Ghoulies (1985)

0% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
26% of users liked it
(9,745 ratings)

Joe Dante's box-office fantasy Gremlins had barely left American cinemas before Charles Band's B-movie factory, Empire Pictures, rushed out this cheap knockoff. While Dante's film benefited from the director's wry sense of humor and the high-concept clout of executive producer Steven Spielberg,… More Joe Dante's box-office fantasy Gremlins had barely left American cinemas before Charles Band's B-movie factory, Empire Pictures, rushed out this cheap knockoff. While Dante's film benefited from the director's wry sense of humor and the high-concept clout of executive producer Steven Spielberg, Band's tawdry little creature feature boasts lower production values than a high-school haunted-house fundraiser. The title monsters are a pack of obnoxious demons -- enacted by a handful of rubber dolls covered with KY jelly -- summoned up by the metaphysical shenanigans of college student Jonathan Graves (Peter Liapis) after he discovers his late father's occult paraphernalia at the family estate. Jonathan later invites a group of annoying friends to participate in an all-night party, during which he intends to perform an elaborate parlor trick -- actually a satanic ritual through which he hopes to acquire his father's supernatural powers. This doesn't sit well with Dad, who bursts violently from his grave (a nice touch) to have a chat with his wayward son while legions of ghoulies (well, four or five, anyway) descend upon the revelers. Considering the entire production revolves around the antics of the ghoulies themselves, the alleged puppetry involved is laughable -- the inarticulate puppets do little more than open drooling mouths full of pointy teeth before offscreen stagehands fling them at the heads of cast members. The film's main points of interest lie with the supporting cast, which includes Bobbi Bresee as a supernatural seductress (sporting an eight-foot tongue!) and Eraserhead's John Nance as a bizarre gardener. Somehow, this became one of Empire's top moneymakers, spawning no less than three sequels. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 21 min.
Directed By: Luca Bercovici, Albert Band
Written By: Luca Bercovici
Genres: Horror, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy

In Theaters: Jun 1, 1985 Wide
Studio: Vestron Video

Critic Reviews

Gerry Shamray, Sun Newspapers of Cleveland
B movie trash.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...they're not meant to inspire terror in viewers, as evidenced by the sequence featuring a ghoulie playing the piano...
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Low-rent "Gremlins" rip-off that exists only due to a clever VHS cover.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Dean M

This is pure trash. The special effects were horrible and the plot was dull. Ghoulies is not exactly a quality horror / comedy, but it didn't suck badly enough for me to actively hate it. In fact, I thought that it was goofy enough to be amusing. The title… More
This is pure trash. The special effects were horrible and the plot was dull. Ghoulies is not exactly a quality horror / comedy, but it didn't suck badly enough for me to actively hate it. In fact, I thought that it was goofy enough to be amusing. The title creatures are a funny (if undeniably ugly) troupe of poorly manipulated puppets and unlike other films. Believe it, Gremlins is more successful, scary and funny than these ugly demons.
Ross C

A video rental classic from my 80s childhood when everyone was copying Gremlins...
Robert C

Bad writing, bad acting, bad special effects, good times!
Dean !

A weird comedy horror, not in te same league as Gremlins though.
Curtis L

This movie sucks. Real bad.
Lafe F

A terrible movie! They looks so cute on the poster; I thought it would be a great Gremlins clone, but nope. It's a dumb story about slimey little creatures being created by a wizard, when a group of kids visit an inherited house. There wasn't a lot happening in this movie. I… More
A terrible movie! They looks so cute on the poster; I thought it would be a great Gremlins clone, but nope. It's a dumb story about slimey little creatures being created by a wizard, when a group of kids visit an inherited house. There wasn't a lot happening in this movie. I remember the actors being very cheesy and over the top. I couldn't get into it.
Dr Blood

The little creatures in this film were, like the equally silly "Critters", designed to cash in on the success of "Gremlins".
Jason S

Creepy and cheap.
danny d

this film was terrible but fun to watch for 10 year olds who want to be freaked out
Lee K

absolute rubbish!
Barry L

They are small green and unpleasent...bit like this film....very silly but funny too.