Child's Play (1972)

October Challenge: Day 2

I'm a fan of Robert Marasco's novel, Burnt Offerings, and I'm also a fan of the movie. So when I saw that he also wrote a play (that was nominated for Broadway's 1970 Best Play Tony Award) - a play that became a movie - I was pretty certain I didn't want to miss seeing: Child's Play.

Kicking off this year's October horror movie challenge, I chose a story about a boy's Catholic preparatory school that may or may not be inhabited by the Devil. 

Don't pay attention to the poster image or the tag line, they are both cheeky and hardly represent what this film is about. Also, I realize it might take a moment to not picture Chucky when reading the movie title. 1988 Child's Play and 1972 Child's Play come from two totally different worlds, although they both involve unfortunate children.

First and foremost this is a troubling film. I knew before I even began watching the movie that it was inspired by actual events, and then after viewing, I was left with more questions than I had in the beginning. 

Ominous and dreamy, the viewer is taken to the first day of a new teacher's post among some privileged youth. Things go badly immediately, however, when it's made obvious that the young men are prone to sudden and very, very violent bursts of anger. Matters are made even more worse when a longstanding teacher begins to display signs of madness. 

Religion plays a significant role in this film, naturally, but so does intuition and logic.That, perhaps may be one of the most unsettling aspects of this film, in that you want so badly to understand what is happening (and why) but are left being dependent upon the mysteries of the heart, mind, and soul. 

The editing at times is a little odd, confusing, but the atmosphere makes up for it all. The teachers are powerful and threatening, the students completely frightening. Without it ever being said, or shown, it's obvious that things are not right at this school and that something really terrible is about to happen.

This is a perfect film for a dark, cold, stormy night alone. Pairs with cafeteria food, expensive whiskey, and dark clothes in a dark room. If you have a little red light somewhere, turn it on.

I watched this film on Crackle, or use the Find It. Watch It. links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can watch this creeping, crawling thriller.