Enter… THE DEVIL’S LAIR.
The Jack Bender-directed Child’s Play 3 is often considered to be the runt of the franchise litter, and it’s not hard to see why. Set at a military academy, the 1991 slasher film recast the role of Andy Barclay for one final battle between Chucky and his greatest adversary, and even writer/series creator Don Mancini has stated that it’s his least favorite installment.
But no matter how you feel about Child’s Play 3, there’s one thing you simply cannot deny: the final act, mostly set inside the coolest ride-on haunted attraction of all time, is purely and simply awesome. Look. I have no idea why there’s a goddamn carnival right next to a military academy, but let’s pay no mind to the logic and admire the off-the-charts coolness.
Towards the end of the film, Chucky, Andy, and Andy’s friend Ronald make their way into the Devil’s Lair, and it’s there that Chucky attempts to hide his soul inside the body of young Ronald. Unfortunately for Chucky, Andy has other plans, and after an extended chase sequence, he eventually tosses the doll into a massive fan and, well, totally destroys him.
Those nasty scars all over Chucky in the later sequels? You can blame the fan.
Slasher film finales don’t get much more inventive or downright fun than Child’s Play 3‘s, which totally milks the Devil’s Lair attraction for all it’s worth. And oh boy is it the most sprawling, epic, and impressive haunt that’s ever been committed to film. Essentially, it’s a roller-coaster ride that takes carnival visitors deep into the bowels of Hell, and the attraction is outfitted with everything from flying beasts to a MASSIVE grim reaper. There’s also a literal mountain of human skulls in there, and did I mention that the carts are designed to look like evil fish monsters?
If I could visit one fictional film locale, it’d damn sure be Devil’s Lair.
Pay a virtual visit to the coolest haunt ever with some hand-selected Child’s Play 3 stills below!
