Ghoulies 1985

As Malcolm Graves (the enigmatic leader of a clandestine satanic coven) prepares to offer up his own flesh and blood in a twisted sacrifice, his mother Anastasia intervenes, wrapping a mystical talisman around her grandson Jonathan’s neck. The macabre ritual proceeds as planned, with Wolfgang dispatched to spirit away the young boy, only for Malcolm to substitute another victim. Twenty-five years later, an adult Jonathan and his companion Rebecca inherit the eerie estate left behind by their late father, Malcolm. As they settle into their new surroundings, they stumble upon a treasure trove of arcane texts and a subterranean lair replete with occult paraphernalia. In a misguided attempt to spice up their social calendar, they host a lavish soiree.

As the night wears on, Jonathan’s fascination with the dark arts is rekindled as he recruits his friends to participate in a ritual for entertainment purposes only. However, the ceremony goes awry, and the basement begins to churn out a procession of otherworldly entities known as Ghoulies. Jonathan’s obsession with these malevolent beings grows, driving him to fast and eschew all worldly concerns. His girlfriend Rebecca grows increasingly uneasy as he becomes withdrawn and isolated, his behavior becoming more erratic by the day. Despite his promises to reform, Jonathan finds himself drawn back into the fold of darkness, summoning a pair of diminutive minions named Grizzel and Greedigut to do his bidding.

As Rebecca’s concern turns to outright alarm, she discovers Jonathan communing with the Ghoulies in their lair, clad in a sodden robe. He professes a desire to learn more about his unknown parents, but his true intentions remain shrouded in mystery. In a moment of intimacy, as they indulge in physical passion, Rebecca unwittingly dooms herself by removing the protective talisman from around her neck, leaving her vulnerable to Jonathan’s hypnotic manipulation. The once-benighted young man now revels in his newfound power, compelling those closest to him to participate in a perilous ritual that will unlock the secrets of the dark arts.

As the appointed hour draws near, Rebecca finds herself trapped in a web of deceit and mind control, forced to join Jonathan and their friends as they chant ancient incantations. Unbeknownst to them, this very act will serve as a catalyst for Malcolm’s resurrection from his grave, setting the stage for a descent into madness and terror that will soon consume them all.

As Malcolm assertively declares his dominance to the coterie of mischievous dwarfs and ghoulish minions, he issues a chilling command: slaughter Jonathan’s dear friends. Meanwhile, Jonathan tenderly apologizes to Rebecca, and by placing the mystical talisman around her neck, he shatters the enchantment that had held her captive. However, his momentary triumph is short-lived, as she succumbs to a profound slumber. When Rebecca awakens to find Jonathan entranced, she flees in terror. Following her removal of the talisman, Jonathan and the Ghoulies launch a vicious assault, and in a heart-wrenching turn of events, Rebecca meets a tragic demise as she is magically sent tumbling down the stairs to her untimely death. In a macabre twist, Jonathan brings her lifeless body to the basement, only to discover that it contains the grim reaping of his own dear friends, shrouded beneath tattered sheets.

Malcolm materializes with his retinue of dwarfs, revealing that he had exploited Jonathan’s innocence to resurrect himself and subsequently covet his youth. Furthermore, he confesses that Rebecca’s demise was orchestrated by him, rather than Jonathan. Malcolm then uses Rebecca’s revived form as a diversionary tactic, but the dwarfs promptly alert Jonathan to the trap. Wolfgang bursts forth, engaging in a spectacular display of magical prowess against Malcolm. As the very foundations of the house begin to crumble, Wolfgang emerges victorious, and both he and Malcolm vanish into thin air. With their nefarious plans foiled, Jonathan’s friends are resurrected, and they depart as Grizzel and Greedigut bid them farewell with a hauntingly eerie presence. Mike, ever the skeptic, queries the unfolding events, only to be reassured by Jonathan that it is finally over – although his trepidation is palpable as he gazes upon the ghoulish entourage accompanying their departure.