What with me being such an enterprising fellow, the next thing Don Mancini knows is he's being asked for an interview via this most convenient of mediums. To his eternal credit, he says shit along the lines of "Go right ahead", and the results are collected and presented for your entertainment and enlightenment right the hell here.
The Duke: How influential were the likes of "Scream" in your decision to adopt a much more ironic, self-referential tone for "Bride Of Chucky"?
Don Mancini: Very influential. In fact, it really was the success of "Scream" in 1997 which prompted Universal to make another "Chucky" film. That said, I had already flirted with said ironic tone in several early screenplays. For example, the first draft of "Child's Play 2," in 1990, included the scene in the evidence depository, where we glimpse Freddy's glove, Jason's hockey mask, Leatherface's chainsaw, and Michael Myers's mask. The scene was never filmed, but I recycled it for "Bride," just in time to take advantage of the post-"Scream" era's vogue for self-referential horror flicks.
TD: Was there any hesitance from either production-types or, god forbid, the "fans", with regards this radical turnaround, from the straight-ahead slasher fare of the first three pictures to the black comedy of the fourth?
DM: Yes, there was. Some genre fans seem adamantly opposed to mixing comedy with horror, and the studio is wary of alienating that faction — justifiably so, since they represent a significant portion of the audience. But after the first three "Child's Play" films, I felt that we'd tapped out the concept's potential for truly disturbing scares, and besides, I didn't want to go on repeating myself; I wanted to do something different. So we decided to embrace the inherent absurdity of the concept, while taking advantage of the opportunity to explore Chucky as a more fully-rounded character. Some people prefer the earlier, more straightforwardly scary films; others prefer the black comedy of "Bride" and "Seed." I like both, and the nice thing is, by creating and exploring these characters, I've had the opportunity to make five very different films. I mean, "Child's Play" and "Seed of Chucky" represent virtually different genres of filmmaking.
TD: What did you make of all the hoo-hah surrounding "Childs Play 3" a decade or so ago over here in the UK, when it was unofficially banned on account of supposedly being viewed by one of the two youngsters who went on to murder Jamie Bulger? Surely that kinda knee-jerk reaction is incredibly frustrating, and probably insulting?
Article comments
1 - Jim Carruthers
I was so inspired by your interview, I downloaded the movie. Now I just have to watch it.
Brad Dourif is your mark of quality for really bad things happening (even when he is playing a decent guy as the doctor in "Deadwood").
2 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
Jim, i'm glad you were inspired, and i wager the flick itself will inspire you just as much, although in the case of the celluloid, i'll have to hand over at least 82% of the credit for said inspiration.
3 - Greg Smyth
Great interview Duke! A damn fine read as ever...
4 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
thanks greg, glad you enjoyed it.
5 - indika
are going to make a another chucky movie although chucky is "dead"? Is he really dead or is he coming back? Whats the next movie going to be called?
6 - honey
Hi my name is honey am 12years old and
my favourite movie is seed of chucky.
My favourite actor of seed of Chucky is Brad Dourif(Chucky),Jennirfer Tilly and Tilly (Tiffeny).
i would like to thank Don Mancini for doing this brillent movie i can wait for the next movie to come Chucky goes psycho.
Also i would like to say hi to Jennirfer Tilly,Brad Dourif and Don Mancini xxx
7 - honey
Hi my name is honey am 12years old and
my favourite movie is seed of chucky.
My favourite actor of seed of Chucky is Brad Dourif(Chucky),Jennirfer Tilly and Tilly (Tiffeny).
i would like to thank Don Mancini for doing this brillent movie i can wait for the next movie to come Chucky goes psycho.
Also i would like to say hi to Jennirfer Tilly,Brad Dourif and Don Mancini xxx
8 - Alexsis (alex) neuman
I loved all the Chucky films. "Seed was kinda like watching another installment of "Scary movie", don't ya think? It was funny though. Ya should see my freakin' room. I have Chucky shit every where!! Plus I wrote a screen play for the next Chucky movie. I'd tell ya'll what I call it, but I need to see if I can get ahold of Mancini before I do. Just incase some one magically decides to take the idea. I am telling you, any Chucky lover is gonna love my Child's Play 6 installment. TELL Mancini about me please!All the Child's play films totally rocked!!! Hey Duke do you think Mancini would ever read my screenplay??? O yeah and KICK ASS SITE!!! ROX BIG TIME!!!
9 - kimberly
i love the all the chucky movies there the best horror movies in the world!!! althooo people are tryin to say that seed of chucky was lame it wasn't i loved it and so did my family and friends..jennifer tilly makes the movie awsome thanks jen... n i would like to thank don mancini for creating this chucky movies. i can't wait to see the next chucky movies.. PEACE OUT YO =]
10 - Rebecca Wilson
Hi my name is Rebecca Wilson Im 12 My favourite movie has got to be the the Bride of Chucky I loved it that much I actually wanted to send Don Mancini a Idea of my own but on every website I check I can never find his Address or where he works now please can anyone tell me where theese places are it is really inportant to me my
11 - DJ
Seed of chucky is cool.
12 - wsdrbj
The next movie should be 'THE CHILDERN OF CHUCKY"