Curse of Chucky is a horror film that first appeared in 2013. The movie is the sixth installment in the Child's Play franchise and serves as a direct sequel to the original film. In Curse of Chucky, the iconic killer doll returns to terrorize a new family. The film was directed by Don Mancini, who is also the creator and writer of the entire Child's Play franchise. The story revolves around a young woman named Nica, who is confined to a wheelchair and lives with her mother in a remote house. When a mysterious package arrives containing the infamous Chucky doll, Nica's family begins to experience unexplainable and deadly occurrences.
I mean, for people like me, the role isn’t any different. Obviously, I’m gonna do a baby blessing, I’m gonna do a Handfasting when people want to get married. I will do a funeral –all that stuff that people traditionally did. Plus, right now, I’ve got tinctures laid up in the dining room that I have to remember to go in and shake everyday, so that they’re gonna be good next month.
I can tell them what works for me and what doesn t work for me, and encourage them to do those things that they feel like they re drawn to do, that maybe don t have the courage or the confidence to try. But for people like me, it s not necessarily a religious thing, though it is connected with spirits and with spirit things, but it s not necessarily a religion.
When a mysterious package arrives containing the infamous Chucky doll, Nica's family begins to experience unexplainable and deadly occurrences. Curse of Chucky takes a more psychological approach compared to previous films in the franchise, delving into the twisted mind of the doll. Chucky's origins and vengeful motivations are explored, adding a new layer of depth to the character.
Interview With An Appalachian Village Witch
H. Byron Ballard is a practicing witch in Asheville, North Carolina and the author of four books about the craft, including her latest, Small Magics: Practical Secrets from an Appalachian Village Witch.
Inside Appalachia Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Ballard about the spirits and cryptids of Appalachia.
Lynch: Byron, first, thanks for coming on inside Appalachia. It’s a pleasure to speak to you. It’s not very often I get to speak to an actual Appalachian village which, so…you may be the first.
Ballard: (Laughs) I don’t know. You know, I listen to the show, and I am pretty sure you probably talked to a witch or two already. They just might not identify that way.
Lynch: Just as a kind of get a getting to know you sort of thing, how did you become such a thing? How did you become an Appalachian village witch?
Ballard: Well, I mean, I took that on as a branding thing, just to be honest. I mean, I’m Appalachian, multiple generations back. And I’ve been a witch my whole life. My mother’s family all identified themselves and were identified with that word back to like, five generations, that I know of.
So, I’ve always been that and then, when it came time for me to, to kind of have, a hat rack to hang all my hats on, that felt like a good one. So, I called myself the village witch.
And I know some people who function as village witches in Britain. One of them contacted me, and she was like, “Well, what exactly is that you do that you think you’re a village witch?”
And I said, “Well, I go out, and I bless the cornfields. And I used to bless the tobacco crop, and I’ll come out and clear your house if it’s got some uncomfortable in it. And I’ll bless your babies, and I’ll, you know, bury your grandma, and, you know, all that stuff.”
And my friend said, “Oh, well, no. That’s exactly what a village witch does.”
And I said, “Well, yeah.”
Lynch: Witchcraft or being a witch in the 21st century: how is that different than being a witch in the 20th century or even the 19th Century?
Ballard: I would say it’s less threatening than it used to be. But in some places, it’s still just as threatening.
Um, how is the role different? It’s a really good question.
I mean, for people like me, the role isn’t any different. Obviously, I’m gonna do a baby blessing, I’m gonna do a Handfasting when people want to get married. I will do a funeral –all that stuff that people traditionally did. Plus, right now, I’ve got tinctures laid up in the dining room that I have to remember to go in and shake everyday, so that they’re gonna be good next month.
So, I do a lot of the similar things, but something that we have the ability to do now, and the privilege to do is that I can openly talk about it, and I can openly teach it to other people.
So, people don’t have to rely on reading a book. Though, I mean, I’m a writer. I want people to read all the books, but I can teach people face to face. I can tell them what works for me and what doesn’t work for me, and encourage them to do those things that they feel like they’re drawn to do, that maybe don’t have the courage or the confidence to try.
So that’s one big difference.
But the practice itself, I don’t know that it’s really changed. We joke about –there’s ceremonial magic and then there’s what I do, which is sort of, I reach in my pockets and see what’s in my pockets. I go pull a little plantain and some rabbit back and stir it all together.
And for some people, there is a sense of witchcraft being a very high-ordered religion. And you will hear some people talk about that they are a member of a witchcraft, religious tradition.
But for people like me, it’s not necessarily a religious thing, though it is connected with spirits and with spirit things, but it’s not necessarily a religion.
Lynch: Let’s talk a little about folklore. Places like the United Kingdom have pixies, and elves in Europe. We have goblins, haints and the Mothman. Don’t forget the Mothman.
Did we bring our fairies and spirits over with us when we immigrated from Europe or wherever? Or were they already here?
Ballard: I’m gonna say yes to both of those, because I think already there are spirits that are attached to land. And these are some of the oldest mountains in the world. How could they not have spirits attached to them? But I also think that a lot of my people, certainly they brought some of that with them, and they absolutely brought the folklore with them.
But now you bring up Mothman, and I’ve got a question for you. Are all cryptids man, I mean, there’s the Boojum, there’s Mothman, there’s the New Jersey Devil… are they all boys?
That was Appalachian village witch, H. Byron Ballard speaking with Bill Lynch. You can hear the rest of that interview and more on Inside Appalachia, Sunday mornings at 7 and Sunday evenings at 6 on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
Tags Related to This Article
- Appalachia
- Appalachian Folklore
- Appalachian Village Witch
- Arts & Culture
- Cryptids
- witchcraft
So, I do a lot of the similar things, but something that we have the ability to do now, and the privilege to do is that I can openly talk about it, and I can openly teach it to other people.
The film also introduces a new cast of characters, including a nanny and a delivery man, who become caught in Chucky's murderous rampage. In addition to its exploration of Chucky's backstory, Curse of Chucky also retains the dark humor and suspenseful atmosphere that fans of the franchise have come to expect. The movie received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the film for its return to the series' horror roots and for bringing new life to the Chucky character. Overall, Curse of Chucky is a significant addition to the Child's Play franchise. It not only expands upon the mythology of the killer doll but also offers a fresh take on the horror genre. With its memorable characters, suspenseful plot, and gruesome kills, the film has solidified its place within the franchise and has become a favorite among horror fans..
Reviews for "Breaking Down Curse of Chucky's First Appearance: A Critical Analysis"
1. Sarah - 2/5: I was really excited to watch "When did curse of Chucky first appear" because I love horror movies. However, I was left disappointed. The storyline felt weak and predictable, with no real surprises. The acting was also subpar, with many of the characters delivering their lines in a flat and unconvincing manner. The scares were minimal, and I wasn't really scared at any point during the movie. Overall, "When did curse of Chucky first appear" failed to live up to my expectations and left me feeling underwhelmed.
2. John - 1/5: I found "When did curse of Chucky first appear" to be a complete waste of time. The plot was nonsensical and the characters were poorly developed. I couldn't connect with any of them, and as a result, I didn't care what happened to them. The special effects were also underwhelming, making some scenes more laughable than scary. The whole movie felt like a cheap attempt to cash in on the Chucky franchise without putting any real effort into making a quality film. I would not recommend "When did curse of Chucky first appear" to anyone.
3. Emily - 2/5: As a fan of the original Chucky movies, I was excited to see "When did curse of Chucky first appear." However, I was left disappointed. The movie felt slow-paced and lacked the suspense and thrills that made the original films so enjoyable. The new storyline introduced in this movie felt forced and did not add any depth to the overall Chucky mythology. Additionally, the scares were minimal, and I was not impressed with the special effects. Overall, "When did curse of Chucky first appear" did not live up to the legacy of the Chucky franchise and left me wanting more.