Child's Play 3 (1991)

Either this is a couple of notches better than Child's Play 2 or the diminished expectations of a direct-to-video as opposed to theatrically-released sequel make an adequately-budgeted, competently-scripted and reasonably action-packed sequel look a lot better than most of the low-rent, low-rental competition. A major plus is that the hero this time isn't a squeaky brat but has grown up into Justin Whalin, a maladjusted cadet at a military school, and Chucky, the freckle-faced doll possessed by the spirit of serial killer Brad Dourif, is given a few more interesting pranks to play, such as replacing live rounds for the paint cartridges issued to the junior soldiers during a war games exercise. No award winner, but at least it delivers the goods.
KIM NEWMAN

First Published In: Empire (issue unknown)

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