10 Horror Movie Casting Choices That Shouldn't Have Worked (But Did)

2. Aubrey Plaza - Child's Play (2019)

Though many Child's Play fans were disappointed that 2019's remake didn't invite Brad Dourif back to voice Chucky, instead replacing him with Mark Hamill, there were just as many eyebrows raised over the casting of Aubrey Plaza as Karen Barclay, the mother of protagonist Andy (Gabriel Bateman).

A lot of fans felt that Plaza was miscast in the role, in large part because they perceived the then-34-year-old actress as looking "too young" to play the mother of a 12-year-old boy.

And then there were those who simply failed to believe that Plaza, still most firmly associated with her ice-cold April Ludgate character from Parks and Recreation at the time, would convince as a loving mother at all.

But Plaza nailed it. First and foremost, young mothers do exist, and the film absolutely leans into that, with Plaza playing a more sardonic iteration of Karen who nevertheless cares deeply for her son.

It's easy to see why folk had their doubts, but considering the many versatile performances Plaza has given across genres in recent years, should we ever have really doubted her?