Ghoulies 1 & 2

Back in the day, there were enough Gremlins rip-offs to fill up an entire wall of the local video store.  From Critters to Spookies to Munchies to Trolls, it’s more than a little ironic that these copycats wound up producing dozens of sequels while the original film could only manage one.  Courtesy of Empire Pictures, Ghoulies(1984) was first out of the gate, shot concurrently and released the same year as Joe Dante’s original.  Producer Charles Band was keen to design a low-budget studio system that could share talent – and resources – to crank out genre films with signature appeal…on a rubber stamp budget.

 

After inheriting a mansion from his deceased parents, Jonathon Graves (Peter Liapis) moves in with his girlfriend Rebecca (Lisa Pelikan), who’s more than a little trepidatious about the place.  And with good reason!  The basement was used for satanic rituals by Malcolm Graves (Michael Des Barres), Jonathan’s father, and an evil power still lingers below.  Jonathan uses a housewarming party as an excuse to raise some hell – literally – by summoning pint-sized demons who have waited a generation for their freedom.

 

Using almost a slasher-like structure, the Ghoulies – which include slimy, distorted variations on rats, cats, bats and a swamp monster – pick off partygoers in formulaic, but PG-13 fashion.  Guests include future SVU star Mariska Hargitay and David Lynch regular Jack Nance as a good-natured warlock handyman.  But it takes quite a while to get there.  Most of the script focuses on Jonathon’s slow turn to the dark side and Rebecca’s understandable frustration when he tries to impregnate her with his demon spawn.  Hey, every relationship has its issues.

 

What Ghoulies gets right is the Empire formula, adding a dash of ‘80s cheese and so-bad-they’re-good special effects in such a way that no one walks away disappointed.  The titular creations, designed by John Carl Buechler, are essentially misshapen Muppets with less personality.  But the film uses them in such a way that the audience is in on the joke…even if they’re about as realistic as props in a low-rent spook house.

 

Speaking of which, that’s exactly where the little monsters end up in Ghoulies 2 (1987), a shot on an Italian soundstage sequel that actually feels more expansive than the first film.  Hitching a ride on a carnival truck, the creatures wind up inside Satan’s Den, part of a run-down traveling carnival that’s on its last legs.  But the appearance of real demons causes a boost in tickets sales…and a dramatic loss in customers’ lives!

 

Amplifying the monster action – if not the quality of the effects – Ghoulies 2 is certainly not without its charms.  The carny community reflects the feel of the film itself: supportive, charming and willing to do anything for a buck.  A few scenes of stop-motion animation breath new life into Buechler’s designs and the carnival set – complete with rides and Italian extras – provides a much-needed sense of space.  I mean, how much more can you really expect out of five ratty puppets…send them to college?!  

 

Oh wait, that happens in part three. 

 

Now released on Blu-ray – or 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray two-disc collector’s edition - as part of the MVD Rewind Collection, Ghoulies is beyond amazing to look at, pulled from a 16-Bit scan of the original camera negative.  It’s more than fans, or pretty much anyone, every asked for!  Extras include two archival commentaries, interviews with director Luca Bercovici, Ted Nicolau, and Scott Thompson, half-hour Making Of and collective mini-poster.  

 

Available separately, Ghoulies 2 is strictly a Blu-ray affair but still looks terrific with a few minor speckles you have to squint to notice from time to time.  Extras on this one include another Making Of, interview with Dennis Paoli, deleted scenes (mostly extended gore cut for the rating), image galleries and a matching mini-poster.