:54

Can't be that it's gotta be kind of shallow. I mean, how far in there can you go? Okay, we're done.

Kris 50:01

Welcome back to Hacker Slash After Dark, ladies and gentlemen.

SPEAKER_00 50:04

Oh, the comedy.

SPEAKER_05 50:05

I'm just going back to the sponsor. That that was insane, man. That was crazy. That was crazy.

Sean 50:11

But yeah, it's like taking it, it's like taking it there because I just watching this back after even just years, I just, you know, I I I should have known it was coming, but it when it happened, I was like, I know the windows are here. Uh I was just like, this is so absurd. It's so ridiculous that this is happening. It's funny, it's bizarre, it's uncomfortable, it's it's listen, it's weirdly romantic, just like I said. It's just a little bit strange. And I think it's it's a memorable moment.

SPEAKER_05 50:39

It's the fact that it's a shadow, right? Like just the sheet, a shadow. It's they didn't miss a mark. It was just the most I mean, some could argue is this like the equivalent of romance in terms of like sense and sensibility. You know what I'm saying? Like this is just the the romance was there. Also the toxicity, also the situation ship of it all. There's so much to unpack. There's so much to unpack. And that sex scene really just is the tip of the iceberg.

Kris 51:09

Speaking of toxic relationships, when you talk about sense and sensibility, let's just throw it back to Wuthering Heights.

SPEAKER_05 51:15

Oh God, you know what? That should have been the one. But yeah, fuck sons and sensibility. Wuthering Heights is probably the equivalent in terms of Briden Chucky and Jane Austen, obviously. Or sorry, Bronte. That's crazy, crazy. Look, I just I was here for a good time, and then the sex scene happened, and I was like, oh, this is diabolical, and I kind of love it. I shouldn't really love this. And I also watched this at six years old.

SPEAKER_00 51:41

Yeah, you're like right over my head.

Kris 51:44

Listen, it's not a slasher movie if there isn't a sex scene. You just didn't expect it to be with toys.

Sean 51:50

Yeah, that's true.

Kris 51:52

Although, to be fair, I think a lot of people were probably doing that with their Barbies and Ken's back in the day. You know, you know, you start learning about things, you start playing with toys. I don't know. I didn't really do that, but I heard some people did. Thanks for me.

SPEAKER_05 52:08

Yeah, I was gonna say we could just say me, that's fine. That's all right.

Kris 52:12

No, I didn't do it in the Sims.

Sean 52:14

Yeah.

Kris 52:15

Yeah.

Sean 52:16

Oh goodness. We've dove a lot into Chucky and Tiffany as characters, but you have something, Chris?

Kris 52:24

I do have something, Sean. While we have spoken at length about Tiffany and Chucky, I'd be remiss to not highlight that this movie gives us the Chucky and Child's Play franchise its first explicitly gay character.

SPEAKER_05 52:41

Amen. Amen. Let's talk about it. Listen, I love it. He might be the best character aside from Tiffany and Chucky.

Kris 52:50

He gave a little Lance Bass energy, but that's fine. Okay, so obviously, this is uh the character David. We first meet David when he is allegedly taking Jade out, and then you reveal that it's just a scam. He's just covering up for a friend. And it's one thing to be a figure skater on a scholarship who's trying to pass a straight to take her out. And you hear how he tries to like macho up his voice in some moments, but it's also the fact that we later get a little insight into David's love life and what it was like the last time that he was talking to someone or seeing someone, and I I didn't realize it then, but damn, how important was it for me as a young gay kid to watch a movie and see a out and and very clearly gay character. Granted, he gets wrecked, so not the best time. It does fall very heavily into bury your gaze, but for a franchise to introduce this in the 90s, and then we see where this franchise ends up, and we think of like even the Chucky TV series and how important queer stories have become to this franchise. It's pretty significant.

Sean 54:06

I mean, it is unfortunate how he died though.

SPEAKER_05 54:10

Oh, don't remind me.

Sean 54:12

It is unfortunate. I mean, we knew it was common getting hit by the truck, but it was unfortunate for sure.

SPEAKER_05 54:18

Oh, he's so good. I honestly loved every single moment that he was on screen because he reminded me of like I guess the viewer in a sense, as you're watching the movie, at least like me. Like, I feel like I would be in a similar situation where I'm trying to like handle both of my best friends being absolutely diabolical. When he is like on the phone with like, yeah, it's probably him, and then with the other one, yeah, it's probably him. And then being in the car, always in the middle, he's just so funny. He always it was a good bit for sure. It was a great bit when he's in the car and he sees the body in the in the van, he's like, Oh, wait, I got it wrong.

Sean 54:58

Yeah, he got it wrong, he realizes so funny. Oh my gosh, it is good. It he brought a lot of good humor to the movie for sure. Just how he like just the dynamic and relationship between the two, and just giving them the same information, like you said, like literally on the phone with them, saying, Oh, yeah, yeah, you know, on your side, on their side, just playing both sides, which I thought was hilarious with the with the friendship. There were some really great characters. I think obviously Chucky, probably probably one of the biggest uh evolutions in the franchise so far, going from just this terrifying supernatural killer hiding inside a child's toys to essentially this foul mouth serial killer comedian of sorts. But introducing Tiffany just it was a great it was a great addition to this movie, instead of you know, not just this gimmick, but instead a really a legitimate character, just really one of the funniest things is that she's arguably more emotionally complicated than Chucky, which I think is great. It was just, I don't know. I had a really good time with all of the characters in this movie. I think Chucky and Tiffany together specifically made this movie what it is.

Kris 56:05

This movie just goes to show that behind every male serial killer there's a female character who is infinitely more interesting and will upstage him in his own movie. Amen.

Sean 56:15

Yeah, I mean that's very true. But the question is watching this one, you know, and I think that there's probably a pretty good divide, but when you watch Bride of Chucky, right, and you see where this this franchise goes, like, are you now like is there a split between Child's Play and Chucky? Like, are you a Child's Play fan? Are you a Chucky fan? Is there both can you be can you respect both sides? It probably you could, but like, where do you land after watching this? Like, that's the question. Do you feel like you enjoyed what child's play did? Some people think child's play was boring until Chucky.

SPEAKER_05 56:51

Well, I think they're just two entirely different movies. Like we're comparing apples to fucking tomatoes and in the sense that, yeah, similar. They're both red, they both got Chucky, but they're different tastes, they're different, you know, like fucking fruits and vegetables and things. I don't know. I just feel like it's just different. It's different, different sense of humor, different motives, like genres, even in terms of like the camp of it all, and maybe child's play camp in the sense that yes, it's a doll, sure, but it I think it feels like a little has a bit more of a serious tone at times. Granted, I mean, I I watched Child's Play, I believe it was about a year, maybe two ago, like more recently than I have Bride of Chucky, that's for sure. But when I think on both films, they just feel so worlds apart to an extent that it's kind of hard to say which one's better or which one's not. It's just like, what's your like flavor, right? Like, what's the mood that you're in today?

Kris 57:47

Well, all I'll say is I've seen all the child's play movies, and I haven't seen all the Chucky movies. I have tried so many times to watch Cult of Chucky, and I fall asleep every time. And I think it's a me problem. I'm not actually dissing the movie because I remember it's starting in a way that I found interesting, but I I've gotta I've gotta get back into it. And I can't wait for us to get into the rest of this franchise. But I mean, there is a divide between the two. I think I just respect both. I can see why people would say it's boring, at least like the trials play side. I think it's a more serious tone. And when you have serious Chucky versus goofy fucking prime time Chucky, I think it's it's pretty obvious who's gonna go where. And I think actually, for me personally, uh one of the worst things about this movie is the fact that it has such a steep veer off of a fucking cliff in its next entry. And I say this fully recognizing that I haven't seen that movie since it came out. So I am excited to be an aged adult person with complex thoughts and experiences to see where Seed of Chucky takes us next.

SPEAKER_05 59:05

I am right there with you, actually. I have not seen that movie since about around the time that it came out as well. But boy oh boy, when I saw that ending, I said, Oh, that's right. Not only did this absolutely go balls to the wall in the last second, but we waited six years to get what happens next. That's some diabolical shit right there. To have somebody wait to see what the fuck's gonna happen next after six years, considering like, okay, one thing to bring to have the dolls alive, but a baby? A baby.

Sean 59:39

It's wild. It's wild. I actually think that I saw Seed of Chucky not that long ago, oddly enough. I don't remember why, but I remember just being on. I don't remember if I watched the whole movie, but I feel like I've revisited that one more like more recently than I re now revisited Bride of Chucky before watching it. But you know, if I'm reflecting back on the movie, if you know, a worse part for me, I don't really know. I think that maybe the biggest problem is that despite like not that it despite that you know there's still a lot of characters that you can really have fun with. I think they all add some element of entertainment and different things to the movie. But I think every time the movie completely goes away from Chucky and Tiffany, I just find myself wanting to get back to those characters. So maybe that's that's it, but you know, that's kind of it seems silly, also, because that is what the movie is about. So I don't know.

Kris 1:00:37

Yeah, I mean that's fair. There's in a moment in a movie where you have Jennifer Tilly playing Tiffany Valentine, and you're left to look at Catherine Heigel a few times and follow a B plot. I mean, it's not bad, right? But also let's bring the focus back to where it should be, because you cannot have Jennifer Tilly given the performance of a lifetime and then just stick us with Jade and Jesse. But that's neither here nor there. Despite my own umbrage with them, this movie is still deeply rewatchable, and I feel like it's uh it's borderline criminal that I haven't watched it more in my lifetime. I it's been way too long since my last viewing, and I I know I just gave Jesse and Jade some some jabs there, but they still have a fucking solid angle in this movie. The comedy still holds up, the Frankenstein connections still give me something you to appreciate, so I'm gonna make sure that the next rewatch I do doesn't take as long as it did this last time.

Sean 1:01:38

It's true, yeah. It's just a fun movie. I forgot how fun it was. I said that multiple times in this episode. I definitely think this is a movie you can watch over and over again and just have a good time. It's just so fun. There's so many jokes, there's so many Easter eggs, there's just it's just entertaining. It's a great, like I mean, you know, there's a lot of crazy shit that happens in this movie, so it's obviously weird to say it's just a lighthearted good time.

SPEAKER_05 1:02:03

Lighthearted is the word, absolutely, and I feel like I never want to go this long from seeing this movie again. It's a blast, absolutely. And we were just talking about it. Seat of Chucky, I need to see it immediately. I must. I think I've I've started the wave and now I need to see it through to the end. I'm gonna watch all of them if I can, right? With the time that we have left for the Halloween season. And if not, fuck it. Going into November, I just feel like I need the humor and I need the ridiculousness. And this is the kind of humor that I can depend on to enjoy or at least have a good time making fun of. So it's gonna be watched.

Kris 1:02:42

Well, I can't wait to see how this movie continues to age like fine wine upon its rewatch. But there you have it, folks. Bright of Chucky has earned a universal slash here tonight. And while we certainly had a robust discussion, the conversation doesn't end here by any means.

Sean 1:02:56

Yeah, I mean, if you had a good time listening to this episode, you wanted to get a peek behind the doors of our Twisted Doll House and find out how you can go further than this episode, consider supporting the show by visiting patreon.com/slash hackerslash. This is honestly where you can enjoy even more of the show, including bonus content with early access, extended episodes with our B sides, which are free sides for the spooky season. Uh, you'll also get to take part in movie nominations and just like we're doing right now, live shows.

Kris 1:03:29

See you next time, folks, and remember, it ain't the size that counts, it's what you do with it.

Sean 1:03:35

Who the fuck is Martha Stewart?

Kris 1:03:46

Okay, I have been dying to dive into this B-side topic here tonight because obviously we have Charles Lee Ray and Tiffany Valentine in the rubber flush, and they are representing a very toxic and unhealthy relationship. And I can't wait to dive into all the toxic and unhealthy relationships that you can conjure up in your memories here tonight. But I want to start with one that I have never fucking understood. And it it it it absolutely infuriates me every single time I see it. Let's pour one now for Sherry Moon's only good fucking performance that she's had, and that was as Deborah Myers in Halloween 2007 because she was shacked up with one Ronnie White, that foul mouth motherfucker, and I I I say this as I'm cursing, right? But he was just such a literal piece of garbage, human waste. What she saw in him, I don't fucking know, but the way he treated her, the way he treated those kids, honestly, I was rooting for Michael to grow up and be a fucking serial killer because that motherfucker had to go.

Sean 1:04:58

That is true. That is a genuine toxic relationship, very terrible. I don't know how they ended up together, but you know, shit happens to the best of us.

SPEAKER_04 1:05:09

Sounds textbook to me.

Sean 1:05:11

Yeah, that's true. That's true. That's a good one, actually. I like that you pulled that one out of there.

Kris 1:05:16

I I obviously go really serious up front. I mean, I could have done with a funny ha ha one, but that one really fucking gets me.

Sean 1:05:24

That's true. We can sit here and and talk about Monster and the Bride, but we already talked about that, right? Like we already talked about the similarities in the in the episode that we just talked about. Okay, here's a classic one Dracula and Mina. Okay. That's a that is a toxic relationship for the fucking ages. Depending on which version you use, right? It gets pretty interesting because you know, Dracula's entire relationship strategy is basically I'm just going to stalk you for centuries, manipulate you, turn you into a vampire, and then call it eternal love.

Kris 1:05:55

Oceans of time to find you, and I've also crossed oceans of your boundaries.

Sean 1:06:00

Yeah, it's the ultimate supernatural we're soulmates red flag right there.

Kris 1:06:05

It's also if I can't have you, no one can.

Sean 1:06:07

It's wild. It's wild.

Kris 1:06:09

This is a real son of a bitch, isn't it?

Sean 1:06:11

I mean, even the romanticized versions of Dracula make it a little bit more interesting because the movie, I think, often frames this obsession as tragic romance. But um, we all, you know, we all know. We all know what's going on there. It's dark, it's horrific.

SPEAKER_05 1:06:28

And then there's, you know, young me just being like, wow, wouldn't that be nice?

Kris 1:06:35

Oh, yes, I could be Mina Hawker.

SPEAKER_05 1:06:38

Of course, Jesus.

Sean 1:06:39

I mean, you know, we, you know, we if you're into it, like, listen, if you want to be a vampire, if you want to be a vampire, like some people might be into that kind of thing. Like, you know, I would be a vampire. Somebody offered me.

SPEAKER_05 1:06:52

Yeah, but that also, we're gonna get to that also, because that's no, all of this is just like again, romanticized for a reason and manipulated to the brains of the young women. I will not have it. I want to highlight a movie that I talk about often and love, and that's Anna and Mark from Possession. Funny enough, one of our listeners, Calista, actually brought it up in the chat before I even said it. So that's how I know that it's a real one. That's just like peak unhinged divorce, though. That's peak psychotic behavior and toxicity. I mean, quite literally self-destructive, bizarre, actual supernatural manifestations as a result of how toxic they are. I mean, it doesn't get crazier than that. R.I.P. Sam Neil. I'm just saying. That's Hall of Fame type stuff, I think, in my opinion. I know you don't, you're not a fan, Chris. I know you're not a fan.

Kris 1:07:47

But should I read the letterbox review that I wrote for that movie? Please do. Okay, buy me some time because I gotta I gotta pull it up real quick. Okay, I got you. I got you. Was it a good, was it, was it a good experience? I wouldn't say so.

SPEAKER_05 1:08:01

No, God, it wasn't even a good experience for me when I watched it with you. But I mean, since then I've watched it several times and I even watched it before. Thank God. It's one of my favorite movies, but I'll I'll bring up another one while we're at it, as far as like masterclass, toxicity, abuse, gaslighting, etc. And that's Adrian and Cecilia from The Invisible Man. What a great movie, man. I rewatched that one recently, and they're fucking nuts. Or he is specifically.

Kris 1:08:27

Okay. My review of possession.

Sean 1:08:30

God, here we go.

SPEAKER_05 1:08:32

It's one sentence.

Kris 1:08:33

June 28th, 2024. It is one sentence. It's one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve words. This is terrible. I can't believe I watched two hours of a guy being cucked. It's fucking terrible.

SPEAKER_05 1:08:48

It's but accurate. But accurate.

SPEAKER_04 1:08:51

But where's the lie?

Kris 1:08:52

Nowhere to be found, as it turns out.

Sean 1:08:55

Amazing. Amazing.

Kris 1:08:58

Okay. I have another one here for you.

Sean 1:09:00

Okay.

Kris 1:09:01

And this is another one that may have have been under the rug a little bit. But I want to throw back to Friday the 13th, 2009. And I you you can see that a lot of my toxicity stems in the thoughts. Trent and Jenna. Trent being the guy who sleeps with another girl and says her tits are stupendous. Jenna being the girl who probably was gonna be the final girl until they decide to fake us out. What a bastard he is. Completely shitty to all of his friends. Is presumably there with Jenna as a girlfriend. And then he literally cheats on her the second she leaves the house.

Sean 1:09:44

Stupendous. I don't know that word. I you know stupendous. I haven't heard it in a long time, so I felt like I had to say it again.

Kris 1:09:53

Maybe since 2009, as it turns out.

Sean 1:09:55

Probably. Maybe, yeah. That's probably true. Stupendous. What a word. Horror is just filled with toxic relationships, like all kinds of weird ones. I mean, I literally just I got on this like little kick and I started like binging psycho and psycho movies. And so Norman Bates and his mother is a toxic relationship for the fucking ages.

SPEAKER_05 1:10:24

If we really want to unpack that. Yeah.

Sean 1:10:26

Yikes, yikes, literally can't escape her even in her death. It's just so crazy.

Kris 1:10:32

Yeah. You're just, you know, you're one fucking day away from being either Jason and Pamela or Norma and Norman.

Sean 1:10:41

So true.

Kris 1:10:42

Here's one. You were talking about Hellraiser earlier. What about Larry is married to Julia, but Julia's fucking around with Uncle Frank?

SPEAKER_05 1:10:53

Yuck, yikes, oh my god. No. All of it. Throw it away.

Kris 1:10:59

Imagine being married and then being so hung up on your husband's brother that you literally will kill people to put him back together.

Sean 1:11:07

I know, right?

Kris 1:11:09

Oh god.

SPEAKER_05 1:11:10

Yeah, you know what? That really is fucked. That's that's next level stuff. That that might actually I mean Tiffany, what she does in Bride of Chucky is one thing because a situationship really can get really can do crazy things to you. But something like that, the brother, yikes, that's some soap opera stuff, which I can kind of respect. I don't know. I'm trying to think of okay, wait. I feel like there were like several toxic relationships this year alone, or at least in the last year, 12 months, we have obsession, obviously. The bone keeper, hold on. We also have keeper. Hello.

Kris 1:11:52

Keeper was fucked. Keeper was fucked. True. Okay, here's why I'm not here's why I'm not clocking obsession. It's like I mentally cannot add this to the list because although it was a toxic relationship, it was more so she had no consent or agency to be in a relationship, and that was just like a fucking entity projection and just like trapping her there. I can't. I I can't I feel like a toxic relationship requires two parties to be like willing and consenting in it, and obsession just ain't it.

SPEAKER_05 1:12:22

You know what? You're absolutely right. I can get behind that. I can get behind that yourself.

Sean 1:12:27

That is that is a fair point for sure. Okay, here's an interesting one because I don't know traditionally or on the surface, not toxic because genuinely they may argue, you may uh also be able to argue that they're one of horror's healthiest couples, but Ed and Lorraine Warren Because listen, they communicate, they support each other, they respect each other, they work together, they risk their lives for each other, they do all of these things. So on it on the surface, they're probably one of Horror's healthiest couples, but they also have a toxic relationship because they they can't stay away from getting involved in this kind of BS that they both like almost die from multiple times.

SPEAKER_05 1:13:09

They literally are putting themselves in harm's way. Most of the time, it's actually Ed, or I guess other times there's it's Lorraine. They take turns, and who wants to get themselves into the fuck around and find out situation?

Kris 1:13:20

Yeah. Okay, scammer no scamming. I will give you two alternatives to your Ed and Lorraine Warren. One, which is time period appropriate, guy in Rosemary Woodhouse, the Rosemary's baby, where he just sells his wife to a cult. Yeah, here you go. But also, if you want to go with like the fuck around and find out, ride or die, we're in it together, and I'm gonna match your level of freak. Pearl and Howard. Oh yeah, oh my god, that girl had something going on, and Howard said, Yeah, don't worry, boo. I got you. I mean, listen, find you someone who loves you as much as Howard loves Pearl, I suppose.

Sean 1:14:03

I know that's true. That's true.

SPEAKER_05 1:14:07

That might be like at top three. You really just like laid it down with that one. I how could I forget Pearl?

Kris 1:14:15

What I've been thinking so much about toxic fucking people and relationships and horror. It's just it's it's been on my mind.

Sean 1:14:22

Yeah, I mean, that is a really actually a really good one to point out because what's fascinating about their dynamic is that in Pearl, right, Howard is like away at war, right? So like you don't really see him in much of Pearl. So basically, she creates this entire fantasy life in his absence, but in X, you know, when their marriage is is just super strange, this combination of like devotion and resentment and weird sexual dysfunction.

Kris 1:14:52

It's uh interesting sexual dysfunction.

Sean 1:14:55

I mean, I don't know, for lack of better words, I guess.

SPEAKER_05 1:14:57

Yeah, no, it's fair, it's fair. I have another one. I mean, we know Midsummer and all that. I want to think about another one. Men, the movie Men, Harper and James.

Kris 1:15:07

Didn't watch it, but the title alone sounds toxic.

SPEAKER_05 1:15:10

Oh my god. That one is a crazy toxicity that is like we're talking, talk about gaslighting partner, talk about someone who like manipulated to such a degree that is quite tragic and very, very dark. It's a very fucked movie, you know, A24 when they were really just doing the weirdest of things. But that one, oh wait, another one that just actually got announced recently. Paranormal Activity, Micah. We just had their anniversary. Fuck that guy.

Kris 1:15:41

Hello, okay. Yeah, Micah, Katie. She begs him for help, and he says, Yeah, I'll I'll film it and I won't take it seriously, and I will make it worse. Yeah, no, fuck that guy.

Sean 1:15:53

Oh my gosh. That guy. Wait, hold on a second. Grace and Ben from Buddy.

Kris 1:15:59

Oh shit. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Two things. On the one hand, absolutely. On the second, were they actually toxic or were they only toxic because Buddy distorted their reality and stole her child and was warping everything?

Sean 1:16:19

That is true. I I did mention, like, we don't know how good their relationship was before because the only glimpse we get when everything was together was happiness.

Kris 1:16:27

That that was a very good call, though, Sean. A very good call. Let me just give you a substitute in case it turns out that they weren't that bad together. Speaking of mediocre men, Sean of the Dead, Sean and Liz. Because Liz, all she fucking wanted was a boyfriend who made effort, and he could barely make a fucking reservation. Absolutely not.

Sean 1:16:52

Oh man.

SPEAKER_05 1:16:52

Kind of right.

Sean 1:16:53

Kind of right. You're right. You're right. Nathan did point out a good one with with the mummy. Yeah, we do have Imotep and Helen, so there is that. That is a good one. You're you got thank you, Nathan.

Kris 1:17:05

Yeah, Imotep actually, yeah. So so Helen, an ox in the moon. Because even like in the genesis of their romance, it was a fucking affair gone wrong.

Sean 1:17:16

And it was just doomed from the start for sure. Man.

Kris 1:17:22

Jack and Wendy. The shining. Of course.

Sean 1:17:25

Of course, yeah. Jack and Wendy. Oh, that is yeah. Ultimate toxic relationship, at least at that moment in their lives.

SPEAKER_05 1:17:34

Yeah, no kidding. I mean, peak charisma, abuser, like vulnerable, like frantic victim. Oh god, makes me want to throw up. I can't. Oh, wait. Speak, I guess in the switch of that, I was just thinking of Rose and Chris from Get Out. Yeah.

unknown 1:17:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:17:52

She's got a little bit of, you know, like again, that's manipulative, but that's also I mean, it's an interesting one, isn't it? Because it wasn't quite toxic, I suppose, before the reveal.

Kris 1:18:02

Okay. So here's what I was just thinking about this, Binks, because I have the same thing about Aaron and Crispin, and you're next. A toxic relationship, again, and this is where we're going back to the previous definition, requires two consenting parties who are like still in this shit, even though it's like fucking bad and everybody knows it's bad. Aaron does not know of Crispin's treachery. And when she is presented with such treachery, he is expired, things are no longer. You know that if they were to continue on after that day, they wouldn't actually be together. Same thing with the Chris and Rose from get out. No fucking way after those events were revealed or she is revealed, would he be sticking with her? Absolutely the fuck not. So I I I struggle with that one because I just feel like it was all good, it was all rosy, uh-huh. But I I don't know that they would have like stayed and subscribed to the toxicity.

SPEAKER_05 1:18:59

That's fair. Which I mean, now when we think of all of the like several films that we've been talking about, I think we've kind of stuck to a particular type of toxicity, but you're right in terms of like the participation, the knowledge that make that does make the difference. Huh.

Sean 1:19:16

Wait, did we bring did we bring up together?

SPEAKER_05 1:19:19

I didn't watch together.

Sean 1:19:21

You didn't watch together, Millie and Tim.

SPEAKER_05 1:19:24

Yeah, no, I I did, I did. Yeah, I guess that is a good thing.

Sean 1:19:26

I mean, it's all it's it's just uh it's literally a a horror movie about codependency and the toxicity of that type of dynamic.

SPEAKER_04 1:19:36

Yeah, that's a good one. That is a that's a pretty good one. Again, I mean to our point.

SPEAKER_03 1:19:41

Wait, what?

Kris 1:19:42

Dave Franco does seem pretty toxic.

SPEAKER_05 1:19:44

Oh, yeah, well, yeah, it's fair enough. Man, what other I'm trying to think of other ones that I kind of really love. Wait, looking at the chat here, I mean, oh, Louis and Lestatin interview with Vampire.

Sean 1:19:57

That's a good one, actually. That's a good call out for sure. I do like that a lot. And then Carrie and her mother is also a good one. Banshee called that one out, it was very good.

Kris 1:20:06

Banshee also called out Rose and Trevor from Smile. Absolutely, yeah. Fuck that guy.

Sean 1:20:13

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:20:14

Oh, yeah. Sorry, I was thinking of Kyle Goldner. I was like, what? I don't see it. What do you mean?

Kris 1:20:20

Okay, how about the descent? You may be thinking, oh, which girls are we talking about? Well, there was the relationship, and again, actor participation, so it's a little it's a little problematic. Sarah and and Juno, because Sarah lost her husband and did not know that entire time that Juno was sleeping with her husband.

SPEAKER_05 1:20:45

Juno can literally go and actually was in the pit of hell. I cannot. Don't take me back there.

Sean 1:20:54

Okay, listen, unconventional option here, but Stu and Billy from Scream.

SPEAKER_05 1:21:00

Yeah, super gay, super canon. I was gonna say that's just hot. What do you mean?

Sean 1:21:05

Super toxic couple.

SPEAKER_05 1:21:07

I live for it.

Kris 1:21:08

Yeah, there's a level of eroticism and proximity there that is undeniable in their chemistry.

SPEAKER_05 1:21:13

Yeah. Damn. We should make like a master list and then we just like really break it down. Break down the levels to the toxicity. We put them in specific categories of the trope in which they like explore this toxicity. I'm just saying, am I doing too much?

Kris 1:21:29

No, I don't think you're doing nearly enough because I think we have to do a ranking then.

Sean 1:21:33

Oh, I mean, we could rank that. But okay, but Maren and Lee from Bones and All?

SPEAKER_05 1:21:39

Wait, hold on. I guess like toxic because of the circumstance though?

Sean 1:21:44

Toxic because they literally are like feeding uh yeah, but but they need to survive.

SPEAKER_05 1:21:51

But I thought that was kind of very romantic.

Sean 1:21:53

But didn't like he introduce her to that, or she introduced him to that, or it was like some weird thing where like they they kind of like involved one of them in Yeah, I think he kind of like probed it, you know? Yeah.

Kris 1:22:06

I am clamoring to fucking read what Banshee just put in our chat. It made me shake the audacity, the nerve to conjure up one of the worst films that has ever displaced the history of our watch parties, and that is what keeps you alive. And those characters are Jackie and Jules. Get the fuck out of here, Jackie and Jules, with if you're your if you're a bird, I'm a bird. I fucking hate both of them. Oh my god. Wow, terrible characters, very toxic.

SPEAKER_05 1:22:43

Who do I need to send the bill for? I need my time back for that movie. That movie, like, infuriates me, just like Juno as a character infuriates me. If you're a bird, I'm a bird. Get the actual fuck out of here. Oh my god. The way that we both like literally shook when we saw that on the chat. I purposely deleted it from my brain.

Kris 1:23:08

What keeps you alive are four words that should never be summoned in the halls of Hackerslash, and yet it's the gift that keeps on giving because it does incite such a response from me.

SPEAKER_05 1:23:20

Yeah, no, without a doubt. And Shiggles actually just mentioned another one that again, I don't know if it's fully horror or if it's thriller or not. I don't believe we've reviewed it yet. Um, it's what's inside. That movie is crazy, and everyone in it is toxic as hell.

Sean 1:23:35

There's just so many options. Now I'm thinking of the lighthouse, that whole dynamic of Winslow and Wake.

Kris 1:23:42

Quimby just wrote Kate and John Coleman from Orphan.

Sean 1:23:46

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:23:47

How could I forget John Coleman? One of the worst men depicted in horror, at the very least. Borderline kind of pedophile. What's happening there? I don't even know. I don't even want to get into it. Oh my god. The couple from the lodge. That movie. Wait. It's time for a rewatch on that one for sure. For sure.

Sean 1:24:08

I'm sure we can keep pulling out couples forever. The toxicity goes on and on.