The Ghoulies films are an American horror-comedy series released throughout the 1980s and 1990s and centered on a group of evil little demons usually summoned by Satanic worshipers. The Ghoulies films are thought to be Gremlins rip-offs, but Ghoulies actually started development before Gremlins.
The original Ghoulies (released in 1985) originated in 1983 under the title Beasties. It was to be directed by Charles Band, with special effects by Stan Winston (the two had previously collaborated on Parasite). It ended up being directed by Luca Bercovici with special effects by John Carl Buechler and his company Mechanical and Makeup Imageries Inc. The film was released theatrically by Empire Pictures in March 1985 and was a surprise success on home video. Ghoulies also stars Mariska Hargitay and Peter Laipis.
This film depicts black magic, Satan worship, and the Occult.
According to stories Charles Band tells on his Full Moon Horror Road Show, he was tasked to come up with a great campaign to promote the film. During a brainstorming session he came up with the idea to have the Ghoulie popping up from the toilet. The idea was a huge success and the scene was then shot for the film after the fact. After opening weekend he arrived at his office to a stack of hate mail from angry parents who had been trying very hard to potty train their children and after this movie cannot get their kids anywhere near a toilet.
Trivia:
Began life in 1983 as a project called “Beasties”, which was to be directed by Charles Band, with creature FX by Stan Winston. The pair had previously collaborated on the monster movie Parasite (1982).
Mariska Hargitay’s film debut.
Jeffrey Combs auditioned for the role of Jonathan Graves.
The Gorgon is a 1964 British horror film directed by Terence Fisher for Hammer.
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It stars Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Barbara Shelley and Richard Pasco. The film was photographed by Michael Reeves, and designed by Bernard Robinson. For the score James Bernard combined a soprano with a little-known electronic instrument called the Novachord. The film marks one of the few occasions when Hammer turned to Greek mythology for inspiration; this time it is the legend of the Gorgon that is respun for the Hammer audiences.
Tagline: A Monster With the Power to Turn Living Screaming Flesh Into Stone!
Trivia:
Prudence Hyman’s snake-filled wig was worked by five wires which were attached to a box that was about 25 feet behind her.
Although the UK cinema version was uncut some shots of the Gorgon’s decapitated head were slightly darkened by the BBFC.
Actress Barbara Shelley, who played the possessed heroine, Carla Hoffmann, wanted to play the part of the gorgon as well for continuity, and suggested to producer Anthony Nelson Keys that she use a special wig with live green garden snakes woven into it for a more realistic effect. Her idea was rejected by Keys due to budget and time considerations. When Keys saw the abysmal gorgon effects in the finished film, he told Shelley that he should have listened to her suggestion. As Christopher Lee quips, “The only thing wrong with “The Gorgon” is the gorgon!”
The name of the Gorgon character is “Megaera”, supposedly taken from mythology. But Megaera (“jealous”) in ancient myth is one of the three Erinyes, or Fates – the goddesses of revenge – not a Gorgon. According to Hesiod, the three Gorgons were Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa.
Prudence Hyman was nearly decapitated for real. She was supposed to duck when Lee swung the sword but forgot to do so at the critical moment. The assistant director pushed her aside just in time. The scene was then redone with a dummy.
Michael Goodliffe who plays Richard Pasco ‘s father in this film is only 12 years older than Pasco.
