In the pantheon of 1980s horror, Ghoulies occupies a curious niche—a film that rode the wave of tiny terrors popularised by Gremlins yet found its own peculiar identity through campy occult shenanigans and low-budget charm. Directed by Luca Bercovici in his directorial debut and co-written with producer Jefery Levy, Ghoulies became a modest success and spawned an enduring, if uneven, franchise. Four decades later, the film remains a testament to the quirky appeal of 1980s horror.

The film centres on Jonathan Graves (Peter Liapis), a young man who inherits a sprawling estate once owned by his late father, Malcolm (Michael Des Barres). Discovering that his father was a satanic cult leader, Jonathan becomes seduced by the estate’s dark secrets, setting off a chain of supernatural events. The titular Ghoulies—miniature demons summoned through Jonathan’s occult experiments—quickly shift the tone from sinister to absurd, making for a movie that is equal parts horror and black comedy.

Bercovici makes the most of the film’s gothic setting, leaning heavily into occult iconography and eerie atmospherics. While the budgetary constraints are apparent, the film compensates with enthusiastic performances and a playful tone that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The practical effects used to bring the Ghoulies to life are delightfully kitschy, striking a balance between grotesque and endearing.

The film’s strength lies in its willingness to embrace the absurd. With a script that wavers between earnest supernatural horror and campy humour, Ghoulies often feels like it’s trying to be several movies at once. This tonal inconsistency can be jarring, but it also adds to the film’s charm. The standout moments involve the Ghoulies themselves—mischievous little creatures that provide both scares and laughs.

The cast delivers performances that range from serious to tongue-in-cheek. Peter Liapis brings an earnest intensity to Jonathan, while Lisa Pelikan offers a grounded presence as Rebecca, his increasingly concerned girlfriend. Michael Des Barres revels in his role as the sinister Malcolm, exuding an over-the-top malevolence befitting the film’s heightened tone. A young Mariska Hargitay makes her film debut here, hinting at the screen presence that would later make her a household name.

Released in the shadow of Gremlins, Ghoulies often drew comparisons to its higher-budget counterpart. However, it carved out its own legacy as a B-movie staple, thanks in part to its iconic marketing—a Ghoulie popping out of a toilet on the poster. This image alone cemented the film in the cultural memory of 1980s horror fans.

While Ghoulies lacks the polish or depth of its contemporaries, it embraces its B-movie identity with gusto. Its success spawned three sequels, each leaning further into comedy and absurdity, ensuring the Ghoulies would become a fixture in the horror-comedy subgenre.

The Prognosis:

Four decades on, Ghoulies remains a charmingly campy artifact of 1980s horror—a film that thrives on its eccentricities and its ability to entertain despite its flaws. While not a masterpiece, it’s a fun, nostalgic trip for fans of practical effects, occult-themed horror, and the quirky weirdness of 1980s genre cinema.

It might not have reached the cult status of Gremlins or Critters, but Ghoulies deserves its place in horror history as a delightfully offbeat entry into the world of pint-sized terror.

• Saul Muerte