The Ghouls (2003)

Director:

Chad Ferrin

Writer:

Chad Ferrin (writer)

Release Date:

8 March 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

Pray For Daylight

Plot:

Eric Hayes is a stringer. One notch below the lowest rung of the journalistic ladder. A video vulture preying on police chases...

Plot Keywords:

Blood | Police | Stringer | Violence | Crying

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Timothy Muskatell	...	Eric Hayes
Tina Birchfield	...	Sue
James Gunn
Stephen Blackehart
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marina Blumenthal
Carlo Corazon	...	Poe
Gil Espinoza	...	Juan
Ernest M. Garcia	...	Mr.Wollen
Trent Haaga	...	Clift
Joseph Pilato
Casey Powell	...	Benny
Tiffany Shepis
Chad Ferrin	...	Father (uncredited)

Directed by
Chad Ferrin

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Chad Ferrin		writer

Produced by
David DeFino	....	associate producer
Chad Ferrin	....	producer
Trent Haaga	....	associate producer
Lewis Jackson	....	associate producer
Nicholas Loizides	....	producer
Timothy Muskatell	....	co-producer
John Santos	....	producer

Original Music by
Nick Smith

Cinematography by
Nicholas Loizides

Film Editing by
Jahad Ferif

Casting by
Wolf Dangler

Production Design by
Nicholas Loizides

Set Decoration by
Jake McHale

Makeup Department
Rocky Faulkner	....	assistant makeup artist
Tanja Hrast	....	assistant makeup artist
Heather Mages	....	key makeup artist
Heather Mages	....	special makeup effects artist

Sound Department
Iris Karina	....	boom operator (as Iris Lohninger)
Karl W. Lohninger	....	sound mixer

Stunts
Carlo Corazon	....	action stunts (as Charlee Thomas)

Camera and Electrical Department
Greg Ewing	....	grip
Chad Ferrin	....	camera operator: additional photography
Jeff Long	....	grip
Eric Sakowski	....	steadicam

Other crew
Patrick Cochran	....	acquisitions director
Scott Lenhardt	....	production assistant
Jake McHale	....	production assistant
Jaime L. Pona	....	production assistant
Johnny Volatile	....	production assistant: Frank McHale

Thanks
Darren McGavin	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Crappy World Films

Distributors

• Albatros Film (2005) (Japan) (all media)
• Cine du Monde (2011) (UK) (all media)
• Epix Media (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Genius Entertainment (2006) (Canada) (DVD)
• Gravitas Ventures (2010) (USA) (TV) (VOD)
• IFM World Releasing (2004) (non-USA)
• Silver Nitrate (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Silver Nitrate (2005) (USA) (VHS)
• Snp (2005) (USA) (video)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence/gore, language, sexuality and drug use

Runtime:

USA:81 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Certification:

UK:18 | USA:R | Canada:18A

Filming Locations:

Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Crappy World Films

Trivia:

Chad Ferrin sold his 19681/2 Ford Mustang to make the film.

Movie Connections:

References Touch of Evil (1958)

Midnight Meat Train, but with no budget and less talent.

The plot: A parasitic bottom feeder stumbles into a horrific world, hidden inside the darkest alleys of the worst slums.

The Ghouls is basically a rehash of Clive Barker's 1984 short story Midnight Meat Train (which was adapted into a pretty good movie), but there are echoes of many other influences. Indeed, it seems to revel in making references to cult horror. Unfortunately, there really isn't all that much going on beneath the surface. This sort of story has been told many times. You get some despicable, scum of the Earth photographer/reporter, throw them in with a monster, compare and contrast, and then let the audience decide who's worse. Stephen King did it in The Night Flier, which used a vampire, and Clive Barker did it in The Midnight Meat Train, which used ghouls. I'm sure someone out there has done zombies or demons. Probably Poppy Z. Brite.

When I saw Trent Haaga and James Gunn were involved, I knew it was going to be low budget, but I didn't realize it was going to be quite THIS low budget. It was distracting at first, but I eventually got used to it. The directing, acting, and cinematography were all amateurish, but I guess I got used to that, too. The gore was actually kind of competent.

Unfortunately, much of the movie focuses on long, drawn-out scenes where nothing much happens, characters have repetitive flashbacks, or somebody ingests their drug of choice. I guess it sets the mood, but it's also a bit boring. Probably half of the movie feels like it's moody filler. Shaky, hand-held shots take up another chunk of the movie's runtime, as the film's protagonist is a cameraman. That doesn't leave a whole lot of runtime available to tell the story. Luckily, the story isn't really all that complicated.

In the end, the themes end up being more interesting than the story, and the gore effects maintain your interest more than anything else. If you're able to enjoy guerrilla filmmaking and indie horror, and you aren't looking for much more than a splatter movie with some interesting themes, then this movie can actually work for you. It's dark (metaphorically and literally), grim, and moody. However, it's also inept, amateurish, and kind of boring. It reminds me of Shatter Dead. If you found Shatter Dead exciting, different, and full of spirit, then you should give The Ghouls a try. If you hated Shatter Dead, then don't even think about trying to watch this.