After receiving a special toy for his birthday from his mum Karen (Aubrey Plaza), Andy Barclay (Gabriel Bateman) learns that there’s something terribly wrong with the doll and soon their lives are threatened by it’s murderous appetite.

Director Lars Klevberg gets his hands on the killer doll and he has the responsibility of re-imagining this freakish horror film for a whole new generation. And this director doesn’t disappoint with a film that is packed out with originality, violence and plenty dose of comedic hijinks. Where Chucky was once a doll possessed by the spirit of a deceased mass murderer, this brand new concept sees him as a rogue piece of A.I. hardware come to life, possessed with a psychotic need to be the best friend of the young Andy Barclay (Gabriel Bateman) no matter who gets in his way. Right off the bat, this new approach to Child’s Play really hits you with how original it all is, and this new concept also gives Klevberg and his team plenty of room to stretch when it comes to the freakish violence that they can throw up on the screen.

Taking on the mantle of the Buddi doll named Chucky is Hollywood legend and performer extraordinaire Mark Hamill…and he’s an absolute riot here as the killer Buddi doll. Known by many as a master voice performer, Hamill once again applies his considerable talents behind the microphone to create a character that is both savagely scary and horrendously funny all at the same time. While this freakish robotic creature sure loves to throw a knife around and is more than happy to maim anyone that he sees fit, Hamill injects into Chucky a bizarre and outlandish humour that will have you laughing in the most inappropriate of moments. Not only does it relieve the tension when necessary, but it also leaves your guard down as an audience member and it’s there that the frights really come at you. Hamill also gets to allow his wonderous singing voice to come to life here as well, and the tender, if the uneasy melody of the ‘Buddi Song’ is something that has to be felt.

Starring alongside Hamill in the film is Aubrey Plaza, and Hollywood’s resident deadpan actress really changes things up here as she takes on the role of a mum. Stuck in a dead end job and seeing an idiotic boyfriend, Plaza’s Karen Barclay is a mum who is just trying to do right by her son Andy, who is portrayed by exceptional newcomer Gabriel Bateman. Together these two really feed off of each other and their ability to sell a sense of growing paranoia really adds to the frenzied nature of the whole film. All of this comes to a head in the film’s climactic third act and as Chucky’s obsession with Andy becomes dangerously murderous, imminent disaster comes for the Barclay’s.

When it comes to horror cinema I’m always looking for the unexpected, and this certainly arrives here in Child’s Play. With the inventiveness that the film applies to the horror and death scenes, and the addition of some very funny outbursts and comedy, you really get a great mix up here that really takes you by surprise. While I can’t go into specifics without leading to spoilers, I will say that Child’s Play really does something different with Chucky’s maniacal killing spree, and the film just seems fresh in the way that it applies all of the death and destruction up on screen. Along with the traditional splatter of the slasher genre, there’s also a good amount of suspense here as well, and Chucky really goes for it with plenty of ghoulish jump scares that will have you leaping out of your chair.

Child’s Play delivers a whole lot of horror fun to the big screen and you’ll be guaranteed to be screaming thanks to the performance of Mark Hamill. Watch it if you dare…

Image: Roadshow Films

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Following the events of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Rey (Daisy Ridley) has gone to seek out revered Jedi Master Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) to learn from the great Jedi himself. But darkness rises, and the resistance is threatened and on its last breath of hope as Rey hopes to learn to control her great powers to help restore order and peace to the galaxy.

For those of you afraid of spoilers. Don’t worry, you’re in good hands here. There will be none in this review. Instead, I implore that each of you goes and sees this amazing film for yourself and let its layered themes and multi-arched character journeys wash over you. It is from the mind of celebrated writer/director Rian Johnson that the world of The Last Jedi springs and while watching this film you feel every beat of his creativity and passion for this fantastic sci-fi universe. Johnson is a lifelong Star Wars fan and he understands George Lucas’ characters intimately and uses his knowledge to present a side of them that was there all along, but which until now we had not seen. Johnson is also a gifted writer and his knack for structure, and prose also find their way into a very well-crafted script and a plot that keeps you guessing proving that he was most-definitely the right man for the job here.

The world of this new Star Wars saga expands here, and this is specific to the characters of Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). Each of these two characters go on a journey of growth as they learn new things about themselves and each other. Part of what makes for a great sequel is the fact that the stories characters must grow in some dramatic way, and that is certainly the case here. The prominence of each of these characters to the success of The Last Jedi also adheres to the film’s thematic emphasis on balance. The idea of balance between light and dark is essential to both these characters and Johnson’s exploration of it via these two characters makes for a very interesting experience.

If there was one moment I was waiting for though then it was most definitely the return of Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker. As a child, Luke was always my favourite character and I can assure longtime fans that Hamill does not disappoint as the Jedi master. But Hamill’s now aged Luke is not the man we once knew and is portrayed as a monastic figure and whose appearance within the story brings another big theme into the movie. That of the position of the force and its deep spiritual subtext of belief and hope. Like Rey, Luke himself goes on quite a journey, and his is one of an interesting interior reflection. As a viewer and lifelong fan of Luke Skywalker, I was pleased that Johnson focused his attention on Luke’s spiritual side as it offered something different and unexpected along with considerable growth for the character. Hamill is in top form throughout the entire film, and fans will be pleased that he has made his return.

If you’re looking for spectacle and size then you’ve come to the right place as Johnson fills the screen (preferably IMAX, trust me you have to watch this in IMAX) with extraordinary action set piece and large-scale sets. He has a knack for art direction, and The Last Jedi is filled with rich colours and intricate details that reflects its different environments from the forgotten earth of Ahch-To to the glitz and glam of the casino planet Canto Bight to the read earthed salt plains of the planet Crait. While each of these settings might be vast in their construction, they are also intimate and there is a real sense of care with each of these new worlds. Both production designer Rick Heinrichs and cinematographer Steve Yedlin, both heavy hitters in the industry, bring their all to this production, and alongside Johnson, these three artists create the far away universe we have come to love and explore through Star Wars.

A lot of thought has been placed into making Star Wars: The Last Jedi a very exciting ride and this extends to the film’s larger than life battle sequences. While I won’t discuss the action involved as to not run into spoilers lets just say that there are all kinds of towering space battles and if you like lightsabers, well, you’re in for a treat.

But in talking about Star Wars: The Last Jedi one cannot pass the presence of the late, great Carrie Fisher who made her final appearance on the big screen as General Leia Organa before her sad passing. While we only got to see Leia for a moment in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, here she has a far grander role and her presence reflects the grace, decorum and strength of character that Fisher brought to both the original Star Wars films, along with the science fiction genre in general. Like the other characters, including her brother Luke, Leia herself goes on quite a journey and becomes the symbol for one of the film’s most poignant symbols: hope. Believing when no one else will, Leia’s faith in the power of the force and in the good of others is a poignant reminder of the strength of Star Wars and of what Fisher brought to it. I can say that I welled up a little with our princesses final scene, but Fisher’s performance is flawless and Johnson along with the cast and crew do right by her with a very fitting film.

Whether you’re a longtime fan or have only recently entered into the Star Wars universe you’ll be guaranteed to love Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Both large in scale and intimate in its narrative and character development, this is a film that has been crafted with love and attention from a group of filmmakers who have such passion for what they do and the universe that George Lucas created. Do yourself a favour and make sure you go and watch this film as soon as you can (preferably in IMAX) because you won’t be disappointed.

Image: Walt Disney Pictures

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Set thirty years after the events of Return of the Jedi, the last remnants of The Empire have morphed into the dreaded First Order, while the Rebel Alliance fights on as the Resistance. It’s here that new characters Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega) and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) find themselves fighting alongside legends such as Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) and Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) to bring balance to force and the galaxy.

5. John Williams – maestro at work

Mythic composer John Williams returns to the franchise he helped usher into cinema legend with a rousing and emotional score that gets to the very heart of the Star Wars saga, providing a sense of nostalgia, and exciting prospects for the future. With every beat you feel that a true master has meticulously crafted this stunning orchestral piece, which extends itself to every scene and truly brings the film together.

4. A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away

From the moment the opening crawl beams on screen, we’re transported back to the wonder and magic of that galaxy far, far away where the Star Wars saga first unfolded. While audiences intimately know its vast setting, director J.J. Abrams and his brilliantly talented crew show us a completely new side of this universe which is filled with exotic new worlds, and the people, creatures and spaceships that populate them. This vast scope and attention to detail creates a compelling visual palette that audiences will find themselves completely absorbed by.

3. The power of the force

The power and mystery of the force, from its brightest light to the abyss of the dark side, shines through in Star Wars: The Force Awakens providing the film with its thematic centre. The emphasis placed on the force and its connection to both the characters and the general setting provides a solid base for the film to develop, as well as creating the central battle at its core.

2. Daisy Ridley and John Boyega – heroes for a new generation

For its lead protagonists, Star Wars: The Force Awakens has found two truly amazing performers in Daisy Ridley and John Boyega in the roles of Rey and Finn. Both actors demonstrate a spectacular commitment to their characters, creating two unique individuals whose motivations, feelings and actions are believable and understandable. Audiences of all ages will find a connection to each of them, and will not want to miss a second of their incredible journey on screen.

1. J.J. Abrams – Jedi master

But all the wonder and magic of Star Wars: The Force Awakens comes down to the vision and passion of one man, director J.J. Abrams, who imbues this new chapter with his own deep sense of love and reverence for the source material, and the very concept of Star Wars itself. Abrams has long said that this is a film made by the fans for the fans, and this statement couldn’t be truer when it comes to Force Awakens. It’s as if he has taken the collective desire of the Star Wars fan community, and created a piece of cinema that gives them everything they desire from a film set in this universe. With every passing second you feel his passion for the story and its characters, which has such intimacy and relevance that the film gets under your skin, and strikes a nerve. Abrams gives everything of himself as a filmmaker to The Force Awakens, and strikes the right balance between providing original material while honouring what has come before.

Image source: Walt Disney Pictures.

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