Ghoulies / Ghoulies II Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		3.5
Audio		2.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		2.5

Ghoulies / Ghoulies II Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman June 27, 2017

For individual reviews of each film, and a few more screenshots, please click through the links below. Note that these films are also available as part of the Empire Pictures Collection.

• Ghoulies
• Ghoulies II

Ghoulies
Score: 2.5/5.0

A young couple, Jonathan (Peter Liapis) and Becky (Lisa Pelikan), moves into an old house. There's a grave on-site, some rats in the woodwork, and old books locked away in a chest in the cellar. Jonathan finds himself drawn towards some of those books, which tout and teach the dark arts. He becomes immersed and summons a number of hellish creatures to do his bidding. He becomes drunk with his newfound powers. But the consequences for himself, his loved ones, his friends, and the greater world around him are larger and darker than he could have ever imagined.

Ghoulies was something of a no-no movie back in the day, the kind of movie that would draw the wandering eyes and mind and curiosity of young video rental store patrons but that always had that stigma of "forbidden fruit" about it, the kind of movie the grandparents would never allow their grandchild to rent. And for good reason. The movie lives up to the darker wares it promises. Black magic, nasty creatures, and lots of blood and gore are the movie's hallmarks. But it's also quite weird and fairly empty as a movie. It shows little value beyond its quality practical effects. Story and particularly characters don't matter all that much. It's serviceably entertaining but remains a cult classic for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the "toilet" advertising and how easy it is to appreciate its bonafides as a high quality example of a low-rent movie, particularly in this day-and-age of characterless bottom feeders. Ghoulies may not be a good movie, but it shows a lot of heart and soul, anyway. And that goes a long way in making up for its other shortcomings.

Ghoulies II
Score: 2.5/5.0

The ghoulies are back! But this time, they've migrated away from the old house that served as the plot setting for the first film to a struggling traveling carnival where their diabolical ways go a bit more unnoticed...for a while. As various people maneuver to make money, keep the carnival in place, or just have their own brand of fun, the mischievous ghoulies take full advantage of their surroundings, and a number of easy-prey carnival goers, to satiate their bloodlust and cause as much mayhem as humanely, er, ghouly, possible.

This film takes on a much lighter tone than that of its predecessor. Gone is much of the more serious black magic elements and introduced is a lighter, more frivolous, but more baseline entertaining film that amps up the gore but tones down the narrative. Indeed, the film lacks much of a plot, favoring mostly empty characters and basic maneuverings that simply allow the setting to exist and the ghoulies to do their thing. The film, directed by Empire (Full Moon) founder Charles Band's father, does well in its balancing act of maniacal, slimy evil meets over-the-top goofiness. It's a classic example of light-toned Horror. It's very accessible, countering its tonally dark violence with its playfully enjoyable romps.

Ghoulies / Ghoulies II Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Ghoulies
Score: 3.0/5.0

Ghoulies released back in 1984 in the good old days of film. The image is fairly healthy and pleasing, maintaining a quality filmic presentation that certainly doesn't live up to the format's best but that does serve the film well. Grain is generally pleasing and modest, spiking and growing in snowy density in lower light scenes. Speaking of, black levels struggle to hold good depth, often appearing brighter than is ideal, whether shadows or dark clothes. Details are strong enough, including skin and clothes, the well-worn house, or the slimy, bumpy, grotesque creatures that are the film's stars. Colors hold mostly neutral and satisfy, even without a significant level of nuance and punch. Skin tones hold rather firm, pushing only mildly pasty and pale.

Ghoulies II
Score: 3.5/5.0

Ghoulies II looks quite nice on Blu-ray. Outside of light to at times heavy print wear, it would have scored a bit higher. Beyond that intrusive barrage of pops and scratches and speckles, Shout Factory's presentation offers a quality filmic image that retains a light and even, but critical, grain structure that accentuates the finer-point textures and basic cinematic properties that lift the transfer into the upper echelons of low budget, classically shot-on-film, Blu-ray transfers. Facial and clothing textures are very rich and well defined while the various surfaces around the carnival look terrific. Colors are likewise strong, well saturated and diverse, never overbearing and never faded. There are plenty of punchy hues around the carnival, both at night and particularly during the day. Black levels raise few alarms and skin tones appear spot-on. This is a quality presentation from Shout.

Ghoulies / Ghoulies II Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Ghoulies
Score: 2.5/5.0

Ghoulies features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack, but one wouldn't really know it if the disc didn't say so. The track struggles to expand width-wise along the front, cramping music and effects up the middle with an occasionally decent push towards the sides but not often yielding a prodigious sense of width. Back channels are rarely utilized in any meaningful way. The low end does pick up a bit of depth in some of the more intensive moments. Dialogue is clear, center-focused, and well prioritized.

Ghoulies II
Score: 2.5/5.0

Ghoulies II's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack is a bit more problematic than its video counterpart. Dialogue struggles throughout. It's often poorly positioned, sometimes straying a bit from the center and landing somewhere in between either front-end speaker. It's also often scratchy. Music is sufficiently clear and well spaced. Carnival music is particularly enjoyable, though score likewise stretches nicely along the front and instrumental separation and clarity are strong. Minor atmospherics mostly linger across the front.

Ghoulies / Ghoulies II Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Ghoulies
Score: 2.5/5.0

Ghoulies contains several extras, including a commentary track, a high quality retrospective, a trailer, and a still gallery.

• Audio Commentary: Director Luca Bercovici shares his thoughts on the film.
• "From Toilets to Terror:" The Making of Ghoulies (1080p, 29:49): A fascinating retrospective piece examining the film and the movie market at the time it was released and how it has evolved today.
• Theatrical Trailer (1080p, 1:55).
• Still Gallery (1080i, 3:32).

Ghoulies II
Score: 1.5/5.0

Ghoulies II contains a featurette, alternate scenes, a trailer, and a still gallery.

• "More Toilets, More Terror:" The Making of Ghoulies 2 (1080p, 16:50): A retrospective look back at the movie's origins, technical details of the shoot, budget, cast and performances, shooting in Rome, life on the set, and plenty more. This is a quality little piece that fans will enjoy.
• Alternate Scenes (1080p, 2:43).
• Theatrical Trailer (1080p, 4x3, 1:23).
• Still Gallery (1080i).

Ghoulies / Ghoulies II Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Neither Ghoulies film is a classic, but they hold up as cult favorites and fun little retro Horror films, the first a bit darker and more serious, the sequel more playful. Video is fair, for the most part, audio could stand an upgrade, and the supplements are quite enjoyable, particularly the pair of retrospective featurettes. Recommended.