Ghoulies IV (1994)

Well this is the end of my first franchise review as I get to Ghoulies IV. This is the final Ghoulies movie, at least so far. We can always keep hope alive for another sequel. This is also the first time that John Carl Buechler wasn’t involved in the making of a Ghoulies movie. Which probably explains my biggest disappointment with this movie. But more on that later.

This one starts off with a random blonde in leather killing some security guards in a warehouse before stealing a gem. She starts some ritual with it and summons an evil entity that she calls Faust. But she screws it up and has to find the only other gem that can complete the ceremony and bring her master to our world. Unfortunately, that gem is worn by our hero, the returning character from the first movie, Jonathon Graves, who is now a hardened cop. Before things get supernatural we see Jonathon being all bad ass stopping a robbery while spouting one liners. We also get to meet his ex-girlfriend who just happens to be his commanding officer. They get sucked in as the woman, another ex-girlfriend, tracks Jonathon down to steal the gem. Things get crazy when the climactic final confrontation happens at a mental institution. Hah see what I did there?

Before you roll your eyes at my bad joke realize that it fits with this review. There are silly lines stuck all throughout this one. That is part of the charm of this entry in that it has some funny moments. This is not surprising since this is what the director, Jim Wynorski does best. There are some silly characters and amusing dialogue spread out so that there is always something to engage the viewer, even if you are groaning at a bad pun. Personally, I like them and don’t feel like I’m being… punished. Hah did it again! Randomly in the middle we also get a Honeymooners bit with a couple familiar faces wandering in the sewers where they meet a sad end with our leather clad lady. Heck we even get a used condom thrown on one of the actresses! It is that kind of movie and I like it.

Director Jim Wynorski certainly has an eye for talent

I do have one huge problem with Ghoulies IV. If you notice my recap doesn’t mention Ghoulies at all. That is because much like the first movie they are relegated to second banana with the human cast commanding most of the screen time. Is it so wrong that when I sit down to watch a Ghoulies movie I want a lot of Ghoulies? I mean the movie has their name in the title for crying out loud! When we do see them gone are the puppets, replaced by little people in makeup. That is seriously disappointing and an unwelcome change to the franchise. Though they do keep one thing from part III and that is the Ghoulies talking. They have some of the best lines in the movie in their limited screen time and make with some slapstick as well.

This is my least favorite entry into the franchise. But in spite of the issues I still like it. There are some genuine laughs and it is entertaining. I suppose being the “worst” in a great series like the Ghoulies still means it is a pretty good movie. 

© Copyright 2017 John Shatzer

Ghoulies III: Ghoulies go to College (1991)

The Ghoulies franchise just keeps getting better and better. The slapstick and comedy is ramped up even more in this third entry into the series. Not only do we get the extended screen time for everyone’s favorite evil puppets like we did in part II, but the Ghoulies talk now. This leads to what I like to call the “Stooges” effect. Time for our favorite rubber minions from hell to experience higher learning in Ghoulies III: Ghoulies go to College.

After an intro that shows a college frat boy messing around with a comic book and summoning the Ghoulies the action shifts to years later. It is prank week at the college and cranky old Professor Ragnar hates it! When the comic ends up in his hands he realizes that it can summon the demons to do his bidding. It scares him at first, but then he decides to turn the tables on the frats competing for the crown awarded to the best prankster. Soon the Ghoulies are rampaging across campus creating havoc that initially no one notices because of all the pranks. Eventually though the bodies start to be found. It is up to our hero Skip to save his girl, stop Ragnar, banish the Ghoulies, and yes win the pranking crown!

As silly as the previous entry into the franchise was this one pushes it even further. The kills are a blast with more than one of them consisting of the Ghoulies shoving the victim into their magic toilet that is a portal to hell! The other kills are a secretary who is “tongued” to death, a skillet to the face of a Frat Boy, and the best on screen effect a coed meeting a plunger in the shower! Again, these kills are being played for laughs and are more slapstick than bloody. The creature designs for the Ghoulies are pretty much the same from the three earlier movies. Though they get even more screen time and wear clothes. They also get to talk which gives them even more personality than in previous entries. Is this because John Carl Buechler who did the effects work on the first two gets to direct this installment as well? Don’t know for sure but I approve! The one new creature design is the Ragnar “Ghoulie”. The professor ends up absorbing the power of the Ghoulies for the big showdown which leads to a nifty bit of makeup work.

They upped their toilet game for this entry!

Much like Royal Dano in part II the filmmakers filled a major role in this one with a legendary actor. The amazing Kevin McCarthy chews up some scenery as the evil Professor Ragnar. He is having a blast playing the part and acting over the top and this energy makes his scenes the best the movie has to offer. As much as I love this one I will be honest that when McCarthy is off-screen it gets a little slow and boring. Unless there are Ghoulies… they always make it better. The rest of the cast is okay and includes a young Eva LaRue (my wife is a big Soap Opera fan) and the late great Marcia Wallace from the Newhart show and the Simpsons. Decent talent for a low budget movie.

Before I finish I need to explain the “Stooges” effect. Now that the Ghoulies talk and that there are only three of them we get a lot of slapstick. You have some familiar head being “bonked” together and the occasional slap. But what really sealed the deal for me is when you get the “slowly I turned line”. As a Three Stooges fan, I recognized all the bits that they referenced. This and some funny one-liners made the Ghoulies even more fun to watch. This series just keeps getting better and better.

© Copyright 2017 John Shatzer