With its crude emphasis on gross-out elements instead of frights or comedy, Seed of Chucky earns a spot on my “Worst Movies of 2004” list. I’m a big fan of the Child’s Play series, especially Bride of Chucky, so writing such a negative review of Chucky’s fifth outing puts me in a very bad mood. However, even fans like me can’t help noticing that something went horribly wrong with the “killer doll” concept in this yucky flick. No, scratch that. Everything went wrong.

First of all, Chucky (voiced by Brad Dourif) and his bride Tiffany (voiced by Jennifer Tilly) don’t seem to mind being seen by humans here, and that spoils half the fun. While watching Bride of Chucky, I loved the way the dolls changed so quickly from inanimate objects to live characters and back again in the blink of an eye. But, instead of worrying about being discovered in Seed of Chucky, Chucky and Tiffany spend most of their time arguing about “to kill or not to kill” as well as whether their new-found offspring (voiced by Billy Boyd), who’s not anatomically complete, should be a boy or a girl.        

Almost as off-putting as the incessant arguing between Chucky and Tiffany is Jennifer Tilly’s over-the-top parody of herself here. The film starts out on a Hollywood movie set where the latest Child’s Play feature is being filmed. Tilly happens to be one of the stars, but she’s looking for better roles, which always go to Julia Roberts. Tilly’s scenes show the actress poured into low-cut dresses like a turkey stuffed for Thanksgiving dinner. (My apologies to the turkey.) While appearing delightfully comic in Bride of Chucky, Tilly does herself an injustice in Seed of Chucky by relying on vamping and screaming antics which come across as annoying, not as the kind of comedy she can do so well.       

In terms of a “gross-out” rating, this movie ranks right below Team America World Police. Semen deposits, artificial insemination, graphic sexual language and masturbation are depicted in various scenes that evoked no laughter or fear from the audience at the screening I attended -- just vigorous head shaking. Even the blood and gore spewed on screen seemed an afterthought to the raunchy elements taking center stage.

Isn’t there anything positive to say about Seed of Chucky? Hmm. I’m reaching, but the killer dolls look more lifelike than ever, and the movie is not a very long one -- it just seems that way.

(Released by Rogue Pictures and rated “R” for strong horror violence, gore, sexuality and language.)