Search - Ghoulies IV on DVD

Craig S. (InnerMacro) from WAUSAU, WI
Reviewed on 8/4/2023...

Same protagonist as Ghoulies I, but no puppets. Instead, small live actors are dressed up in un-articulated rubber masks to play the role of the Ghoulies. My guess is that the guy who operated the puppets was not involved in this film, and so the iconic Ghoulies can only be seen in flashbacks to the first film. Apparently the lack of puppeteering skills, or ownership of the rights, led to a stunningly bad decision to use these live-action ghoulies in a manner quite similar to the first movie: as window dressing on an otherwise dull plot. As with Ghoulies One, I see no reason to call this movie Ghoulies when they play such a minor role in the film. Indeed, they are apparently now “good” as they help save the day, and even forewarn us about Ghoulies IV – Part II coming soon before they thankfully disappear into a vortex. Probably the only 'entertainment' in this movie is thinking just how bad the actor from the first one must have wanted a job - his character takes the cliche of the good cop gone bad to a grotesque level when one considers the dangers of VD. . . only to be topped by the fact that his ex-girlfriend still wants him given his indiscretions. Ghoulies 1 and 4 are their own cheesy storyline, and really not much to do with actual Ghoulies. Only number 2 is worth seeing. It’s unfortunate that number 2 cannot be found in isolation from the others on DVD . . .

1 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.

Ghoulies 4: for REAL fans only!

Joey Hall | 04/17/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Ghoulies 4" costs over $80 to buy, but if you're a REAL Ghoulies fan, buy it. If you like Ghoulies and own "1", "2" and "3" and are QUITE interested to see "4", don't buy it, rent it. If Ghoulies mean everything to you, save up an buy "4" - it's not the best, but it's damn good!"

Where are the ghoulies?

Joey Hall | 04/29/2000

(2 out of 5 stars)

"This is NOT a ghoulies film. There are NO old ghoulies, just new ghoulies. And those ghoulies have NOTHING to do with the story. This could have been an 1 hour movie without the ghoulies. But still, good story."

Unstable viewers need not apply (or The new Suicide Machine)

TastyBabySyndrome | "Daddy Dagon's Daycare" - Proud Sponsor of the Lit | 03/14/2002

(1 out of 5 stars)

"When I see mention that this movie is for true fans, it makes me wonder what torment a person should have to endure to be considered worthy of this title. Having been a fan of the prior three ghoulies movies, I didn't think that Ghoulies 4 would rate very much lower on the "likable" scale. Perhaps the budget would change and perhaps the caliber of the already lackluster actors would diminish, but the ghoulies would still be there, right? Wrong! Instead of giving us those pint-sized hellions we've grown to love, the movie instead focuses on the misadventures of two treasure-troll type characters (who, by the way, are as taller than most children) that bumble around and manage one, count them, one, entertaining scene through the entire movie. Why, god, why?
Personally, I didn't care whether the storyline was interesting or not (and it wasn't) because I wanted those cute little miscreants tearing into people instead of these basically good guy (yes, basically good guy) title thieves. What I received from watching this was not an enjoyable experience, but instead was the shaft that managed to devour an hour + of my life."