After MGM/UA dropped the project, citing moral grounds (some claim that the decision had more to do with financial problems), Universal grabbed the rights and will release the sequel on November 9.

At least one returning member of the Child's Play family is happier with his experiences on the sequel. "On the first movie, I went to Chicago for the rehearsals." remembers Chucky vocalizer Brad Dourif. "But they didn't want to pay me to be there during shooting, so [director] Tom Holland did Chucky's voice for the actors on set. Then I came in and looped him later, and it was probably the most difficult thing i've ever done as an actor. Looping somebody else's performance was tough because the dynamics of the performance were different from the way I had understood them, And because I was locked into the movement of the doll's mouth, the timing was hard."

On the sequel, Dourifs lines were recorded first, so the experience was much more pleasant than the first time around. Still, things could have turned out worse on the original. "They weren't even sure they were going to use my voice." Dourif recalls. "They actually looped him the first time with a comedian".

Ah yes, humor. the bugaboo of many a horror sequel. Despite the fact that the new film stars comic actor Gerrit. (C.H.U.D. II) Graham (and that the family in the movie is called the Simpsons), director John Lafia claims that gasps, not guffaws, are what he's after. "Of course, if I fail and people think it's just funny." Lafia avers, "then I'll be eating those words and saying. 'Oh. it was intended."

However his film turns out, the young director maintains a longstanding love of graphic horror. "Let me say right now that I love red," he announces. "I loved Night of the Liuing Dead. I loved Damn of the Dead even more; it was just entrail soup! I get a big kick out of it and have no aversion to pouring on the blood. Before this, in fact, I was talked to about doing Texns Chainsaw Massacre III, and I would have loved to get out there and just chainsaw away. Unfortunately. this movie doesn't call for as much of that, so I haven't done it."

Nevertheless, there is plenty of FX action, courtesy of the returning Kevin Yagher. Like many recent makeup artists, Yagher has found himself so much in demand that he can ask for, and get, directing oppor- tunities. On Child's Play 2, he's in charge of the second unit. "Directing is almost a natural thing." says Yagher. who directed theatrical productions in school prior to pursuing a makeup career. "Working with people in the shop, and in effect directing them, has never been a problem. But after I've been on sets and watched other directors and thought, 'No, don't do it that way, do it this way...' I just started to feel I might be able to do better, or at least as well, as some of them."

As one of the key creative forces behind the Child's Play movies, Yagher has his owo theories about what meade the first film so popular. "Everyone will tell you it's childhood fears and all that, and there's some truth there, but a lot of it has to do with humour combined with horror. Plus the fact that people enjoy 'little shits.' little guys that go around raising hell, like Slimer in Ghostbusters."

Whatever the case, hopes are that Chucky will raise enough box office hell to pave the way for Child's Play 3, which is already being discussed. In the meantime, get ready for another round of demonic doll doings as Child's Play 2 hacks its way into a theater near you.