Ghoulies II (Collector’s Edition): 4K UHD Review
While I have always been a fan of Luca Bercovici’s 1985 creature-feature, Ghoulies, I found Albert Band’s 1987 sequel, Ghoulies II to be a much more vibrant and lively film. The week Ghoulies II arrives on 4K UHD as part of MVD Rewind’s LaserVision Collection.
Ghoulies II has no connection to the previous film aside from the creatures themselves. We get a new location with all new characters. Instead of taking place in a creepy old house, this time around the entire film is set at a carnival called The Devil’s Den, which is run by Ned (Royal Dano) and his nephew Larry (Damon Martin). The carnival has fallen on hard times and the company that owns it has sent in P. Hardin (J. Downing) to cut loose any acts that don’t generate a profit. It is all about the bottom line with this guy.
Unlike the first film, the ghoulies have a much more pivotal role here. They get a whole lot more screentime and some cool stop-motion effects along with them. When they show up in the hunted house attraction, they generate excitement from the attendees, even if they are killing off some of them in the process. This of course helps make the attraction profitable. Of course, people going missing at the carnival is sure to draw some attention to the local authorities.
Ned believes he summoned the demons from hell (even though they were already there), yet Larry and his right-hand Nigel (Phil Fondacaro) believe he is just seeing things and chalk it up to his drinking problem. That is until Ned turns up dead and they see the ghoulies for themselves. While they want to figure out a way to send them back to hell, P. Hardin wants to capture them and keep them as a profitable attraction.
Ghoulies II is true 80’s VHS horror fun and it’s never looked better thanks to MVD’s new 2160p restoration with Dolby Vision/HDR from a 16-bit scan of the original camera negative. We get both the theatrical PG-13 cut and the restored R-rated director’s cut of the film. The presentation really pops, thanks to the carnival setting. The lights from the rides and carnival games look incredible, as do some of the cheap looking details within the budgeted haunted house. In one scene when a young woman’s hands and ankles are being chewed up by the vicious ghoulies, the blood that pours out is gloriously red. We get an LPCM 2.0 stereo audio track that is above serviceable, but it’s the video presentation that is truly the sell here. If you are a fan, I recommend grabbing this release.
4K SPECIAL FEATURES:
- 2024 4K (2160p) Restoration (16-Bit Scan of the Original Camera Negative) of the film presented in its original 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio in Dolby Vision / HDR
- Includes both the 90 minute Theatrical PG-13 cut and the restored 91 minute R-Rated Director’s Cut of the film.
- Optional English Subtitles
- LPCM 2.0 Stereo Audio
- Introduction by Screenwriter Dennis Paoli (1:15)
- Original Theatrical Trailer (1:23)
- Collectible “4K LaserVision” Mini-Poster
- Reversible Artwork
BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES:
- High Definition (1080p) presentation of the main feature in 1:85.1 aspect ratio (2K scan of the Interpositive overseen by MGM)
- LPCM 2.0 Stereo Audio
- Optional English, French and Spanish Subtitles
- Introduction by Screenwriter Dennis Paoli (HD, 1:15)
- More Toilets, More Terror: The Making of Ghoulies 2 (HD, 16:50)
- Under A Magic Moon: Interview with Dennis Paoli (HD, 33:36)
- Deleted Scenes (HD, 2:43)
- Photo Gallery
- Theatrical Trailer (HD, 1:23)
By: Marc Ferman
