Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.0

Ghoulies II 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman July 8, 2024

MVD Visual's MVD Rewind imprint treated fans to Ghoulies and Ghoulies II in September of 2023, two titles 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. Perhaps unexpectedly, they offered the first film in both 1080 and 4K UHD, which may have left those selfsame fans thinking a big question was getting begged as to where the second film was in 4K UHD. Here's your answer, in another release that supports the fact that this franchise Charles Band himself has more or less described as his one and only "cash cow" production is continuing to generate dividends.

Those interested in plot recaps and technical analyses of previous releases can start their internet rabbit holing with my Ghoulies II Blu-ray review, which in turn offers links to several other reviews.

Ghoulies II 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: Screenshots are sourced from the 1080 disc in this package which was, as discussed immediately below, sourced differently from the 4K UHD disc in this package.

Ghoulies II is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of MVD Visual's MVD Rewind imprint with an HEVC / H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 1.85:1. Kind of interestingly, if perhaps also a bit belatedly, while I had mentioned in my Ghoulies II Blu-ray review that MVD had omitted any information on the source and/or transfer of that release, leading me to believe it was probably sourced from the same master as the Shout! release, this new release explicitly states that the 1080 disc in this package (the same as was released as a standalone in September 2023) was sourced from a 2K scan of the interpositive "overseen by MGM"), while the 4K UHD version offered here is sourced from a 2024 4K restoration of the original camera negative. I have to say the results are really rather striking, and any fan of this film is probably going to be over the (witching?) moon with the look of this new transfer. Yes, grain can occasionally be on the clumpy, splotchy side, something that seems unavoidable with the increased resolution of 4K presentations, but the increase in fine detail is virtually palpable, and HDR/ Dolby Vision add a whole new energy to the often carnival-esque palette. Reds, blues and purples are especially resplendent in this version, though some of the almost Bava-esque lighting regimens that can combine, say, purples and greens can also pop unbelievably vividly at times. HDR also tends to noticeably improve shadow detail in many of the dimly lit or outright nighttime sequences.

Ghoulies II 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

I'm sometimes a little confounded with why a certain release suddenly features a different audio codec, and in that regard, MVD's 4K disc offers a DTS- HD Master Audio 2.0 track in lieu of the 1080 disc's LPCM 2.0 option. Shout!'s releases offered rejiggered DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks that Marty wasn't especially impressed by, but as with MVD's release of Ghoulies, this film returns to its source audio and whether in DTS-HD Master Audio or LPCM provides a rather nicely spacious and at times clearly directional track. You can hear a panning effect almost from the get go as a semi careens from left to right across the frame in the film's opening moments, and that same kind of subtle attention to detail accompanies the rest of the track. Dialogue, effects and score are all well balanced and presented without any major issues. Optional English subtitles are available.

Ghoulies II 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K UHD Disc

Theatrical PG-13 Cut (1:29:47) and Unrated Cut (1:31:19) are accessible under the Choose Version option on the Main Menu.
• Introduction by Dennis Paoli (HD; 1:15) doesn't really provide an official "introduction" as much as a defense of practical effects versus CGI.


• Theatrical Trailer (HD; 1:23)

1080 Disc

• Introduction by Dennis Paoli (HD; 1:15) is accessible either as a standalone bonus feature, or under the Play Menu, where it's authored to move directly on to the feature. Paoli doesn't really provide an official "introduction" as much as a defense of practical effects versus CGI.


• More Toilets, More Terror: The Making of Ghoulies II (HD; 16:50) has a lot of fun background information and includes several interviews with cast and crew. This was included on Shout!'s release of the film.


• Under a Magic Moon (HD; 33:36) is an interview with Dennis Paoli.


• Deleted Scenes (HD; 2:43)


• Photo Gallery (HD; 1:50) is authored to move on automatically, so have the Pause button on your remote handy if you want to linger on any given image.


• Trailers include Ghoulies (SD; 1:55) and Ghoulies II (HD; 1:23), along with trailers for other releases from MVD Visual.

Additionally the keepcase features a reversible insert, and houses a folded mini poster. Packaging features a slipcover.

Ghoulies II 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Ghoulies II may actually be a breezier "entertainment" than the first film, even if it's obviously firmly in the lo-fi ambience that is often the hallmark of a Charles Band production. This new 4K UHD release substantially improves the video side of things, while offering the same generally nice sounding audio and (on the 1080 disc in this package) fun supplements of the 1080 standalone release. If you're a fan of this film, I can't imagine this 4K UHD version not being preferable over any of the prior 1080 releases.