Ghoulies Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A guy inherits a house, throws a rager, accidentally summons some gremlins, and then yells at his girlfriend for not supporting his hobbies.

🍿 Ghoulies: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Satanic Cult and Jonathan’s Birth

The film opens with a satanic ritual led by Malcolm Graves, who intends to sacrifice his own infant son, Jonathan. The ritual is disrupted by Jonathan’s mother, Anastasia, who saves her child but is ultimately sacrificed herself. Jonathan is then taken away by Wolfgang, a participant in the cult, setting the stage for his later discovery of his dark heritage. This sets a tone of occult horror that permeates the rest of the movie.

Inheriting the Estate and Dabbling in the Occult

Years later, Jonathan inherits his estranged father’s estate, unaware of its sinister history. He and his girlfriend, Rebecca, move into the dilapidated mansion and discover a hidden basement filled with occult paraphernalia. Driven by curiosity and a subconscious connection to his father, Jonathan begins experimenting with black magic, unknowingly unleashing malevolent forces. The mansion itself becomes a character, a vessel for dark energy influencing Jonathan’s actions.

Summoning the Ghoulies and the Master Ritual

As Jonathan delves deeper into the occult, he successfully summons the Ghoulies, grotesque creatures eager to do his bidding. He also conjures two dwarfs, Grizzel and Greedigut, who promise him ultimate power in exchange for performing a dangerous ritual. Consumed by his ambition, Jonathan gathers his friends for a dinner party, intending to use them in a master ritual to resurrect his father. This marks a turning point where Jonathan fully embraces his dark destiny.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Jonathan Graves (Peter Liapis): A young man who inherits his father’s estate and becomes consumed by the practice of black magic, inadvertently unleashing evil forces.
• Rebecca (Lisa Pelikan): Jonathan’s girlfriend who becomes increasingly concerned about his descent into the occult and the dangers it poses.
• Malcolm Graves (Michael Des Barres): Jonathan’s deceased, but still influential, father who was a powerful Satanist and seeks to reclaim his power through his son.
• Wolfgang (Jack Nance): A former associate of Malcolm who raised Jonathan and attempts to protect him from his father’s dark legacy.
• Grizzel (Peter Risch): One of the two diminutive demons conjured by Jonathan, serving as a guide into the darker arts.
• Greedigut (Tamara De Treaux): The second of the two diminutive demons summoned by Jonathan, aiding in his descent into black magic.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Dick: “They call me Dick, but you can call me… Dick.” – Dick introduces himself with a self-aware, humorous line during the party scene.
• Jonathan: “I am their master.” – Jonathan declares himself the master of the Ghoulies after summoning them for the first time.
• Malcolm Graves: “I am your father!” – Malcolm Graves appears and declares himself as Jonathan’s father to try to take control.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $5,500,000
• Domestic Gross: $0
• Worldwide Gross: $0

💥 Ghoulies Reviews

Personal Review

I remember seeing the Ghoulies poster at the video store as a kid and being terrified and intrigued! Watching it now, it’s definitely cheesy, but there’s a weird charm to it. The Ghoulies themselves are kinda cute in a gross way, and the party scene is pure 80s gold. I wouldn’t call it scary, but it’s a fun, silly watch for fans of campy horror!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of 80’s horror movies”
  • “Viewers who appreciate campy and cheesy special effects”
  • “Collectors of cult classic films”
  • “Those interested in occult-themed horror”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Occult themes”
  • “Supernatural violence”
  • “Brief sexual content”
  • “Disturbing imagery”

Professional Reviews

• Horror Haven: “Ghoulies aims for Gremlins-esque charm but mostly lands in bargain-bin territory. The creatures are more goofy than gruesome, and the plot meanders before a chaotic climax. Nostalgia might be the only reason to revisit this.
• Monster Movie Maniacs: “Despite its cult following, Ghoulies suffers from a weak story and uninspired creature designs. The 80s camp is undeniable, but even the nostalgia factor can’t save it from feeling derivative and ultimately forgettable.

Audience Reactions

The 80s fashion and hairstyles are totally rad!: Many found the film entertaining despite its flaws, especially those who enjoy B-movies.

The ghoulies are silly but fun!: Viewers appreciated the practical effects and creature designs, even if they were low-budget.

Overall Consensus: Ghoulies is a campy, low-budget horror film with a cult following, mostly enjoyed for its 80s cheese and goofy creatures, but criticized for its weak plot and uninspired scares.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The poster of a Ghoulie popping out of a toilet is more famous than the movie itself.”
• “The Ghoulies were designed and created by John Carl Buechler, a special effects artist known for his work on horror films.”
• “Tamara de Treaux, who played Greedigut, also played E.T. in ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’.”
• “The film was originally intended to have a higher budget and be R-rated, but budget cuts led to a PG-13 rating and some scenes being toned down.”

🖥️ How to Watch Ghoulies?

Currently, “Ghoulies” can be rented or purchased on various digital platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies. Check your preferred streaming service for availability, as offerings can change.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Ghoulies, you might like these similar films:

• Gremlins (1984): A small creature attack movie that came out a year before Ghoulies.
• Critters (1986): Another creature feature, but released after Ghoulies, featuring small, menacing creatures.
• Troll (1986): Similar special effects crew was also working on Ghoulies.

🛒 Ghoulies Related Products

• Ghoulies (Limited Edition Blu-ray): A special edition Blu-ray with exclusive artwork, behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews. Perfect for collectors and die-hard fans.
• Ghoulies Toilet Decal: A humorous toilet decal featuring the iconic Ghoulie popping out, perfect for adding a touch of horror camp to any bathroom.
• Ghoulies Movie Poster: High-quality reproduction of the classic Ghoulies movie poster. A perfect gift for horror movie fans and collectors. This poster is a conversation starter!
• Horror Movie Trivia Game: Challenge yourself and your friends with trivia based on classic horror films, including Ghoulies. Categories range from behind-the-scenes facts to plot details.

🎧 Soundtrack

Ghoulies features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Dancing With A Monster” – performed by Fela Johnson
• “Ghoulies Theme” – performed by Richard Band

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Ghoulies

Think you know everything about ‘Ghoulies’? This video will surprise you with some awesome behind-the-scenes trivia and little-known facts. Seriously, I had no idea about some of these!

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