Ghoulies
A 1984 horror film about occult secrets and summoned creatures.
Ghoulies, a 1984 American horror movie, marked Luca Bercovici’s first time in the director’s chair. He co-wrote the script with producer Jefery Levy. The cast includes Peter Liapis, Lisa Pelikan, Michael Des Barres, Jack Nance, Scott Thomson, and Mariska Hargitay. The story centers on Jonathan Graves, a young man who takes over his late father’s estate—a father who led a satanic cult—and finds himself drawn into its hidden occult practices. This film launched the Ghoulies series. Critics panned it.
Jonathan’s father, Malcolm Graves, once led a satanic cult and nearly sacrificed his infant son. Jonathan’s mother, Anastasia, saved him by placing a protective talisman around his neck. Malcolm ordered a follower named Wolfgang to remove the child, then sacrificed Anastasia instead. Twenty-five years later, the grown Jonathan and his girlfriend Rebecca inherit the estate. They discover books on magic and a basement full of occult items. They throw a party, and Jonathan convinces his friends to perform a basement ritual for fun. As he leads it, he grows irritable. The ritual fails, everyone leaves, but a small creature appears in the basement.
The next day, Jonathan tells Rebecca he is quitting college to work on the estate. She worries, especially when he refuses food, claiming he is fasting. He summons several creatures called Ghoulies, declares himself their master, and orders them to stay hidden from everyone but him. Rebecca later finds Jonathan in the basement wearing a wet robe. He says he was trying to learn about his unknown parents and promises to stop. He gives her the talisman, insisting she never remove it. During sex, a Ghoulie draws an occult diagram under the bed, and Jonathan chants in another language. Furious, Rebecca leaves.
Jonathan then summons two dwarfs, Grizzel and Greedigut, who promise him anything he desires. They tell him he must perform a dangerous ritual with seven other people to gain the knowledge and power he seeks. Rebecca returns and asks him to leave with her, but he refuses, revealing his eyes have turned green. Angry, she tears off the talisman, which lets Jonathan hypnotize her and force her to obey. He invites his friends and bewitches them into joining the ritual. As Jonathan, Rebecca, their friends, and the dwarfs chant, Malcolm rises from his grave. Jonathan, unaware, invites everyone to stay the night.
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- Release year
- 1984
- Director
- Luca Bercovici
- Writers
- Luca Bercovici, Jefery Levy
- Cast
- Peter Liapis, Lisa Pelikan, Michael Des Barres, Jack Nance, Scott Thomson, Mariska Hargitay
- Genre
- Horror
- Country
- United States
- Series
- First in the Ghoulies film series
Lore & Background
The film originated as a one-location horror project by Luca Bercovici and his writing partner Jefery Levy. The concept was pitched to executive producer Charles Band, who was originally slated to direct but stepped back into a producer role after makeup and effects supervisor Stan Winston dropped out. Principal photography began on January 30, 1984, at the Wattles Mansion in Los Angeles, California, after five months of pre-production. During its fifth week of filming, Hemdale Film Corporation was set to handle domestic distribution but later filed a lawsuit against Charles Band and Ghoulies Productions for misrepresentation regarding home video sales and distribution.
The film was in production at the same time as Joe Dante's Gremlins (1984). Warner Bros. sued to stop Ghoulies Productions from using the title but lost. Halfway through shooting, Band ran out of money, causing the filmmakers to spend months searching for funding, which allowed Gremlins to be released first. The film premiered in Los Angeles on January 18, 1985, opening in 350 theaters before premiering in New York on March 1.
Reader's Guide
Ghoulies is notable as the directorial debut of Luca Bercovici and the first entry in a horror film series. Its production history is marked by legal and financial challenges, including a lawsuit from Hemdale Film Corporation and a title dispute with Warner Bros. over similarities to Gremlins. Critical reception was largely negative, with Vincent Canby of The New York Times calling it 'a cut-rate Gremlins' with 'unexceptional performances' and 'badly simulated gore.' Variety noted a 'quaint corniness' reminiscent of 1950s cheapie horror movies, while Michael Wilmington of the Los Angeles Times praised cinematographer Mac Ahlberg's 'eerily lit camera work' and John Carl Buechler's creature designs for having 'a certain nauseating charm.' On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 7% approval rating based on 14 reviews. Despite its poor critical reception, Ghoulies gained a cult following and spawned sequels, cementing its place in 1980s horror cinema as a low-budget, occult-themed counterpart to the more commercially successful Gremlins.
Did You Know?
- The film was in production at the same time as Joe Dante's Gremlins (1984), and Warner Bros. sued to stop Ghoulies Productions from using the title but lost.
- Halfway through shooting, executive producer Charles Band ran out of money, causing a months-long search for funding that allowed Gremlins to be released first.
- The film premiered in Los Angeles on January 18, 1985, opening in 350 theaters before premiering in New York on March 1.
- Hemdale Film Corporation filed a lawsuit against Charles Band and Ghoulies Productions for misrepresentation regarding home video sales and distribution.
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