Child's Play: What The 1998 Film Says About Consumerism And Class

gamerant.com:

Fans of Child's Play know how intelligent and, therefore, horrifying the killer doll Chucky is. He enjoys killing and always has a lot to say before he attacks each victim, and he stands out among other dolls as he's so chatty. When watching the first film in the franchise from 1988, which had a worldwide gross of $33,244,684, according to Box Office Mojo, it's clear that there is a stronger message here than just a toy who comes to life and murders people.

From a single parent trying to make ends meet to raise her son to the way that she buys the doll in the first place, there's a lot about Child's Play that speaks to how kids consume toys and how certain items are marketed. It's also a portrait of a character who doesn't have a lot of money.

Fans Of Chucky Need To See These Killer Toy Movies

The killer doll Chucky is classic and while he's always the most memorable part of the slasher franchise, the first movie says a lot about consumerism, class, and money. Andy Barclay (Alex Vincent) lives with his mom Karen (Catherine Hicks) and no dad in a small, humble apartment. She struggles to make enough money to purchase the doll that he has been dreaming of as a birthday present, and when Chucky's evil comes into their lives, it's clear that they're already dealing with a lot.

Chucky keeps coming back and is scary, but the setting of Child's Play says a lot about consumerism, making money, and how easy it is to get caught up in wanting a certain material object. Karen is a sweet, devoted mom and her scenes at the beginning of the show are as sad as any drama, as she disappoints Andy by buying him clothes and a Good Guy tool set instead of the large doll that he desperately wants. Karen isn't able to spend Andy's entire birthday