Ghoulies (1985)
Ghoulies (1985)
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Movie Info
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Cast
as Jonathan Graves
as Rebecca
as Malcolm Graves
as Wolfgang
as Grizzel
as Greedigut
as Mike
as Mark, Toad Boy
as Donna
as Dick
as Eddie
as Anastasia
as Robin
as Temptress
as Temptress
as Ghoulie
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Critic Reviews for Ghoulies
All Critics (10) | Fresh (0) | Rotten (10) | DVD (2)
Mariska Hargitay makes an inauspicious feature film debut in this trashy little horror picture.
I can enjoy a bad cheesy B-movie, but there has to be a sense of charm, and GHOULIES has none whatsoever!
B movie trash.
...they're not meant to inspire terror in viewers, as evidenced by the sequence featuring a ghoulie playing the piano...
Low-rent "Gremlins" rip-off that exists only due to a clever VHS cover.
Audience Reviews for Ghoulies
Not going to lie, this is awful. I remember years ago as a child, I would see the advertisements for this in the video store window (for VHS, no less, how much am I showing my age!). Always kind of amused and tickled me seeing the ghoulie head sticking out of the toilet. Of course, there was no way I was renting that one - we didn't even have a video player at this stage! When I saw it and the sequel for $2 secondhand yesterday, I literally couldn't resist. So far only watched this first installment. Not sure I could describe the plot if I tried, but basically, it starts off many years ago in a creepy old mansion where some people are doing a satanic ritual which will end in the sacrifice of a baby. The baby is saved by one of the members and it all goes to hell. Flash forward 20 years later, and the baby is all grown up and has inherited the mansion, which he moves into with his girlfriend. He finds an old occult book and slowly the evilness from the past is channeled through him. That's pretty much it. There are gaping holes in the plot, so it's actually better not to over think it. Instead, enjoy the sheer badness of it all - green possessed eyes, puppets (why the ghoulies are there I have no idea, and quite honestly, the green ones are more cute than scary), levitation and a leading lady with a very unique appearance, which lends itself well to this not so creepy horror film.
Super Reviewer
One of Charles Bands best known cult creations which is curiously similar to the horror comedy released a year prior 'Gremlins'. Clearly the best of the bunch this ghoulie romp see's a young couple inherit an old house with a dark secret in the grounds and the bowels of the house (as usual for old houses). The young man of the new house finds an old spell book (as you do) and is slowly possessed into conjuring up the ghoulie creatures to...well I'm not sure, something to do with devil worshipping blah blah blah. The film is of course low budget and completely trashy but the small puppet creatures are actually pretty neat looking and fun to watch. Much like the puppets from 'Puppet Master' the creations do hold a nice appeal and do look cool, they are all hand workable so you mainly get faces shots and torso's. Not really any blood or gore but the odd decent makeup job and with some curious names in the cast (Sting lookalike Michael Des Barres). Like many cheapo horror films the first isn't too bad but they just ruin any self respect by churning out terrible sequels.
Super Reviewer
This is pure trash. The special effects were horrible and the plot was dull. Ghoulies is not exactly a quality horror / comedy, but it didn't suck badly enough for me to actively hate it. In fact, I thought that it was goofy enough to be amusing. The title creatures are a funny (if undeniably ugly) troupe of poorly manipulated puppets and unlike other films. Believe it, Gremlins is more successful, scary and funny than these ugly demons.
Super Reviewer
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