Next week Syfy is bringing two iconic film franchises to the small screen with new series Chucky and Day of the Dead. Both shows will premiere back-to-back on Tuesday October 12 on USA & SYFY. However, Chucky will continue to air Tuesdays at 10pm on both USA & SYFY, while Day of the Dead will air on Fridays at 10pm, only on SYFY.
Chucky ties directly into the film franchise, as the devilish Chucky doll makes its way into the arms of an unsuspecting teen named Jake (Zackary Arthur). Jake is more artsy, like his deceased mother, and his mechanic father (Devon Sawa) just doesn’t get him. Jake also doesn’t really fit in at school, and is often made fun of by the other 14-year-olds. Chucky takes advantage of this to force Jake to assist him in fulfilling his bloodlust, by getting revenge on the not-so-nice people in this small town. The series contains that same mix of humor and horror that has made the film franchise so appealing over the decades. In addition to Chucky’s latest adventures, the show also delves into the background of serial killer Charles Lee Ray, whose soul resides in the possessed doll, to see how he became the killer he is today. Chucky is voiced by Brad Dourif, who played the character in the original film.
I have not seen the original Day of the Dead film, so I can’t say how closely the series follows the plot of the movie, or how it is connected, though there are some characters with similar last names. The show follows the lives of the residents of the small town of Mawinhaken. It’s election day, and Mayor Paul Bowman (Miranda Frigon) is working hard to get re-elected, with fracking being the hot topic dividing the town. Her son Luke (Daniel Doheny) and his friends are spoiled delinquents, often picking on local teen Cam McDermott (Keenan Tracey). However, all the fracking in the town appears to have awoken the dead, who start rising and going after the living. Cam is mowing the lawn at the local cemetery when hands start popping up from the ground, and next door new funeral home employee Lauren (Natalie Malaika) finds the coffin she just set up to be empty, and a bunch of mourners are about to get a big surprise. The series seems to take a slightly lighter approach to the onset of the zombie apocalypse—somewhere in-between Z Nation and The Walking Dead—adding in moments of humor while also keeping the horror and the gore.
I checked out the premieres of both shows, and found them both thoroughly entertaining. It seems like the networks are constantly rebooting or relaunching old properties, but even though these are known franchises, the two series still feel like fresh, fun new takes on the material, and are perfectly timed for the Halloween season. I can’t wait to check out more of these shows!
CHUCKY
Airs Tuesdays at 10pm on USA & SYFY, beginning October 12
In the new CHUCKY television series, an idyllic American town is thrown into chaos after a vintage ‘Good Guy’ doll turns up at a suburban yard sale. Soon, everyone must grapple with a series of horrifying murders that begin to expose the town’s deep hypocrisies and hidden secrets. Meanwhile, friends and foes from Chucky’s past creep back into his world and threaten to expose the truth behind his mysterious origins as a seemingly ordinary child who somehow became this notorious monster.
CHUCKY is produced by UCP and executive produced by creator Don Mancini, David Kirschner, Nick Antosca and Alex Hedlund. Harley Peyton will also serve as executive producer. Mancini, who penned the film franchise, wrote the television adaptation, will direct the first episode and serves as showrunner.
DAY OF THE DEAD
Airs Fridays at 10pm on SYFY beginning October 15
Special Sneak Preview Tuesday October 12 at 11pm Following the Chucky premiere
“Day of the Dead” is the intense story of six strangers trying to survive the first 24 hours of an undead invasion. This ode to George A. Romero’s famous flesh-eaters reminds us that sometimes all it takes to bring people together is a horde of hungry zombies trying to rip them apart. The series stars Keenan Tracey (“Bates Motel”), Daniel Doheny (“Alex Strangelove”), Natalie Malaika (“Fractured”), Kristy Dinsmore (“Vikings”), and newcomer Morgan Holmstrom.
Produced by Matt Drake for Abbott Street Films. In Association with The Cartel and HiTide Studios with Stan Spry, Jeff Holland and Drew Brown serving as executive producers for The Cartel, and James Dudelson, Robert Dudelson, and Jordan Kizwani serving as executive producers for HiTide Studios. Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas will serve as co-showrunners and executive producers. Todd Masters and Steven Kostanski will also serve as executive producers.
