Chucky TV Review | Common Sense Media

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Parents' Guide to

Chucky TV USA , Syfy Comedy 2021

• Common Sense Says
• Parents Say 13 Reviews
• Kids Say 37 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

By Jenny Nixon , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 16+

Foul-mouthed murder doll series is full of gore and giggles.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Chucky is a series based on the Child's Play horror movie franchise. It pulls no punches when it comes to horror movie violence, though the intensity of the kill scenes is somewhat alleviated by the sheer ridiculousness of these acts being committed by a doll -- it definitely tips…

Why Age 16+? Violence & Scariness

Lots of wild death scenes, blood, and gore -- often played cartoonishly and acco

Language

Profanity is strong and frequent, including "f--k" and "s--t."

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Adults and teenagers are seen drinking and smoking.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Some innuendo, a few make-out scenes.

Products & Purchases Not present Any Positive Content? Diverse Representations

The world this go-round of Chucky takes place in is a fairly progressiv

Educational Value Not present Positive Messages Not present

The cult horror vibe combined with the silliness of Chucky doesn't make for many

Positive Role Models Not present

No one behaves well here.

• Parents Need to Know

  Parents need to know that Chucky is a series based on the Child's Play horror movie franchise. It pulls no punches when it comes to horror movie violence, though the intensity of the kill scenes is somewhat alleviated by the sheer ridiculousness of these acts being committed by a doll -- it definitely tips more toward funny than gross. Still, it is gory, and those with weaker stomachs may be turned off by scenes of people biting into razor-blade packed apples and being electrocuted. Every expletive you can imagine is uttered here ("f--k," "s--t," "a--hole," "bitch," and more.), most often via Chucky himself. Teenagers are seen partying and making out, with allusions to sex. The main character is a sensitive gay teenager who is bullied at school and by his own father, who is shown to have problems with anger and alcohol.

• Violence & Scariness

  a lot

  Lots of wild death scenes, blood, and gore -- often played cartoonishly and accompanied by wisecracks from Chucky.

  Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

  Get started Close

• Language

  a lot

  Profanity is strong and frequent, including "f--k" and "s--t."

  Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

  Get started Close

• Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

  some

  Adults and teenagers are seen drinking and smoking.

  Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

  Get started Close

• Sex, Romance & Nudity

  a little

  Some innuendo, a few make-out scenes.

  Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

  Get started Close

• Diverse Representations

  a little

  The world this go-round of Chucky takes place in is a fairly progressive one. The main character, Jake, is gay and for the most part, this is treated very matter-of-factly. The characters who do have an issue with it (mainly Jake's dad, Luke) are portrayed as out-of-touch and bigoted. Even the maniacal Chucky himself non-judgementally mentions to Jake that he has a gay, nonbinary son (this is actually canon, in the film Seed of Chucky). Additionally, the only adult in town who seems to have a lick of sense is Devon's mom, a Black detective who takes charge when needed and is determined to uncover who is behind Hackensack's crimewave.

  Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update .

• Positive Messages

  none

  The cult horror vibe combined with the silliness of Chucky doesn't make for many real messages, though there is some acceptance and compassion for the main character.

• Positive Role Models

  none

  No one behaves well here.

Where to Watch

Videos and Photos

• ChuckyOfficial trailer
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Chucky

Parent and Kid Reviews

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• Parents Say (13)
• Kids Say (37)

age 15+

Based on 13 parent reviews

AmyKieran Adult February 2, 2022 age 18+

More inappropriate scenes than stated

As mentioned in another review, there is thrusting and moaning of two girls on a bed while Charles watched as well as another almost sex scene with women in underwear does not mention this on common sense. Show more Subject T. Parent of 3-year-old December 18, 2023 age 4+

Chucky is amazing for kids!

Such a great show for kids! Chucky teaches jake and his gang of friends that murder is bad and that we should not do it! And also teaches that suicide and drugs isn't okay. I believe we all should have our children watch Chucky as they will learn what is not and what is okay for kids! Show more See all 13 parent reviews

What's the Story?

CHUCKY marks the return of the eponymous slasher flick villain -- a wisecracking doll possessed by the spirit of slain serial killer Charles "Chucky" Lee Ray (aka the Lakeshore Strangler). In this iteration of the popular horror franchise, the discarded doll is unearthed at a yard sale by outcast teen Jake Wheeler (Zackary Arthur), an aspiring artist who creates sculptures fashioned from vintage toys. He brings Chucky back to the home he shares with his hard-drinking father Luke (Devon Sawa), intending to disassemble and incorporate the murderous moppet into his latest masterpiece. Unfortunately for Jake, Chucky is no ordinary plaything. Soon enough, the innocent-looking but evil toy starts making his way around town and racking up a string of murders that all seem to point back to Jake as the culprit. Things are complicated further when figures from Chucky's past begin showing up, including his former wife, Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly). Meanwhile, black-and-white flashbacks to 1960s Hackensack, New Jersey provide a glimpse into Charles Lee Ray's '60s-era childhood and just what may have gone wrong.

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Is It Any Good?

Our review: Parents say (13 ): Kids say (37 ):

The original Child's Play film spawned six sequels and a 2019 reboot that received mostly mixed reviews; this addition updates the lore for Gen Z yet still feels like a return to form for the mini-murderer. That's due in large part to having Chucky's creator, Don Mancini, back at the helm. Actor Brad Dourif also returns as the voice of Chucky and is as funny as ever, delivering one zinger after another with a distinctively scummy charm.

The rest of the cast is good, even if 90% of the job is teeing up punchlines for Chucky. Arthur is sympathetic as the misunderstood Jake, whose downtrodden sensitivity can make him a little too susceptible to accepting Chucky's idea of "help" (which mainly means killing off anyone in town who wrongs him). Bjorgvin Arnarson is also good as Jake's crushworthy, true-crime obsessed classmate Devon, whose mom (Rachelle Casseus) just so happens to be a detective who is getting mighty suspicious about all the accidents that seem to be following young Wheeler wherever he goes. All told, Chucky's campy mix of satire and slaughter has the potential to draw in new fans while expanding on the Child's Play cinematic universe in ways that longtime fans will surely enjoy.

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Talk to Your Kids About ...

• Families can talk about the way Chucky blends humor and horror. Is this an effective combination? Why might some people enjoy some laughter along with their scares?

• What is it about the character of Chucky that people are drawn to? Why do you think he has endured for so long?

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TV Details

• Premiere date : October 12, 2021
• Cast : Brad Dourif , Zackary Arthur , Devon Sawa , Lexa Doig , Bjorgvin Arnarson , Alex Vincent , Jennifer Tilly , Christine Elise
• Networks : USA , Syfy
• Genre : Comedy
• TV rating : TV-MA
• Last updated : October 9, 2024

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Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Chucky

Suggest an Update

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