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Ghoulies

  • 1984
  • PG-13
  • 1h 21m
IMDb RATING
4.2/10
11K
YOUR RATING
Ghoulies (1984)
A young man and his girlfriend move into an old mansion home, where he becomes possessed by a desire to control ancient demons.
Play trailer1:52
1 Video
99+ Photos
B-HorrorComedyFantasyHorror

A young man and his girlfriend move into his parents' old mansion, where his satanic father is buried, and immediately becomes possessed by a desire to conjure and control tiny demons.A young man and his girlfriend move into his parents' old mansion, where his satanic father is buried, and immediately becomes possessed by a desire to conjure and control tiny demons.A young man and his girlfriend move into his parents' old mansion, where his satanic father is buried, and immediately becomes possessed by a desire to conjure and control tiny demons.

  • Director
    • Luca Bercovici
  • Writers
    • Luca Bercovici
    • Jefery Levy
  • Stars
    • Peter Liapis
    • Lisa Pelikan
    • Michael Des Barres
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    4.2/10
    11K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Luca Bercovici
    • Writers
      • Luca Bercovici
      • Jefery Levy
    • Stars
      • Peter Liapis
      • Lisa Pelikan
      • Michael Des Barres
    • 106User reviews
    • 93Critic reviews
    • 26Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:52
    Official Trailer

    Photos157

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    Top cast18

    Edit
    Peter Liapis
    Peter Liapis
    • Jonathan Graves
    Lisa Pelikan
    Lisa Pelikan
    • Rebecca
    Michael Des Barres
    Michael Des Barres
    • Malcolm Graves
    Jack Nance
    Jack Nance
    • Wolfgang
    Peter Risch
    • Grizzel
    Tamara De Treaux
    • Greedigut
    Scott Thomson
    Scott Thomson
    • Mike
    Ralph Seymour
    Ralph Seymour
    • Mark (Toad Boy)
    Mariska Hargitay
    Mariska Hargitay
    • Donna
    Keith Joe Dick
    Keith Joe Dick
    • Dick
    David Dayan
    • Eddie
    Victoria Catlin
    Victoria Catlin
    • Anastasia
    Charene Cathleen
    • Robin
    Bobbie Bresee
    Bobbie Bresee
    • Temptress
    Jamie Bronow
    • Jonathan Graves, as a child
    Brian Connolly
    • Ghoulie
    • (voice)
    Annie Stocking
    • Ghoulie
    • (voice)
    Craig Talmy
    • Ghoulie
    • (voice)
    • Director
      • Luca Bercovici
    • Writers
      • Luca Bercovici
      • Jefery Levy
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews106

    4.210.8K
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    Featured reviews

    6babyjaguar

    Ghoulies: 80s Era Beginning of Cultmaking & Cinema Legal Disputes

    "Ghoulies" is said to be a "Gremlins" (1984) knock off, but many say that it was only a coincidence. "Ghoulies" was being filmed when the latter was still in production. Past interviews states its director Luca Bercovici and Charles Band's Empire Pictures were standing by this.

    Bercovici's original idea was a much darker theme with the occult. At the end, "Ghoulies" morphed into a horror comedy, a signature staple seen later with Band-produced films. "Ghoulies" marketed by disfunct Empire Pictures as a horror or black comedy became a standard like Full Moon's "Puppet Master" franchise, 90s Band products.

    This film's story is revolves around "Jonathan" (Peter Liapis) who inherited a mansion with a discovered connection to his occultist dead father, "Malcolm" (Michael Des Barres). Then a party of his girlfriend, "Rebecca" (Lisa Pelikan) and friends gather at the mansion for some good old fun with little creatures (recently resurrected) and a lot of gag shots. Pelikan isn't a stranger to exploitation cinema who starred in "Jennifer" (1978), a "Carrie" (1976) knock off.

    Presently "Ghoulies" fan circles has given much popularity for its 80s cult status and practical special effects. Even its cast capped 80s era with Des Barres (a rock star turned actor) but the fact is it was Band's controversial ad campaign. A "ghoulie" creature popping out of a toilet graced the film posters with the tagline: "They'll get you in the end!"

    Upon its 1984's release, many complained about lobby posters traumatizing onlookers. "Ghoulies" was plagued with legal disputes from its title (Warner Bros. Attempted to sue) to copyright (Bercovici vs Band).

    Band can be seen as the home media mogul of schlock and other guilty pleasures made a fortune with this production. His genius can be compared to Roger Corman since many stars from Demi Moore to Helen Hunt plus directors like Bercovici got their first start with Band's productions.
    6jamesbourke59

    God Bless The 1980's

    Yes indeed the 1980's when I was but a very impressionable teenager, it felt like my every waking hour was spent in my local videostore, and when I was in school, I was always thinking about what movie I was going to watch next.

    As was the case back then, a cool looking cover was always the catalyst for me to hire the movie regardless of whether or not I enjoyed the movie.

    So Ghoulies was to be my introduction to the cinematic world of a certain film producer Charles Band, and his company Empire Pictures. Having just recently revisited the world of Ghoulies, and just about to embark on my fortieth year on this earth, I have hand on heart began to realise that what I liked when I was a teenager, has not remained the case as I've gotten older.

    No matter what the detractors think of Charles Band's riff on Gremlins, the movie does have more plus points than negatives. The overall acting is pretty spot on, Peter Liapis as Jonathan Graves truly devours his part as Jonathan Graves, heir apparent to the supernatural throne left to him by his late demented father Malcolm, Michael Des Barres.

    Des Barres has never been an actor that I've been to keen on, maybe it's his accent that I find somewhat off putting, but then again if you've ever watched him in Diary Of A Sex Addict, the title pretty much summed that movie up, but let us not forget his turn in Nightflyers.

    You know when your a teenager, and you just watch copious amounts of nonsense, you tens to forget what you've watched and just who was in it, back in 85, I had no idea who Jack Nance was, but then I still hadn't watched Eraserhead, but Nance participation was a bit of a shock to me, I did find myself doing a double take when I spotted him hiding behind that fake beard, but you never forget that crazy eyed stare.

    But what about the movie itself. Like I've mentioned previously, viewing the movie as an adult, you still sensed the atmosphere, those pesky Ghoulies, still look as cheap and cheerful and not quite scary as ever, but Luca Bercovici does capture some pretty good stuff on camera.

    Of particular mention was the scene when Malcolm rises from his grave, quite striking and very well lit.

    Ghoulies was my first introduction to Charles Band, but it wasn't until I watched Trancers, that my interest in Band's output truly took hold of my teenage years, and throughout the next two decades.

    Ghoulies 2 was a smart little follow up three years later, ignore the next two sequels, as really you can't hold a candle to the original.

    My rating is 6/10
    5markarice

    This is worth watching

    I thought this movie was entertaining. Especially, if you like beautiful girls in sexy heels and tight dresses. It truly captures 80's fashion and hair styles and I love the 80's. The Ghoulies themselves looked incredibly life-like with grossed-out slobber and nasty sharp teeth. However, I thought the battle between good and evil could have been played out over a longer period of time. This monk comes from nowhere and saves the day in a matter of minutes. The evil guy's son was also drawn to the dark-side too quickly. He moves into his new mansion and begins practicing the dark arts in the same evening during the first party. How uncool. He yells at his guests and quits school the very next day. He should have at least heard voices for a few days first.
    3paul_haakonsen

    Not particularly great...

    This is an mid-1980s horror comedy indeed, except it was lacking both ingredients actually. It is, however, a very typical Charles Band movie, for good and worse. Was "Ghoulies" a memorable movie? No, not by a long shot. It was just too silly and empty to really be entertaining.

    "Ghoulies" is about a young man who inherits an ancestral home. A house where black magic was used to conjure forth demonic creatures. Lured in by the dark magic, the young man unleash the demonic beings once again.

    The characters were lacking personalities and depth, but fitted right into the rest of the movie though. The acting performances were nothing impressive either.

    As for the creatures, well they were probably impressive back in 1984, but by todays standards not so much. It was puppets, blatantly obvious, and again typical for Charles Band. And the special effects, well let's not even go there.

    This movie wasn't particularly entertaining, and I will never watch it again, that much is certain.
    3Aaron1375

    What a great ad campaign can do.

    This movie made a nice sum of 35 million at the box office, yet many consider it a poor movie at best. So how did it make this much money? With a good ad campaign, that's how. This movie was the first small creature attack movie to come out after the very successful Gremlins the previous year. Critters, which most consider the better film, came out a year later and made a lot less than this one. Then there was the famous scene of the creature coming out of the toilet. It made it look like a Gremlin type movie...funny with a bit of charm to it. It fooled my parents and we saw this dog in the theater when I was ten. We knew it wasn't quite what it was advertised as though as soon as it started as it has a scene where a guy rips out a woman's heart. It isn't all bad though as there are some scenes here and there that are good, but overall this one is just bad as it is not just about little creatures, but a bunch of other satanic stuff as well as this guy throws a party and does rituals and accidentally raises this one evil guy. Sounds better than it is though as there are no stars in this one and none of the actors in this one can act. You do though get to see the little person who played ET.

    More like this

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The scream let loose by Donna (Mariska Hargitay) was a stock sound effect. Mariska Hargitay has a naturally deep, husky voice and could not produce a scream loud or high pitched enough for the liking of the director.
    • Goofs
      Grizzel is shown holding the goblet before Jonathan sets it down for them to drink from it.
    • Quotes

      Dick: They call me Dick, but you can call me... Dick.

    • Alternate versions
      Originally opened with an R-rating in Las Vegas, Nevada in November of 1984. Shortly after, 12 seconds of footage were removed from the nationwide American release of Ghoulies in order to achieve a PG-13 rating.
    • Connections
      Edited into Lifesavers: The Movie (2013)
    • Soundtracks
      Dancing With A Monster
      Written and Performed by Fela Johnson

      Subliminal Music 1982

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    FAQ18

    • How long is Ghoulies?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 1985 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Beasties
    • Filming locations
      • Wattles Mansion - 1824 N. Curson Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Empire Pictures
      • Ghoulies Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $5,500,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 21 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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