Kyle (Child's Play)

Last updated
Kyle
Child's Play character
Christine Elise as Kyle in Child's Play 2.jpg
Christine Elise McCarthy as Kyle in the 1990 film Child's Play 2.
First appearance Child's Play 2 (1990)
Created by Don Mancini
Portrayed by Christine Elise
In-universe information
Species Human
Relatives Phil Simpson (deceased foster father)
Joanne Simpson (deceased foster mother)
Andy Barclay (foster brother)
StatusAlive

Kyle is a fictional character in the Child's Play franchise, created by Don Mancini and portrayed by actress Christine Elise. She appeared in Child's Play 2, Cult of Chucky, and the Chucky television series. Kyle is a main character in the Child's Play novels and comic book adaptations.

Contents

Appearances

In film

Kyle first appears in Child's Play 2 (1990). She is a teenager who lives in the foster home where Andy Barclay is sent after the events of the original film. Andy first meets her upon arrival. Kyle is shown to be street-smart and stubborn, and tells her foster mother, Joanne Simpson, that she will be on her own next year. Meanwhile, Chucky infiltrates the house by destroying and burying another "Good Guy" doll they owned and posing as it.

In the morning, one of Joanne's antiques is found shattered (having been broken by Chucky), and both she and Andy are sent to do the laundry, where they begin to talk to one another and become friendly. That night, Kyle stumbles onto Andy, who has been tied up by Chucky. Joanne and her husband Phil discover the scene and blame Kyle. Kyle believes that Andy did it to himself, not realizing Chucky is alive.

Phil is later murdered in the basement by Chucky (although his death appears to be an accident), and Andy is sent back to the orphanage. Kyle discovers the buried "Good Guy" doll and realizes Chucky is really alive. She goes to warn Joanne but finds her corpse tied to a chair. Chucky then attacks Kyle and forces her to drive him to the orphanage. At the orphanage, Chucky escapes with Andy. Kyle follows them to the factory that produces the Good Guy dolls. After a prolonged battle, Kyle and Andy are able to kill Chucky by mutilating him with factory equipment, partially melting him with molten plastic, and then blowing up his head with a pressurized air-tube.

Kyle makes a returning cameo appearance in the 2017 film Cult of Chucky . In a post-credits scene, Kyle arrives at Andy's house to torture his decapitated Chucky head. Chucky instantly recognizes and is shocked at Kyle's arrival. Kyle tells the head "Andy sent me. We're gonna have some fun." while holding a pair of pliers.

In television

Kyle returns with Andy Barclay in the sixth episode of Chucky season one, Cape Queer . The duo is searching for all remaining dolls possessed by the soul of Charles Lee Ray. They are contacted by Jake Wheeler and travel to Hackensack, New Jersey to help them. After she gets separated from Andy, one of the Chucky dolls tricks Kyle into triggering a bomb set by Tiffany, presumably killing her.

It is revealed in episode four of season two, Death on Denial , that she survived the explosion. She helps Nica Pierce escape from Tiffany with the help of Glen and Glenda. She travels with Nica and Glenda to the School of the Incarnate Lord, where she reunites with Andy and assists with an exorcism to send Chucky to Hell. After the exorcism, Nica transfers the Chucky currently possessing her into another doll, which Andy then kills. Kyle and Andy, believing they are finally done with Chucky, express uncertainty and optimism about their future, and leave the school.

In literature

Kyle appears in the novelization of Child's Play 2 . [1] In 1992, Kyle appeared in the three-issue comic book adaptation of Child's Play 2 released by Innovation Publishing. [2]


Child's Play Child's Play 2 Child's Play 3 Bride of Chucky Seed of Chucky Curse of Chucky Cult of Chucky Chucky
Main roleCameoRecurring role

Development

Christine Elise's performance as Kyle received positive reviews. Christine Elise Mccarthy in a plain dress.jpg
Christine Elise's performance as Kyle received positive reviews.

Conception

In Cinefantastique, Frederick S. Clarke described Kyle as a "street-smart teenager". [3] In The Film Journal, Kyle is referred to as a "rebellious teenager". [4] Christine Elise was cast in the role and in a retrospective interview she described her experience on set saying:

"It was my first big job & I was insanely excited. I would hang around on set on my days off & after I was wrapped. I just loved every second of it. The hard part was that Alex was a minor and child labour laws applied to him so they had to shoot him first in every scene to get him out in time. Chucky took 7 or 9 puppeteers to work & they all were union guys so – Chucky was expensive to have on set – so they would shoot him after Alex & send those guys home. The result was – if you don't see those guys actually in frame with me – it means they probably were not there. I did a lot of acting looking at coloured pieces of tape in the spots where Alex or Chucky were supposed to be. It was challenging and, of course, I felt ridiculous doing it but I still loved every second." [5]

Reception

In Hearths of Darkness: The Family in the American Horror Film, Updated Edition, Tony Williams stated, "She teaches Andy about the hostile world, warning him of future peer group school treatment as the 'new kid on the block'. Lacking the family that abandoned her at the age of three, Kyle resourcefully decides to survive within successive foster families until she can gain independence. She tells Andy what to expect." [6] Michele Eggen praised the character saying:

"She is fond of wearing cool leather hats and sneaking out of the house at night, so we know that she's a bit of a rebel–or at least wants others to think she is. But Kyle's personality contradicts the image she projects. As a girl who grew up in foster care, one would expect her to have a lot of attitude and anger about her situation but she doesn't. She's not antagonistic toward her foster parents–she smartly recognizes that they are good people. She also becomes a sort of mentor to Andy, a child new to the foster system, by comforting him and giving him advice. Kyle is helpful around the house, she plays with her foster brother, and is a responsible almost-adult who knows how to take care of herself. Basically, she's a good person." [7]

In a review, Tim Brayton described the character as a "textbook Final Girl" and said that she contributed to making the film transition into "slasher territory" saying: "Child's Play 2 solidifies its transition into slasher territory by anointing Kyle as a textbook Final Girl (too textbook, even: the Final Girl tradition of androgynous names does not usually require giving the girl an name that would only ever in any situation be given to a boy), of the sub-breed that must also protect a child in addition to herself." [8] David Nusair praised Elise's performance. [9] Dustin Putman praised Elise's and Alex Vincent's performances stating that they are "possibly the best thing about the film". [10]

Related Research Articles

<i>Childs Play 3</i> 1991 film by Jack Bender

Child's Play 3 is a 1991 American slasher film and the third installment in the Child's Play film series. The film is written by Don Mancini and directed by Jack Bender. Brad Dourif once again reprised his role as Chucky from the previous films while new cast members include Justin Whalin, Perrey Reeves and Jeremy Sylvers. It was executive-produced by David Kirschner, who produced the first two Child's Play films. Although released only nine months after Child's Play 2, the story takes place eight years following the events of that film, and one month before the events of Bride of Chucky. The film follows a now 16 year old Andy Barclay enrolling at a military school. Chucky follows Andy to the school until he finds a younger kid, Tyler, to place his soul into, and now Andy has to prevent Chucky from harming Tyler and anybody else.

<i>Childs Play</i> (1988 film) 1988 American slasher film by Tom Holland

Child's Play is a 1988 American supernatural slasher film directed by Tom Holland, from a screenplay he co-wrote with Don Mancini and John Lafia, and a story by Mancini. The film stars Catherine Hicks and Chris Sarandon with Brad Dourif as Chucky. Its plot follows a widowed mother who gives a doll to her son, unaware that the doll is possessed by the soul of a serial killer.

<i>Childs Play 2</i> 1990 film by John Lafia

Child's Play 2 is a 1990 American supernatural slasher film and the direct sequel to Child's Play, written by Don Mancini and directed by John Lafia, one of the co-writers of the first film. It is the second installment in the Child's Play franchise and set two years after the first film; the plot follows Charles Lee Ray continuing his pursuit for Andy Barclay, who was placed in foster care, and transferring his soul into him after being resurrected. Alex Vincent and Brad Dourif reprised their roles while Christine Elise, Jenny Agutter, Gerrit Graham and Grace Zabriskie joined the cast.

Chucky (<i>Childs Play</i>) Fictional character and antagonist in the Childs Play franchise

Charles Lee "Chucky" Ray is the main antagonist of the Child's Play horror franchise. Chucky is portrayed as a vicious serial killer who, as he bleeds out from a gunshot wound, transfers his soul into a "Good Guy" doll and continuously tries to transfer it to a human body. The character has become one of the most recognizable horror icons and has been referenced numerous times in popular culture. In 1999, the Chucky character was nominated for the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain for the film Bride of Chucky. He was created by writer Don Mancini and is portrayed by Brad Dourif in both live action and voice over. For the 2019 remake of the same name, Mark Hamill voiced an artificial intelligence (AI) version of Chucky as a tragic villain, having previously voiced the Charles Lee Ray version of the character in an episode of Robot Chicken.

Christine Elise McCarthy, professionally known as Christine Elise, is an American film and television actress. She is best known for her roles as Emily Valentine in Beverly Hills, 90210 and BH90210 and Kyle in the Child's Play franchise, first appearing in Child's Play 2 (1990) and reprising the role in Cult of Chucky (2017) and the Syfy series Chucky (2021–present).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tiffany Valentine</span> Fictional character in the Childs Play franchise

Tiffany Valentine is a murderous doll and the secondary antagonist in the Child's Play horror film series. She is portrayed by Jennifer Tilly in both live-action and voice over in Bride of Chucky, Seed of Chucky, Curse of Chucky, Cult of Chucky, and the Chucky TV series.

<i>Childs Play</i> (franchise) American slasher film series

Child's Play is an American slasher media franchise created by Don Mancini. The films mainly focus on Chucky, a notorious serial killer who frequently escapes death by performing a voodoo ritual to transfer his soul into a "Good Guy" doll. The original film, Child's Play, was released on November 9, 1988. The film has spawned six sequels, a television series, a remake, comic books, a video game, and tie-in merchandise. The first, second, and fourth films were box office successes with all of the films earning over $182 million worldwide. Including revenues from sales of videos, DVDs, VOD and merchandise, the franchise has generated over $250 million. It also won a Saturn Award for Best Horror Franchise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fiona Dourif</span> American actress and producer (born 1981)

Fiona Christianne Dourif is an American actress and producer. She is best known for her starring role as Nica Pierce in the Child's Play franchise, including the horror film Curse of Chucky (2013), its sequel Cult of Chucky (2017), and the television series Chucky (2021–present). She appears in these works alongside her father, Brad Dourif, who portrays the series' main antagonist, Chucky.

<i>Bride of Chucky</i> 1998 American slasher film by Ronny Yu

Bride of Chucky is a 1998 American black comedy slasher film written by Don Mancini and directed by Ronny Yu. The fourth installment in the Child's Play franchise, it stars Jennifer Tilly, Brad Dourif, John Ritter, Katherine Heigl, and Nick Stabile. Unlike the first three films, Bride of Chucky takes a markedly humorous turn towards self-referential parody. It also departs from the Andy Barclay storyline of the first three films, focusing mainly on series villain Chucky, a doll possessed by a serial killer, and his former lover and accomplice Tiffany, whose soul is also transferred into a doll.

<i>Seed of Chucky</i> 2004 American black comedy slasher film by Don Mancini

Seed of Chucky is a 2004 black comedy slasher film, the fifth installment of the Child's Play series, and sequel to 1998's Bride of Chucky as well as the first film to be distributed by another company since the original Child's Play. The film was written and directed by Don Mancini, who created the series and has written all of the films, and stars Jennifer Tilly, Redman, Hannah Spearritt, John Waters, Billy Boyd and Brad Dourif. With this entry, Mancini made his directorial debut. The film is set six years after Bride of Chucky and follows a young doll named Glen, the son of Chucky and Tiffany, resurrecting his parents, causing chaos.

<i>Curse of Chucky</i> 2013 American slasher film by Don Mancini

Curse of Chucky is a 2013 American slasher film and the sixth installment of the Child's Play franchise. The film was written and directed by Don Mancini, who created the franchise and wrote the first six films. It stars Fiona Dourif, Danielle Bisutti, Brennan Elliott, Maitland McConnell, Chantal Quesnelle, Summer Howell, A Martinez, and Brad Dourif. The film grossed $3.8 million in DVD sales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nica Pierce</span> Fictional character in the Childs Play franchise

Nica Pierce is a fictional character in the Child's Play franchise. She was created by Don Mancini and is portrayed by Fiona Dourif. She is the protagonist in two of the seven films, first appearing in Curse of Chucky (2013) and subsequently in Cult of Chucky (2017). She is also featured in the USA Network and Syfy produced Chucky television series.

<i>Cult of Chucky</i> 2017 American supernatural horror film

Cult of Chucky is a 2017 American supernatural slasher film written and directed by Don Mancini. The seventh installment of the Child's Play franchise, following the 2013 film Curse of Chucky, it stars Fiona Dourif, Michael Therriault, Adam Hurtig, Alex Vincent, Elisabeth Rosen, Grace Lynn Kung, Marina Stephenson Kerr, Zak Santiago, Ali Tataryn, Jennifer Tilly, Christine Elise, and Brad Dourif. Cult of Chucky began production in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada in January 2017 and premiered at the London FrightFest Film Festival on August 24 the same year. As with the previous film, it was released direct-to-video by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment via Blu-ray, DVD and VOD on October 3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Barclay</span> Fictional character in the Childs Play franchise

Andy Barclay is a fictional character and one of the primary protagonists of the Child's Play horror film series. He was introduced in the original Child's Play and has become one of the lead archenemies of the series’ antagonist Chucky. Andy Barclay has been portrayed by actors Alex Vincent and Justin Whalin in the original franchise.

<i>Childs Play</i> (2019 film) 2019 horror film by Lars Klevberg

Child's Play is a 2019 horror film directed by Lars Klevberg from a screenplay written by Tyler Burton Smith. Serving both as a remake of the 1988 eponymous film and a reboot of the Child's Play franchise, the film stars Aubrey Plaza, Gabriel Bateman, Brian Tyree Henry, and Mark Hamill as the voice of Chucky. It follows a family terrorized by a high-tech doll that malfunctions and becomes subsequently hostile and murderous.

<i>Chucky</i> (TV series) 2021 American horror television series

Chucky is an American horror comedy television series created by Don Mancini and is the eighth main installment of the Child's Play franchise. It serves as a sequel to Cult of Chucky, the seventh film in the franchise, and stars Brad Dourif reprising his role as the voice of the title character, alongside Zackary Arthur, Björgvin Arnarson, Alyvia Alyn Lind, Teo Briones, and Devon Sawa. The cast also includes Fiona Dourif, Alex Vincent, Christine Elise, Jennifer Tilly, and Billy Boyd reprising their roles from previous films.

<i>Chucky</i> season 1 American horror television series

The first season of the American horror series Chucky, created by Don Mancini, premiered on Syfy and USA Network on October 12, 2021, and concluded on November 30, 2021. The season consists of 8 episodes. The series is based on the Child's Play film franchise.

<i>Chucky</i> season 2 American horror television series

The second season of the American horror series Chucky, created by Don Mancini, was broadcast simultaneously on Syfy and USA Network between October 5 and November 23, 2022, comprising eight episodes. Based on the Child's Play film franchise, the series serves as a sequel to Cult of Chucky, and stars Brad Dourif reprising his role as the voice of the titular character, alongside Zackary Arthur, Alyvia Alyn Lind, and Björgvin Arnarson in the ensemble cast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jake Wheeler</span> Fictional character in the Childs Play franchise

Jake Wheeler is a fictional character in the Child's Play franchise who was created by Don Mancini and is portrayed by Zackary Arthur. He is the main protagonist of the Syfy and USA Network's Chucky television series, which shares continuity with the original seven Child's Play films. He first appears in "Death by Misadventure", the premiere episode of the show's first season.

References

  1. ↑ Costello, Matthew (1990). Child's Play 2. Jove Books. ISBN   0515104345.
  2. ↑ "Child's Play 2 & 3 movie adaptions". Icons of Fright. Archived from the original on March 19, 2013. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
  3. ↑ Clarke, Frederick (1990). Cinefantastique. the University of California.
  4. ↑ The Film Journal. Pubsun Corporation. 1990.
  5. ↑ "Horror Month: Interview with Christine Elise McCarthy (Childs Play 2)". indiemacuser.com. 16 June 2015.
  6. ↑ Williams, Tony (2014). Hearths of Darkness: The Family in the American Horror Film, Updated Edition. Univ. Press of Mississippi. ISBN   978-1626743519.
  7. ↑ Eggen, Michelle (December 30, 2014). "Noteworthy Heroines of Horror: Kyle from Child's Play 2". Wicked Horror. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
  8. ↑ Brayton, Tim (July 9, 2011). "SUMMER OF BLOOD: PLASTIC RECYCLING". Antagony & Ecstasy. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
  9. ↑ Nusair, David. "The Child's Play Series". Reel Film Reviews. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
  10. ↑ Putman, Dustin. "Child's Play 2 (1990)". Child's Play 2 (1990). Retrieved January 6, 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.