Earlier this month, Umbrella Entertainment gave the 1985 creature feature Ghoulies (watch it HERE) and its 1988 sequel Ghoulies II (watch that one HERE) a Blu-ray release in Australia – but it’s a region free release, so Ghoulies fans all over the world will have the chance to enjoy this one. And if you’re a fan of the first movie, this release is especially interesting because it comes with three different cuts of that film!
Directed by Luca Bercovici from a script he wrote with Jefery Levy, the first Ghoulies has the following synopsis:
As a child, Jonathan (Peter Liapis) was almost killed by his father, Malcolm (Michael Des Barres), during a satanic ritual. After being saved and raised by Wolfgang (Jack Nance), who has kept him unaware of his background, Jonathan inherits Malcolm’s house and moves in with girlfriend Rebecca (Lisa Pelikan). Through his explorations of the house, he begins unlocking the secrets and latent powers contained within his new found home. But there are other dark powers at work in the house powers more terrifying, more hideous than anything you’ve ever seen. It is foretold that Evil will triumph and Ghoulies will walk the earth…
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Albert Band directed Ghoulies II from a script by Charlie Dolan and Dennis Paoli, telling the following story:
The Ghoulies are back and more devilish than ever, as they turn an unsuspecting carnival into a house of pandemonium in this wildly outrageous sequel to the original smash hit “Ghoulies”! “Satan’s Den” has received its final warning either the not-so-creepy House of Horrors spooks-up its act and scares some customers fast or its gateway to hell will be closed for eternity. Just when Larry Prentice (Damon Martin) and his uncle Ned (Royal Dano) think there’s not a ghost of a chance that the’ll save their show, they get some uninvited visitors to spice things up. The Ghoulies make “Satan’s Den” their home and profits soar as the demonic little creatures wreak havoc on the helpless fairground. So take a ride on the Ghoulie-Go-Round and play some Bumper Ghoulies – enjoy yourself because the Ghoulies will always get you in the end!
Graham Le Neve Painter, author of the book The Complete History of Ghoulies, provided Umbrella Entertainment with select/abridged versions of interviews that were conducted for the Ghoulies Unflushed podcast, behind the scenes footage from Kenneth J. Hall’s workshop that shows the creation of ghoulies for Ghoulies II, and two TV versions of Ghoulies, taken from VHS recordings. Both of those TV versions included more than 12 minutes of rare footage. As a result, here are the details on this Blu-ray release:
Extras:
GHOULIES
NEW! Two Extended TV cuts with extra footage taken from archival VHS recordings
TV Cut 1 (1:57:24)
TV Cut 2 (2:00:21)
NEW! Ghoulies Unflushed: Audio Only Interview with Producer Jefery Levy
Introduction by writer/director Luca Bercovici
Feature length audio commentary with writer/director Luca Bercovici, moderated by film historian Jason Andreasson
Editing An Empire: An interview with Ted Nicolou
The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Waste: An Interview with Actor Scott Thomson
Just ‘cos of the Chick, Man!: An interview with Luca Bercovici
Theatrical TrailerGHOULIES 2
NEW! Shop Talk: Archival BTS Creature FX footage
NEW! Ghoulies Unflushed: Audio Only Interview with Actor Phil Fondacaro
NEW! Ghoulies Unflushed: Audio Only Interview with Creature FX artist Kenneth J. Hall
Introduction by Screenwriter Dennis Paoli
Under A Magic Moon: An Interview with screenwriter Dennis Paoli
Deleted Scenes
Theatrical Trailer
I have always had a soft spot for the Ghoulies franchise, so I’m glad to see the first two movies sticking around in the Blu-ray era. Now if only we could get special edition releases of the other sequels. And a Ghoulies 5.
Copies of the Ghoulies and Ghoulies II Blu-ray can be purchased directly from Umbrella Entertainment. Will you be ordering? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
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