In terms of horror movie subgenres, the “killer possessed doll” is certainly one that has been heavily recycled. This is partially because the formula is typically simple, succinct, and chock full of that gory goodness fans love. Keeping on track with the blueprint that has worked for them for the last thirty years, Full Moon Features is back with the latest installment to their long-standing Demonic Toys franchise with Demonic Toys: Jack Attack.

For those who may be unfamiliar with prior films in the series, Demonic Toys films are exactly what you’d expect: seemingly ordinary children’s toys that have been possessed by demonic entities and wreak havoc on those around them. This time around, the focus is on Jack Attack, the titular jack-in-the-box with a grotesque clown face that gives off serious Killer Klowns From Outer Space vibes.

Orphaned teen Lily (Sofia Castellanos) has been through several horrific events in her young life which have left her traumatized and unable to speak, rendering her in a regressed state of one much younger than the age that she is. As a product of the foster system, the only person she has some semblance of a relationship with is with her social worker, Audrey (Mabel Thomas), who has managed to find Lily a placement with a new foster family.

Initially, the new arrangement shows promise, with a large property on gorgeous farmland and a family who seem more than happy to take Lily in despite her struggles. It doesn’t take long for members of the household to show their true colors, though, including overbearing social media influencer Dewey (Taylor Abigail Rice), and creepy, inappropriate Tyler (Sean Ramey).

With a runtime just short of an hour, the film thankfully cuts right to the chase when it’s revealed that Lily is in possession (pun intended) of that evil Jack-in-the-box. Once Jack Attack is introduced, he begins a bloody rampage of mayhem and murder on those living in the idyllic farmhouse. 

Demonic Toys: Jack Attack knows exactly what kind of movie it is, and enthusiastically leans as heavily into it as possible. This is a full-on campy B-movie extravaganza, brimming with homages and nods to other films such as Puppet Master and the aforementioned Killer Klowns. There’s nothing subtle about this story, and writer/director William Butler knows exactly how to slap you in the face with the hilarity (both intentional and unintentional) of it all. 

For what this movie is, the practical effects, headed by Greg Lightner are gleefully exaggerated, but nonetheless impressive. The cinematography (Josh Apple) is also well done, with a surprising number of sweeping overhead shots of the farmhouse that help lend to the creep factor. Additionally, the sound editing and music lend a respectable amount to the overall feel, providing well executed sound effects and a dramatic score for the scenes that need it the most.

Where this movie falters most is with its runtime and character decisions. The length puts it in an awkward in-between mode where it’s too long to be considered a short film, but fairly short to make it a standard feature. Though there are kill scenes aplenty, it also wastes precious time focusing on mundane scenes involving the family that don’t move the story forward at all and could be cut out altogether in favor of more time with Jack Attack. The moments devoted to profiling Tyler as someone with indecent motivations isn’t needed at all, and only adds an uncomfortable layer of anguish to Lily’s ordeal.

Ultimately, Demonic Toys: Jack Attack is a campy, what you see is what you get Gorefest where the filmmakers clearly had every intent of making this exactly what it is. If you’re a fan of the franchise, or a B-movie aficionado, or simply just want to take your thinking cap off and enjoy an hour of violent pandemonium, you’ll likely find enjoyment in this iteration.