Child’s Play

Child’s Play

Year: 1988

Runtime: 87 mins

Language: English

Director: Tom Holland

horrorhorrorthe undead and monster classicsintense violence and sexual transgressionthrillers and murder mysteriesterrifyinghauntedand supernatural horror

You’ll wish it was only make-believe. An innocent-looking doll is inhabited by the soul of a serial killer who refuses to die.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Child’s Play yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Child’s Play (1988)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Child’s Play (1988). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Late 1980s

Set in the late 1980s, the film captures the era's urban energy and consumer culture surrounding children's toys. The period influences the story with practical effects and a pre-digital sense of danger, where a seemingly innocent toy can become a lethal instrument.

Location

Chicago, Illinois, Toy Store, Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital

The story unfolds across Chicago's urban streets and interior locations. Key settings include a Good Guy toy store, an abandoned residential site, and the Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital, reflecting a blend of everyday life with perilous spaces. The city backdrop anchors the horror in a real, working-class environment and shifts between Karen's apartment, the police, and the tense interiors of care facilities.

🏙️ Urban setting 🧸 Toy store locale 🏥 Hospital atmosphere

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:29

Main Characters – Child’s Play (1988)

Meet the key characters of Child’s Play (1988), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Chucky (Brad Dourif)

A Good Guy doll possessed by the murderous Charles Lee Ray. Chucky is singularly cunning and relentless, using a boyish facade to manipulate others and pursue his deadly goals. His taunting voice and knowledge of human frailties make him an unsettling, almost charming antagonist.

💀 Violent 🧠 Cunning 😈 Malevolent

Andy Barclay (Alex Vincent)

A six-year-old boy who loves the Good Guy doll but soon becomes the center of a murderous mystery. He is initially frightened and confused, yet resourceful and determined to survive as Chucky closes in. The events force him to confront fear and trust his mother and authorities.

👶 Child 🧭 Resourceful

Karen Barclay (Catherine Hicks)

Andy's mother, a working single parent who tries to keep her son safe while navigating disbelief from others. She is protective, pragmatic, and quickly shifts into a guardian who confronts the doll's menace head-on. Her resolve drives the film's emotional arc.

👩 Protective 🛡️ Determined

Detective Mike Norris (Chris Sarandon)

A police detective who chases the killer and initially doubts Andy's involvement. He becomes a crucial ally in unraveling the mystery and confronting the supernatural danger. Norris's skepticism gives way to a reluctant courage as the case escalates.

👮 Detective 🧭 Skeptical

Eddie Caputo (Neil Giuntoli)

Ray's accomplice who flees the crime scene with Norris's partner. His betrayal and disappearance lead to a deadly confrontation, culminating in a violent explosion that marks the killer's initial plan of escape.

🧥 Betrayer ⚡ Escape

Maggie Peterson (Dinah Manoff)

Karen's best friend who babysits Andy and becomes an early victim of Chucky's rampage. Her death escalates the investigation and reinforces the doll's murderous reach.

🧍‍♀️ Victim 🩸 Tragic

John Franklin as Walkabout Chucky / Voodoo Instructor

The voodoo mentor who explains how Chucky might escape his doll body, including the rule that the killer must transfer to the first person he revealed his true identity to. He is ultimately killed after revealing dangerous secrets.

🪄 Mentor ⚔️ Victim

Peddler (Juan Ramírez)

A homeless peddler who sells the Good Guy doll and tries to exploit Karen, ultimately revealing that he stole the doll from the toy store. His confrontation with Norris helps unravel the doll's story and its theft.

🧎‍♂️ Villain 🧭 Informant

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:29

Major Themes – Child’s Play (1988)

Explore the central themes of Child’s Play (1988), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💀 Possession

Chucky's transfer of a killer's soul into a child's doll creates a chilling take on identity and control. The film blurs the line between life and death as a toy becomes a vessel for murder. The horror centers on the fear that familiar objects can conceal danger, and the struggle to uncover the killer's true identity.

🧸 Toy Horror

A seemingly friendly doll marketed to children becomes a terrifying conduit for violence, turning everyday consumer goods into threats. The film leverages the juxtaposition of innocence and menace, using lifelike playthings to unsettle audiences. Chucky's persistence and ability to communicate bolster the sense that danger can hide in plain sight.

👪 Family & Trust

Karen and Andy's bond forms the emotional core, tested by danger, doubt, and the actions of law enforcement. The story questions whom a family can trust when authority is skeptical and fear distorts perception. The horror ultimately hinges on protecting innocence in a world where familiar comforts are compromised.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:29

Unlock the Full Story of Child’s Play

Don't stop at just watching — explore Child’s Play in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Child’s Play is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Child’s Play Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Child’s Play, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Child’s Play Summary

Child’s Play Timeline

Track the full timeline of Child’s Play with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Child’s Play Timeline

More About Child’s Play

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Child’s Play: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Child’s Play

Explore More About Movie Child’s Play

Child’s Play (1988) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

Child’s Play (1988) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

Child’s Play (1988) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow