Jack (writer/director Karl Holt) is a 35-year-old who hasn’t grown up. When his parents die on his birthday, his lack of life skills mean he’s ill-equipped to deal with the real world. His long-time companion, Benny, a stuffed toy that his mother said would protect him forever. The trouble is, his idea of protection is slaughtering anyone who proves a threat to him, but then also anyone who comes near Jack.
Comedy horror is something that can be hard to pull off. Fortunately, Holt has created a likeable loser in Jack, both in the characterisation and performance. The story doesn’t fall into the trap of Benny’s murders making Jack’s life go the right way, quite the opposite in fact. What we do get, though, is plenty of glorious gory kills as the teddy becomes jealous of any attention Jack might get. Imagine Child’s Play but with Chucky protecting Andy rather than trying to kill him and you’ll get the idea. No one is spared, be it kids or pets, in the stuffed toy’s rampage. A major plus is that the effects are impressive, both in the gore and the toys – especially during a toy-on-toy fight in the climax.
References to Prince either mean the story is set in the early 2000s or it betrays the length of time the film took to make, since the Purple One died in 2016. It’s not something that gets in the way, though, as it’s a fun romp packed with some fun, gory kills.
Benny Loves You is destined to be a beloved cult favourite and is not to be missed.
