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IMDbPro

When Good Ghouls Go Bad

  • TV Movie
  • 2001
  • PG
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
When Good Ghouls Go Bad (2001)
ComedyFamilyFantasy

When 12 year old Danny Walker moves to his father's hometown in Minnesota, he finds that the town doesn't celebrate Halloween and things aren't quite what they appear to be.When 12 year old Danny Walker moves to his father's hometown in Minnesota, he finds that the town doesn't celebrate Halloween and things aren't quite what they appear to be.When 12 year old Danny Walker moves to his father's hometown in Minnesota, he finds that the town doesn't celebrate Halloween and things aren't quite what they appear to be.

  • Director
    • Patrick Read Johnson
  • Writers
    • R.L. Stine
    • Patrick Read Johnson
    • John Lau
  • Stars
    • Christopher Lloyd
    • Tom Amandes
    • Roy Billing
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.2/10
    1.4K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Patrick Read Johnson
    • Writers
      • R.L. Stine
      • Patrick Read Johnson
      • John Lau
    • Stars
      • Christopher Lloyd
      • Tom Amandes
      • Roy Billing
    • 15User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination total

    Photos25

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    Top cast30

    Edit
    Christopher Lloyd
    Christopher Lloyd
    • Uncle Fred Walker
    Tom Amandes
    Tom Amandes
    • James Walker
    Roy Billing
    Roy Billing
    • Mayor Churney
    Brittany Byrnes
    • Dayna
    Joseph Clements
    • Mike Kankel
    • (as Joe Clements)
    Imelda Corcoran
    Imelda Corcoran
    • Taylor
    Alan Flower
    Alan Flower
    • Ed
    Craig Marriott
    Craig Marriott
    • Ryan Kankel
    Joe Pichler
    Joe Pichler
    • Danny Walker
    Louise Fox
    • Miss Vanderspool
    Daniel Karr
    • Leo
    Rhonda Doyle
    Rhonda Doyle
    • Mrs. Churney
    Nathy Gaffney
    • Mrs. Kankel
    Brendan McCarthy
    Brendan McCarthy
    • Curtis Danko
    James Casella
    • Young Mike Kankel
    Aki Casey
    • Young Frady
    Dan Forrester
    • Roy Koogle
    Wendy Holl
    • Little Girl's Mom
    • Director
      • Patrick Read Johnson
    • Writers
      • R.L. Stine
      • Patrick Read Johnson
      • John Lau
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews15

    6.21.4K
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    Featured reviews

    6TransAtlantyk

    Enjoyable film for the kids around Halloween

    This is one of those films where you need to review it as if you were a child watching on it on the screen. Adults are jaded and kids enjoy much simpler things in that magical childhood haze. If you are an adult you will watch this film and won't really think much of it however it does possess a nice Halloween atmosphere and Christopher Lloyd is enjoyable enough to watch. The plot is ridiculous and the ending is equally absurd but the children will love it and might even get a nice child-like fright out of the whole thing.

    It is appropriate for children, a concerned parent should of course watch the film themselves first but there are not many things which one would find offensive to a sufficiently old enough child. Cook up some popcorn and watch this one with your child. Don't be surprised if you find it to drag a little but the little ones will be fascinated.
    7BorissBogdanoff

    Halloween's spirit - Christopher Lloyd!

    Such huge rarity for today's time - film with Christopher Lloyd in a leaging role! With the beginning of a new millennium this great actor all less often and less often gives to us pleasure the game, even more often appears on TV in films which are almost unknown a wide audience. To me has carried, I have seen this film.

    In a role come back from that light of the grandfather - zombie it is simply delightful. It always ideally accepted such unusual, little bit devil roles - madwomen, maniacs, envoys of a hell, and, on the contrary, representatives of paradise. In this film Lloyd's by game it is possible to enjoy simply - explosive, bright, comical and touching simultaneously game - a stream of transformations, the rubber mimicry so favourite by admirers, uncontrollable splashes in emotions and mad shine in opinion of. As it is a pity, that such roles come across recently to the actor so seldom and as it is insulting, that the general public cannot see it at cinemas.

    Excepting Christopher Lloyd's tremendous game, pluss and minuses of television statements are peculiar to film all - the small budget and economy is visible on everything, and especially on special effects, a make-up, suits, a place of shootings... However, it is possible to consider it simply as reserve - yes, special effects far are not ideal, and the script limps, and game of many children leaves much to be desired, - but all fascinatingly, cheerfully, interestingly and very much in spirit of a Halloween - informidable horrors and a kind fairy tale. Separate thanks for the ending, it has appeared unexpected enough and thus touching. And Christopher Lloyd's statue in the ending as if symbolizes merits of the great actor before cinema. In general, the excellent family comedy to look in its evening before a Halloween - lovely business, and during any other time it is possible to look with pleasure at Christopher Lloyd's game!
    Cipher-J

    Has a good message to give.

    As Halloween themed films aimed at the adolescent audience go, this one is a bit quirky, but fairly good. It is told from the grandfather's point of view (who steels every scene), but of course the main character is his adolescent grandson. That one is of the opinion that "he who runs away, lives to fight another day," but eventually that "other" day comes, and he has to learn a lesson. In that regard, the most appealing character turns out to be the young girl that comes into his life. She has a heart, but is also puckish and feisty. Although introduced as a cheerleader, she has both a dark side and a sharpness of wit uncharacteristic of the stereotype, and is anything but an air-head. Otherwise, the story is forgivably absurd, mixing up "Beetlejuice" elements with "Night of the Living Dead" hokum, and sending up the football player mentality against the underdog world of arts and ideas. It also has a rather "remarkable" ending, involving ideas straight out of Zen Buddhism!!!
    10LittleDrummerGirl

    very nice, well written

    This was actually a very nice movie, Christopher Lloyd making it even more so. He does wonderful acting and is my favorite at comedy other than Will Friedle.

    The plot was very well written, even though it followed the traditional Goosebumps storyline. Except for leaving you hanging at the ending, like most of R.L. Stine's books do. (I HATE that!)

    Overall, very nice, well written.=)
    9chocolatcheez

    This is a great movie for getting into the Halloween spirit.

    I am a Halloween fanatic and this is defiantly my favorite Halloween movie. The small town atmosphere definitely brings it together and there's a little humor and a little gruesome part, although you don't see it. I only have one problem with the deceased Curtis Danko because he looks way too fake. I have enjoyed this movie since it came out because of the way it puts me into the Halloween mood and is a great way to get ideas for any decorations, party ornaments or just an exciting film to watch at home or with friends. I think R.L Stine definitely pulled this one off.

    This is a great family movie thats enjoyable for almost any age.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The boy that played Danny went missing in 2006 and has never been seen since
    • Goofs
      At the funeral, the reverend says "we're here to commit the ashes of our dear brother uncle Fred" yet, he comes back as a zombie which would be impossible if he was cremated.
    • Quotes

      Danny Walker: Aren't you guys afraid of the curse of Curtis Danko?

      Dayna: Yes... and no. It all happened before we were born... and with Curtis Danko all locked up and, Halloween all put away and forgotten... they all feel pretty safe... but they don't want to feel safe. They actually want to feel just a little bit scared. Even if it's just for one night.

      Danny Walker: Why?

      Dayna: Because... If you don't get to survive being scared as a kid, how are you ever going to survive being scared as an adult? When there's so much more to be scared of.

    • Connections
      Featured in Familiar Faces: Familiar Shorts: When Good Ghouls Go Bad (2014)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 21, 2001 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Australia
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Min farfar är ett spöke!
    • Filming locations
      • Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
    • Production companies
      • 20th Century Fox Television
      • Fox Television Studios
      • Moonwatcher Inc.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 33 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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