Okay, fellow tapeheads, gather 'round the flickering glow of the imaginary CRT. Remember trawling the aisles of the video store, past the big Hollywood hits, venturing into the glorious weirdness of the horror and sci-fi sections? Sometimes, you didn't want high art; you wanted monsters, mayhem, and maybe a few cheap laughs. And sometimes, nestled between worn copies of Critters and Puppet Master, you found pure, unadulterated B-movie bliss like Ghoulies II. Forget the slightly misleading (though iconic) toilet terror of the first film's poster – this 1987 sequel knew exactly what we wanted: more Ghoulies, more chaos, and a setting ripe for pint-sized demonic destruction.
### Welcome to Satan's Den (By Way of Italy)
The setup is beautifully simple, almost elegant in its directness. Picking up where the first film left off (sort of – continuity wasn't exactly king), our favourite little rubbery beasties manage to stow away in a truck leaving the haunted estate behind. Their destination? A struggling travelling carnival, where they promptly infest the perpetually failing horror ride, "Satan's Den." Enter Larry (Damon Martin), the earnest nephew trying to help his gruff but lovable Uncle Ned (Royal Dano, a true genre legend you'd recognize from countless Westerns and spooky tales) save the carnival from financial ruin. Of course, the Ghoulies have other plans, mistaking the ride's fake scares for a demonic calling and deciding to liven things up... fatally.
What follows is precisely the kind of low-budget creature feature fun that Empire Pictures, under the watchful eye of producer Charles Band, specialized in. This one was actually directed by Charles' father, Albert Band, a filmmaker with his own history in genre pictures, keeping the B-movie magic firmly in the family. And here’s a fun slice of behind-the-scenes trivia: despite the all-American carnival setting, much of Ghoulies II was actually filmed on the Empire Pictures backlot over in Italy! Just imagine trying to source authentic-looking corndogs near Rome. It speaks volumes about the ingenuity (and perhaps necessity) of low-budget filmmaking back then.
### More Monsters, More Mayhem
Let's be honest, the real stars here are the Ghoulies themselves. While the first film kept them somewhat in the shadows, Ghoulies II throws them right into the spotlight, letting their grotesque little personalities shine. We get the cat-like one, the fishy one, the flying one... each brought to life with gloriously tangible practical effects. These aren't smooth, weightless CGI creations; they're puppets, plain and simple. You can almost feel the latex skin, see the slight wobble as puppeteers furiously work them just off-screen. It’s this handcrafted quality that gives the film so much of its charm. Remember how genuinely physical those effects felt back then? Seeing a Ghoulie actually bite down on something (or someone) had a visceral quality that's often lost today. The effects team clearly had fun dreaming up ways for these little terrors to cause havoc, leading to some surprisingly mean-spirited (but darkly funny) moments within the carnival grounds.
The script, penned by Dennis Paoli – who, incredibly, also wrote stone-cold classics like Re-Animator (1985) and From Beyond (1986) for Stuart Gordon – leans into the inherent absurdity. It doesn't take itself too seriously, understanding that the appeal lies in watching diminutive demons run amok in a brightly lit, slightly grimy carnival. The dialogue isn't Shakespeare, but it serves the purpose, moving us efficiently from one Ghoulie attack to the next.
### Carnival of Carnage
The carnival setting itself is perfect. It’s a naturally creepy environment, full of distorted reflections, shadowy corners, and folks already expecting manufactured scares. The integration of the Ghoulies into the "Satan's Den" ride is particularly clever, blurring the lines between cheap thrills and genuine threat. Audiences initially cheer for the "realistic" effects, unaware they're witnessing actual tiny monsters commit murder. Adding to the atmosphere is the wonderful Phil Fondacaro as Sir Nigel Pennyweight, the carnival's diminutive barker and alcoholic actor-in-residence. Fondacaro, always a welcome presence (you'll remember him from Willow (1988) and Troll (1986)), adds a touch of pathos and world-weariness amidst the creature chaos.
The human cast does what's needed. Damon Martin is a likable enough lead, playing the straight man to the surrounding madness. Kerry Remsen (Nicole) provides the requisite love interest and damsel-in-distress moments. But it's veteran Royal Dano, with his distinctive voice and weathered face, who lends the film a surprising amount of gravitas as Uncle Ned. His presence elevates the material simply by showing up and being, well, Royal Dano. It's actors like him that often anchored these 80s genre flicks, giving them a professional sheen even when the budgets were shoestring.
### Final Spin on the Hellzapoppin'
Ghoulies II isn't high art, and it never pretends to be. It's a straightforward, unpretentious, and surprisingly entertaining slice of 80s creature feature cheese. It delivered what fans of the first film really wanted: more screen time for the title monsters and a sense of anarchic fun. The practical effects, while perhaps looking dated to modern eyes, possess a tactile charm that's immensely appealing. The carnival setting is used effectively, and the pacing keeps things moving briskly toward the inevitable Ghoulie-filled climax. It knew its audience – kids and teens staying up late, gathered around the TV, ready for some monster movie madness delivered straight from the video store shelf. I definitely remember renting this one multiple times, drawn back by the sheer goofy energy of it all.
Rating: 6.5 / 10
Justification: While the acting is serviceable at best (barring the pros like Dano and Fondacaro) and the plot is thinner than carnival prize tissue paper, Ghoulies II succeeds admirably at its core goal: delivering fun, practical-effects-driven creature mayhem. It's got more energy and arguably better pacing than the original, fully embraces its B-movie roots, and the carnival setting provides a perfect playground for its titular terrors. It earns points for its sheer nostalgic charm and the undeniable fun of watching those puppets wreak havoc.
Final Thought: Forget cinematic masterpieces; sometimes you just crave that specific flavour of 80s rubber-monster rally, and Ghoulies II serves it up hot, greasy, and with a side of demonic carnival chaos – a perfect slice of VHS Heaven.