Ghoulies III

I was a "principle extra" in this silly film ... It's more entertaining than that guy from Cleveland says... Worth a look... Was fun making it...

Charles Band's Ghoulies are back and this time they are plopped into an 80s style college sex comedy, meaning imagine if a bunch of Gremlins or Critters were dropped into "Revenge of the Nerds" or "Porky's." Competing frats are vying for the tinfoil crown in their annual prank war, much to the consternation fo uptight professor (and genre icon) Kevin McCarthy ("Invasion of the Body Snatcher" "Piranha" "Innerspace"). McCarthy finds a mysterious comic book and reads cryptic ancient passages from the tome, which unleashed the titular Ghoulies upon the unwitting college students and staff. This entry in the series is sadly missing the stop motion Ghoulies of the first two films, but I did still enjoy the old school puppet effects. The film was also more broadly comedic, particularly in giving the Ghoulies voices so they could deliver cheesy horror themed one-liners. "Ghoulies Go to College" is nothing brilliant, but it makes to pretensions about what it is, so if you enjoy the horror sub genre of little things attacking large things (i.e. everything from "Attack of the Puppet People" to "Troll" to "Puppet Master" to "Child's Play"), which I am most certainly a fan of, you will likely enjoy the silliness of "Ghoulies Go to College," which also feature the film debut of Matthew "Scream" Lillard, and supporting roles by Jason Scott Lee, Marcia Wallace, and Kane Hodder.

So our favorite Toilet-dwelling Imps are back... this time at a college where they are in the middle of a Frat Prank war after being summoned by an angry professor.

And despite having a pretty good cast, it isn't really that funny or scary. The puppets have a bunch of dialog in this one, unlike previous entries where they were merely mute monsters.

Not really worth the watch.

Ghoulies III tries really hard to be funny, but for the most part is a lame attempt at a horror comedy. The series shifts from the carnival in Ghoulies II to a university during it's annual prank week. A strict professor unknowingly summons and resurrects the Ghoulies out of a toilet by reading (out loud) a comic book called "Ghoulish Tales". So instead of the satanic book of evil from the first two, it's a comic book that brings the creatures back to life. It's only appropriate that the Ghoulies this time around are more "comical". Instead of terrorizing and killing people, their main objective is to drink beer and stare at naked girls on campus. There are two main characters who are forgettable in the film after the first 30 minutes. It's up to them to send the ghoulish monsters back down the toilet where they belong!

I cannot begin to tell you how annoying the human characters are in this film. If you've watched it, you'll understand. Their pranks are lame and pathetic, and the whole time you're hoping that a Ghoulie will get one if not all of them ASAP. The Ghoulies themselves can now talk of all things. Unable to speak in the first two, they have miraculously learnt the English language. Maybe they studied a bit at the university in between scenes, who knows? Ghoulies III basically says discard the first two movies and the rules that accompany them, and just go along with the idea that they love beer and will kill for a good time.

There are some OK moments. The first time a Ghoulie opens up a beer is laughable, and the parts where they were driving around some sort of golf cart was good for a giggle or two. But this movie is not a funny movie. The student characters bring it down with their annoying stereotypical behaviour. Ghoulies III is a major letdown after the well done Ghoulies II.

4/10

A group of little demons are summoned at a college campus and the creatures wreak havoc.

Despite being made in 1991 John Carl Buechler's Ghoulies III: Ghoulies Go to College reeks of the 1980s, when actors are cast younger than their roles, T & A, slapstick and frat shenanigans were in en vogue.

Played particularly for comedy, this instalment benefits from Ghoulies actually speaking and it's dark setting adds some much needed atmosphere to the campus.

Acting veteran Kevin McCarthy knows what he's making as Professor Ragnar. Hope Marie Carlton is notable. The rest of the cast are rang of familiar faces that handle the subject with Police Academy gusto, including lead Evan MacKenzie, Eva LaRue and Patrick Labyorteaux to name a few. It also features a few actors who went onto bigger films, Matthew Lillard, Jason Scott Lee and the late Stephen Lee.

The writers borrow from better similar prank films and a range of creature movies. It's low brow horror entertainment. The flawed practical special effects and production values are part of the fun, going unnoticed with sleight of hand with focus placed on the Ghoulies' jibber jabber and set ups. And yes, for fans Fish Ghoulie does indeed pop out of a toilet.

Overall, it zips along quickly enough not to overstay it's welcome. Watch with friends.