Ghoulies Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.0

Ghoulies Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman September 8, 2023

MVD Visual is not just revisiting Ghoulies and Ghoulies II, which Shout! Factory released as a double feature several years ago and which Charles Band's own Full Moon Features also offered as part of their Empire Pictures Collection, they're perhaps unexpectedly offering the first film in both 1080 and 4K UHD formats, which may indicate that an outing Charles Band himself has more or less described as his one and only "cash cow" production is continuing to generate dividends.

As mentioned above, both Ghoulies films have had a prior release courtesy of Shout! Factory as well as Full Moon Features. Those interested in plot summaries and screenshot comparisons are encouraged to read Marty Liebman's reviews:

Ghoulies / Ghoulies II Blu-ray review

Ghoulies Blu-ray review

Ghoulies II Blu-ray review

Empire Pictures Collection Blu-ray review

I will add in passing that those interested in a bit of backstage drama should listen to both the Charles Band and Luca Bercovici interviews included as supplements. And I'll just mention that it's kind of hilarious for those of us with an interest in various world religions that the chant Jonathan uses to invoke his "little friends" is simply a recitation of the four Hebrew letters which make up the "unpronounceable" name of the Big Guy (and/or Gal) Upstairs (i.e., yod, he, vav, he, often incorrectly transliterated as Jehovah). Also hilariously, that selfsame "fourfold name" is often called the Tetragrammaton, which is exactly what the amulet central to the story has emblazoned on it. One assumes the Jewish Band and his cohort were in on this little "joke".

Ghoulies Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Ghoulies is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of MVD Visual with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. The back cover of this release states this is a "2023 HD restoration of the film", and one assumes it's culled from the same "4K restoration (16 bit scan of the original camera negative)" used to describe MVD's 4K UHD presentation. This is noticeably superior to the old Shout! Factory released, with an overall darker ambience which, yes, may tend to point up an at times very heavy grain field, but which also arguably supports a more nicely suffused palette. This version looks slightly warmer than the Shout! outing, with a somewhat more red-purple cast (the Shout! release looks kind of jaundiced and wan compared to this one). Detail levels are often quite striking, especially on the little mutants, but fine detail and grain thickness can certainly ebb and flow courtesy of the surplus of old school composited effects and other opticals.

Ghoulies Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Marty wasn't overly impressed with Shout!'s DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 rejiggering of the original soundtrack, but I'm happy to report this disc's DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono track sounds well balanced and is especially supportive of another playfully anarchic score by Richard Band. Dialogue and effects are all rendered without any issues. Optional English subtitles are available.

Ghoulies Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Note: MVD sent their 4K UHD release (which includes a 1080 disc) for purposes of this review, and I am assuming that their standalone 1080 release duplicates the one sent. MVD has confirmed the standalone release features a slipcover and poster.

• Introduction by Writer/ Director Luca Bercovici (HD; 00:51) is accessible either as a standalone bonus feature, or under the Play Menu, where it's authored to move directly on to the feature.


• From Toilets to Terror: The Making of Ghoulies (HD; 29:49) is an archival supplement ported over from the Shout! release.


• Editing an Empire (HD; 27:31) is an interview with editor Ted Nicolaou.


• The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste (HD; 22:03) is an interview with actor Scott Thomson.


• "Just 'Cos of the Chick, Man! (HD; 33:46) is an interview with Luca Bercovici.


• Ghoulies Theatrical Trailer (HD; 1:55)


• Ghoulies II Theatrical Trailer (HD; 1:23)


• Still Gallery (HD; 3:32) is authored to move on automatically, so have the Pause button on your remote handy if you want to linger on any given image. You can also chapter skip through the gallery at your own pace.


• TV Spots (HD; 1:25)


• Archival 2015 Audio Commentary with director Luca Bercovici is accessible under the Audio Menu.


• Archival 2016 Audio Commentary by director Luca Bercovici moderated by Jason Andreason of Terror Transmission is accessible under the Audio Menu.

Ghoulies Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

In a way, it's both kind of funny but also understandable how Ghoulies became one of Charles Band's most successful productions. This new release offers improvements in video, audio and supplements from the old Shout! and Full Moon releases, and should appeal to the film's many fans.