I know what you're thinking. This is an Ed Wood movie so it can't be that good. Yeah, well, it ain't that bad either. An elderly couple show up at the police station frightened out of their wits having claimed to see a ghost near an old house in the woods once owned by a deranged scientist. The police feel they need to check it out so they send in one of their officers who specializes in ghosts (don't all police squads have a ghost unit?). Another officer is sent who is very possibly the worst cop in the history of cinema. He fires his gun at anything that frightens him in the least. He's played by Ed Wood regular, Paul Marco, played with not one ounce of common sense or normalcy. Anyway, the two cops investigate the house and see it's just a front for the new owner, named Dr. Ackula (I'm not kidding), to run a profitable scam that involves talking to peoples dead relatives. One of Dr. Acula's goons to do his dirty work is played by Tor Johnson who is always a welcome sight in a movie like this. Criswell narrates the film but really is unnecessary to the story, although it kind of adds to the campiness. It is rumored that this movie sat in the can for almost two decades because Ed Wood couldn't afford to have the film developed. If you liked "Plan 9 from outer space" you'll probably at least find this film moderately amusing.
54 Reviews
Bad and not even in a good way
Smells_Like_Cheese27 May 2011
Warning: Spoilers
The last DVD left in my Ed Wood box, Night of the Ghouls. Again, Ed Wood loved to keep me on my toes after being surprised by the last couple of films that I saw that were created by him. Glen or Glenda being a sad documentary that went into a strange warped scary movie. Plan 9 which is just as hilarious as they say it is. Bride of the Monster which is silly but meant with good intentions and a great performance by Bela Lugosi . Jail Bait which turned out to be a good film and was extremely well written. Night of the Ghouls was made after Plan 9 from Outer Space, so I know that he wasn't on his hot streak any more. But bless him, he does try, unfortunately he fell flat with this one. While it's certainly silly at times, with some over the top bad special effects, bad performances there are some laughingly bad moments. But given credit where it's due, I understood where Ed Wood was going with this story and had the creepy elements to it, they just were not met with the limited means that he should have been given.
A team of scam-artist mediums make money out of unsuspecting clients until, much to their surprise, some real ghosts arrive to haunt them.
I don't know if I would recommend this film, if you are looking to watch any of Ed Wood's work, I would say to go for it. But it's a bad movie, like I said, it's the actors and the special effects that really killed the whole idea of what Ed Wood had in mind. He has a couple of his regulars in here, but unfortunately not the good kind with Criswald and the ever larger than life Tor Johnson. But Ed Wood never did judge people, if he did he would never have any friends. I think the funniest thing about this film was the flying trumpet that was so obviously being hung on a string. There are walking skeletons that are obviously being propped up. Like I said, not good effects, but they get a good chuckle. Over all, not the worst movie I have ever seen in my life, but it is Ed's worst since you could give credit where it's due with his other films. However Ed Wood had passion for film and I hope that future generations will see his gift and study his work. His world may be crazy, but at least he gave it a very good try.
3/10
A team of scam-artist mediums make money out of unsuspecting clients until, much to their surprise, some real ghosts arrive to haunt them.
I don't know if I would recommend this film, if you are looking to watch any of Ed Wood's work, I would say to go for it. But it's a bad movie, like I said, it's the actors and the special effects that really killed the whole idea of what Ed Wood had in mind. He has a couple of his regulars in here, but unfortunately not the good kind with Criswald and the ever larger than life Tor Johnson. But Ed Wood never did judge people, if he did he would never have any friends. I think the funniest thing about this film was the flying trumpet that was so obviously being hung on a string. There are walking skeletons that are obviously being propped up. Like I said, not good effects, but they get a good chuckle. Over all, not the worst movie I have ever seen in my life, but it is Ed's worst since you could give credit where it's due with his other films. However Ed Wood had passion for film and I hope that future generations will see his gift and study his work. His world may be crazy, but at least he gave it a very good try.
3/10
So bad it's good
stretchrunner13 November 2001
"Night of the Ghouls" is one of those movies best viewed by a group of friends ala Mystery Science Theater because this movie is so bad it's good. If you're expecting to see a classic horror film, you will be sorely disappointed. If you are looking for a fun diversion, this is your flick. The opening monologue by Criswell is a perfect set-up for the guilty pleasure you are about to see. Edward Wood,Jr did not make his movies with a tongue-in-cheek attitude and the actors seem to be taking their work seriously, all of which gives the movie it's unintended comedic charm. One sidenote - John Carpenter (later of "Halloween" fame) gets to take his turn on the other side of the camera as Captain Robbins. The rest of the cast is basically Ed Wood regulars highlighted by the inimitable Tor Johnson as Lobo. The sets and props are as basic and wacky as you can get. All in all, this film is a true Ed Wood production and a must-see for devotees of "so bad it's good" films.
Legendary, for the wrong reasons perhaps but still legendary.
reptilicus19 June 2003
How can you not like a picture that opens with a man (Criswell)sitting up in a coffin and warning that the story you are about to see may make you faint. Then the credits come on and you see the director is Edward D. Wood Jr. Yes, you may indeed faint . . .but from laughing too hard. This sequel to BRIDE OF THE MONSTER is fun on many levels. It offers unrelated footage from the unfinished movie HELLBORN (some of which later turned up in THE SINISTER URGE) which narrator Criswell tries to tie into the plot: there is also footage of Duke Moore that was shot for a 1/2 hour TV show that is woven in also. What was called "the old Willows house on Lake Marsh" is now "the house on Willow's Lake" and everyone remembers it used to be lived in by "the mad scientist who made monsters". The giant octopus is long gone but Lobo (Tor Johnson) has somehow survived and is now employed by Dr. Acula (Kenne Duncan) a phony medium. Lobo is supposed to be the "monster" in the plot but one look at him makes you think otherwise. Dressed in rags, badly burned, half blind, groaning like he is in constant pain, Lobo inspires more pity than fear. In one scene Lt. Bradford (Moore) does not even seem to notice Lobo when he is standing right next to him! Well this is still a fun movie. The ineptness of an Ed Wood movie is compensated by the sincerity that he put into every production. Ed really believed he was contributing to the movie genre and making his mark. He sure did! Not quite in the way he expected, but look how many people are still watching his movies to-day!
It was a nightmare of horror!
JoshSpurling4 March 2007
Warning: Spoilers
An old couple, taking a shortcut at night, run into "a nightmare of horror" - an attractive blonde woman with long fingernails! The old woman can't quite stop smiling long enough to look horrified, but the police are sent to investigate anyway. Lt. Bradford, a man with a passion for internal monologue, and Kelton, an incompetent buffoon, discover Dr. Acula, a man in a turban.
Acula has been swindling money from the incredibly dense with the old raising-the-dead scam using a floating trumpet and bed sheet. But what Dr. Acula doesn't know is that he accidentally has real powers to raise the dead, and the dead just might knock off his turban! Fortunately for them, he decides to evade them by running directly at them.
"Night of the Ghouls," the long-awaited sequel to "Bride of the Monster," was left unreleased for over twenty years because writer/director Ed Wood couldn't pay the film lab fees. Though not quite as "good" as "Plan 9 From Outer Space" or "Glen or Glenda?" it's definitely worth watching just to see the look on the old couple's faces when they see the "monster." It doesn't get much better than that. God bless you, Ed Wood.
Acula has been swindling money from the incredibly dense with the old raising-the-dead scam using a floating trumpet and bed sheet. But what Dr. Acula doesn't know is that he accidentally has real powers to raise the dead, and the dead just might knock off his turban! Fortunately for them, he decides to evade them by running directly at them.
"Night of the Ghouls," the long-awaited sequel to "Bride of the Monster," was left unreleased for over twenty years because writer/director Ed Wood couldn't pay the film lab fees. Though not quite as "good" as "Plan 9 From Outer Space" or "Glen or Glenda?" it's definitely worth watching just to see the look on the old couple's faces when they see the "monster." It doesn't get much better than that. God bless you, Ed Wood.
Worse than Plan 9, better than Glen or Glenda
lowdowndeeper18 August 2004
Another "Wooden" Classic. Almost a comedy - we've got Paul "Kelton the cop" Marco, a disfigured Tor "Lobo" Johnson and the legendary Bela Lugosi stand-in Dr. Tom Mason in place. Add hovering musical instruments and scary, scary sheets!
Strangely enough Tor Johnson is the real star of this movie. But if Ed had casted a horse it would steal the show.
I only paid 70 kroner (10 dollars if you must) to buy this. And if you like cheap trash like I do - it's worth it!
Although I really like Ed Wood I hope that my vote of 2 will help this awful film where it belongs - bottom 100!
Strangely enough Tor Johnson is the real star of this movie. But if Ed had casted a horse it would steal the show.
I only paid 70 kroner (10 dollars if you must) to buy this. And if you like cheap trash like I do - it's worth it!
Although I really like Ed Wood I hope that my vote of 2 will help this awful film where it belongs - bottom 100!
relatively speaking, a "good" Ed Wood flick
planktonrules5 July 2005
Although this is a terrible movie, by the standards set by Bride of the Monster, Plan 9 From Outer Space and Glen or Glenda, this is not that horrible a movie. Any other director would have cringed at creating this movie, but Wood should not have since it least it shows he improved a little.
While the movie does have some scenes where it is alternatively day and night, this isn't as striking as in Plan 9. However, the overuse of stock footage is once again employed--with about 172,000 scenes of police cars driving down the road spliced into the movie is a completely random and nonsensical fashion. Also, some of the acting is so poor it would be laughed at in a high school play--particularly the old lady in the police station and her husband, "goldarnit". Officer Kelton plays a moron in a way that really had me believing he was a complete moron due to his horrid acting. But, the police chief was fairly competent and Tor Johnson was at his best because he did not talk at all--just let out little whines--an EXCELLENT decision based on his acting in Plan 9! Criswell is back--and this time not as the narrator but as an integral part of the schlocky conclusion.
So why did I give the movie a 2? Well, it shows improvement plus the plot of a phony medium who gets his due is somewhat clever. I especially liked the wanted poster in the wall at the police station. Though it was BADLY made (it sure didn't look real), I laughed when I noticed the picture on it was Ed Wood!
Too bad for all the fans though, as they might expect another Plan 9 or Bride of the Monster and find the movie is just bad--not funny because it's so bad!
While the movie does have some scenes where it is alternatively day and night, this isn't as striking as in Plan 9. However, the overuse of stock footage is once again employed--with about 172,000 scenes of police cars driving down the road spliced into the movie is a completely random and nonsensical fashion. Also, some of the acting is so poor it would be laughed at in a high school play--particularly the old lady in the police station and her husband, "goldarnit". Officer Kelton plays a moron in a way that really had me believing he was a complete moron due to his horrid acting. But, the police chief was fairly competent and Tor Johnson was at his best because he did not talk at all--just let out little whines--an EXCELLENT decision based on his acting in Plan 9! Criswell is back--and this time not as the narrator but as an integral part of the schlocky conclusion.
So why did I give the movie a 2? Well, it shows improvement plus the plot of a phony medium who gets his due is somewhat clever. I especially liked the wanted poster in the wall at the police station. Though it was BADLY made (it sure didn't look real), I laughed when I noticed the picture on it was Ed Wood!
Too bad for all the fans though, as they might expect another Plan 9 or Bride of the Monster and find the movie is just bad--not funny because it's so bad!
Ed Wood's lowest achievement
Polaris_DiB23 April 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Ed Wood loses Bela Lugosi. His "Plan 9" wasn't what he thought it was, nobody seems interested in his hopes to create something meaningful, and so he decides to return to the Gothic horror films he loved as a child, in some sense, maybe, possibly, slightly, to start afresh. And he fails. Again.
Night of the Ghouls loses a lot that makes "Plan 9 from Outer Space" so endearing. It's corny premise has no world-changing theme to back it up. Bela Lugosi can't add his particular brand of screen presence to at least make the film digestible. Others of his stock company aren't even talking to him. Thus, Wood makes up for lost encouragement by adding more silly lightning strikes, a floating saxophone (oh yeah, you can see the strings, just like the flying saucers in "Plan 9"), a man in a sheet as a ghost, and even worse sound editing and acting to basically reach what I feel is his lowest and most incompetent results. Is it possible the man is just trying to fail?
If there's anything redeemable in this, it's that Ed Wood still believes with all his heart that Tor Johnson is scary, and that helps make Night of the Ghouls just as charming and cute as his previous features. Also, this film is at least more interesting than "Jail Bait" because Wood's imagination is out to provide the most random and outrageous results. "Night of the Ghouls" is, and should always be, one of Wood's lesser known works, but for any Woodheads out there it's still worth the rental it undoubtedly remains.
--PolarisDiB
Night of the Ghouls loses a lot that makes "Plan 9 from Outer Space" so endearing. It's corny premise has no world-changing theme to back it up. Bela Lugosi can't add his particular brand of screen presence to at least make the film digestible. Others of his stock company aren't even talking to him. Thus, Wood makes up for lost encouragement by adding more silly lightning strikes, a floating saxophone (oh yeah, you can see the strings, just like the flying saucers in "Plan 9"), a man in a sheet as a ghost, and even worse sound editing and acting to basically reach what I feel is his lowest and most incompetent results. Is it possible the man is just trying to fail?
If there's anything redeemable in this, it's that Ed Wood still believes with all his heart that Tor Johnson is scary, and that helps make Night of the Ghouls just as charming and cute as his previous features. Also, this film is at least more interesting than "Jail Bait" because Wood's imagination is out to provide the most random and outrageous results. "Night of the Ghouls" is, and should always be, one of Wood's lesser known works, but for any Woodheads out there it's still worth the rental it undoubtedly remains.
--PolarisDiB
Not as much fun as "Plan 9"
preppy-320 October 2008
Ed Wood's followup to "Plan 9 from Outer Space". Lt. Bradford (Duke Moore) and patrolman Paul Kelton (Paul Marco) go investigate a deserted house where strange things are happening. There they find Dr. Acula (sigh) (Keene Duncan) who's a phony spiritualist trying to bilk wealthy people by "contacting" their dead spouses.
This is the legendary Wood film that sat unreleased for 25 YEARS because Wood couldn't pay the lab bill! It has the typical Wood ingredients--a bad script, lousy acting (although Moore wasn't bad), a stubborn refusal to make sense and dreadful direction and editing. However it's not as bad (or as funny) as "Plan 9" or "Bride of the Monster" were. This is just pretty boring stuff. It has some fun moments--Tor Johnson's truly laughable makeup job and a bewildering séance (where someone is shot at multiple times and someone is knocked out cold--and no one bats an eyelash) but it's mostly just dull. Even Criswell (narrating from a coffin this time) seems to just be going through the motions. And good luck explaining what the Black Ghost is doing in this! Pretty bad...even for Wood. I give it a 1.
This is the legendary Wood film that sat unreleased for 25 YEARS because Wood couldn't pay the lab bill! It has the typical Wood ingredients--a bad script, lousy acting (although Moore wasn't bad), a stubborn refusal to make sense and dreadful direction and editing. However it's not as bad (or as funny) as "Plan 9" or "Bride of the Monster" were. This is just pretty boring stuff. It has some fun moments--Tor Johnson's truly laughable makeup job and a bewildering séance (where someone is shot at multiple times and someone is knocked out cold--and no one bats an eyelash) but it's mostly just dull. Even Criswell (narrating from a coffin this time) seems to just be going through the motions. And good luck explaining what the Black Ghost is doing in this! Pretty bad...even for Wood. I give it a 1.
Dr.Acula
johncusacksback13 August 2003
Zero stars out of ****
This, the sequel to Bride Of The Monster, is far worse than its predecessor. I can't be sure because I haven't seen all of Ed Wood's movies, but I have to imagine that this might be his worst. This movie is bad and I don't mean bad in a funny way, like Bride Of The Monster or Plan 9 From Outer Space, it's just plain bad. The best thing I can say about this one is that it might have better acting than Bride Of The Monster, I stress might, and the atmosphere is sometimes effectively claustrophobic, but that's it. This is definitely one of the worst films ever made.
This, the sequel to Bride Of The Monster, is far worse than its predecessor. I can't be sure because I haven't seen all of Ed Wood's movies, but I have to imagine that this might be his worst. This movie is bad and I don't mean bad in a funny way, like Bride Of The Monster or Plan 9 From Outer Space, it's just plain bad. The best thing I can say about this one is that it might have better acting than Bride Of The Monster, I stress might, and the atmosphere is sometimes effectively claustrophobic, but that's it. This is definitely one of the worst films ever made.
Didn't completely suck
thewag77724 January 2005
But pretty much. I know this is a 50's, so I can't expect it to be as exciting as something from our time, like Hellraiser. I suppose part of the reason for my disappointment is that I was expecting more ghouls. They only came out at the end. Most of the movie was just some phony medium running his little racket under a cemetery. It was a good setting, so I gave the movie two stars. They could have done so much better though. 50s or not, a movie that only lasts about an hour and a half shouldn't take an hour and 15 minutes for anything exciting to happen. If it had a better plot, I could forgive it being a little dull, but it wasn't much of a plot either. Give me Night of the Living Dead any day.
Night of the Ghouls
paul vincent zecchino30 January 2006
'Night' meets the high standards Edward D. Wood, Jr. It's a minor classic, albeit a crucial one, commensurate with the 1953 psychodrama, "Glen or Glenda", termed by scurrilous wags 'Bargain Basement Equus'.
Previously unaware of 'Night's' existence, I enjoyed it on Elvira's L.A. TV show. I was living in Palm Springs pursuing film work. I therefore appreciated those who bravely film the unfilmable. 'Night' is just that - unfilmable.
'Dr. Acula' is a pun so moronic it would shame a five year old. It defines the film. Clueless starlets wander groggily. A bumbling - and badly overacting cop - quakes before them. Dr. Acula scams the rich.
Sound familiar? You bet. Sham-psychics scamming wealthy swells were featured in Raymond Chandler's Phillip Marlowe novels. Albeit with one trifling distinction. Chandler could write. Ed Wood, well....
'Night' is not without merit. Paul Marco's overblown 'Kelton' could be sold as 'Do This on Your First Audition & It Will be Your Last'. There are good performances. There are bad. There are a precious few which embarrass viewers. Thespian Marco strives for that mark - and hits it.
Cheesy sets used with shameless repetition abound. Watch for the pine-panel door. It's in the police station. It's in 'Dr. Acula's' home. It's all over. Like dog doot. And, please, would some kind soul explain why in all Wood films, walls are hung with heavy drapes? Spaceships, police stations, doctor's offices, the drapes..the drapes... What is the hidden meaning?
As with audition techniques, never do what Wood's cops and robbers do. Why do they flick a gun when pulling its trigger? Cryptic symbolism? Artifice, a cinematic trick to direct your eyes to it? Underscore emotionality behind the shot? One thing it's not is good shooting. Flicking guns won't make bullets go faster. It simply makes them go where they shouldn't.
The camera always tells the truth. Watch the eyes and faces of those gathered round Dr. Acula. Curiosity and awe in a twinkling turn to 'what on earth am I doing here?' You may ask yourself as much as the film slogs to its boring conclusion. Still, you'll appreciate why it takes more than being Tor Johnson to play Calliban. You'll know why Criswell's narration is no substitute for that of Orson Welles. Then again, Orson Welles couldn't produce Night of the Ghouls.
Paul Vincent Zecchino
Manasoviet Key, FL
30 January, 2006
Previously unaware of 'Night's' existence, I enjoyed it on Elvira's L.A. TV show. I was living in Palm Springs pursuing film work. I therefore appreciated those who bravely film the unfilmable. 'Night' is just that - unfilmable.
'Dr. Acula' is a pun so moronic it would shame a five year old. It defines the film. Clueless starlets wander groggily. A bumbling - and badly overacting cop - quakes before them. Dr. Acula scams the rich.
Sound familiar? You bet. Sham-psychics scamming wealthy swells were featured in Raymond Chandler's Phillip Marlowe novels. Albeit with one trifling distinction. Chandler could write. Ed Wood, well....
'Night' is not without merit. Paul Marco's overblown 'Kelton' could be sold as 'Do This on Your First Audition & It Will be Your Last'. There are good performances. There are bad. There are a precious few which embarrass viewers. Thespian Marco strives for that mark - and hits it.
Cheesy sets used with shameless repetition abound. Watch for the pine-panel door. It's in the police station. It's in 'Dr. Acula's' home. It's all over. Like dog doot. And, please, would some kind soul explain why in all Wood films, walls are hung with heavy drapes? Spaceships, police stations, doctor's offices, the drapes..the drapes... What is the hidden meaning?
As with audition techniques, never do what Wood's cops and robbers do. Why do they flick a gun when pulling its trigger? Cryptic symbolism? Artifice, a cinematic trick to direct your eyes to it? Underscore emotionality behind the shot? One thing it's not is good shooting. Flicking guns won't make bullets go faster. It simply makes them go where they shouldn't.
The camera always tells the truth. Watch the eyes and faces of those gathered round Dr. Acula. Curiosity and awe in a twinkling turn to 'what on earth am I doing here?' You may ask yourself as much as the film slogs to its boring conclusion. Still, you'll appreciate why it takes more than being Tor Johnson to play Calliban. You'll know why Criswell's narration is no substitute for that of Orson Welles. Then again, Orson Welles couldn't produce Night of the Ghouls.
Paul Vincent Zecchino
Manasoviet Key, FL
30 January, 2006
An Underrated Gem!
Django-2122 February 2001
I truly believe that "Night Of The Ghouls" is an underrated masterpiece among Edward D Wood Jr's movies. Tim Burton's bio-pic stops before the making of it, documentaries like Rhino Video's "Look Back In Angora" at best just briefly mention it and it just doesn't get the (ahem) credit that "Plan 9 From Outer Space" does. Personally I find it just as enjoyable as "Plan 9" and the opening monologue by Criswell is among the finest moments of Ed Wood's films. Valda Hansen is a gorgeous female lead as the phony "White Ghost" who gets more than she bargained for and probably deserves. The Black Ghost (sometimes claimed to be Vampira, although I'm sure that would be news to her) is classic Wood. The phony mystic's ultimate fate is inspired and Tor Johnson and Paul Marco are as fun as ever. Ultimately it's tighter and more coherent than "Plan 9" (although just as much fun) so if you enjoyed that this is definetly a film not to be missed. Let's help get this underrated gem the reputation it deserves as an Ed Wood Classic!
Get drunk first
Matthew_Capitano17 June 2015
Edward Wood's most outrageous film (along with 'Glen or Glenda') follows the exploits of the L.A. police when they are forced to wake up so they can try to jolt into action to investigate strange goings-on at a local haunted house.
The weirdness begins with the introduction of Dr. Acula (Kenny Duncan). Soon we are exposed to occupied coffins, drunken skeletons, bedsheets floating to the tooting of a kazoo, a levitating eyeball, a disembodied trumpet playing a weak slew of licks, and an enigmatic human head mouthing a drone of incoherent mumbling while wearing a metal hat.
If you think this all sounds totally nuts, you're right. You may want to get blasted before attempting to sit through this delirium.
Semi-sequel to Wood's 'Plan 9 From Outer Space'.
The weirdness begins with the introduction of Dr. Acula (Kenny Duncan). Soon we are exposed to occupied coffins, drunken skeletons, bedsheets floating to the tooting of a kazoo, a levitating eyeball, a disembodied trumpet playing a weak slew of licks, and an enigmatic human head mouthing a drone of incoherent mumbling while wearing a metal hat.
If you think this all sounds totally nuts, you're right. You may want to get blasted before attempting to sit through this delirium.
Semi-sequel to Wood's 'Plan 9 From Outer Space'.
'Night Of The Ghouls' is a lesser Wood movie. It's fun but pretty forgettable.
Infofreak1 June 2004
The story goes that 'Night Of The Ghouls' sat in the can for over twenty years because Ed Wood couldn't afford to have it developed. I've sometimes seen it passed off as a sequel to 'Plan 9 From Outer Space', but it's actually a sequel to 'Bride Of The Monster'. The links are slim but the mad scientist played by Bela Lugosi is mentioned once or twice, and his assistant Lobo (Tor Johnson) appears in horribly disfigured form. As well as Johnson a few Wood regulars are involved, notably Criswell and Paul Marco. Criswell is a hoot as always but Marco is tiresome. He's the comic relief but I can't stand his character who is always whining and screwing up. Duke Moore from 'Plan 9' plays the main cop and Kenne Duncan, who trash hounds might remember from 'The Astounding She-Monster', plays "Dr. Acula", a crook posing as a spiritualist. 'Night Of The Ghouls' is a lesser Wood movie. It's neither as crazy as 'Glen Or Glenda' or as effective as 'Bride Of The Monster', and frankly I miss Lugosi. So don't get your hopes up, it's fun but pretty forgettable.
Bad, in a bad way.
MaxPlumm31 October 2002
I enjoy bad movies, because they provide tons of humor in unintentional ways. Ed Wood was particularly talented in this regard, and his Plan 9 and Bride of the Monster are true 'classics'. Sadly, Night of the Ghouls doesn't deliver like his other films did. The only laugh out loud moments are provided by Paul Marco (Kelton the Cop) when he intially visits the Haunted House. Steer clear of this one, and be glad you didn't drop twenty bucks on the
So bad, that it's not even funny...
Boba_Fett113822 April 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Most of Ed Wood's movies are so bad that they make you laugh. "Night of the Ghouls" is so bad that it's not even funny!
At least other Wood movies are fun to watch because they have a certain campy feeling and goofy characters and dialogs. "Night of the Ghouls" doesn't have any of that. Everything about the movie is a failure and the story has more holes than a Swiss cheese. For instance the police are making fun of it and don't believe in ghosts but yet they have a much respected officer who is entirely specialized in hunting down ghosts, ghouls and women in white. And neither does Dr. Acula believe in ghosts and other things like that but yet he has Lobo as an henchman, who is about the biggest monster you can imaging. Oh and Dr. Acula, next time you're trying to escape don't run directly towards your enemies.
The movie is just completely bad as an horror movie. I mean why would you be scared of a woman who all she does is stare. I don't know with what Ed Wood intended to scare the viewers with this one. Nothing in the movie was even close of what I would define as horror.
The movie also has about the worst scene I've ever seen. The whole séance scene with 3 people sitting at one side of the table and 3 fake skeletons on the other while a trumpet flies around on a wire and some wacky 'comedy' music can be heard and a white ghosts comes by every now and then, while a guy with a what appears to be a good old pisspot on his head make weird faces and speaks incredibly irritating...Oh wow, that was really the most awful thing I've seen since my neighbor stopped closing his curtains at night. It was really embarrassing to look at, it was so awful and sad that it didn't even made me laugh. Seriously the most awful scene I've ever seen in a movie as of yet.
Well, at least Lobo is in it again. It seemed like the make-up was really blinding Tor Johson, he bumped in to a lot of things. And apparently he survived all of the events in "Bride of the Monster" but yet a few bullets from a police officer kills him? As for Tor Johson himself, he was acting horrible but he is such an icon that he still maybe was the best thing about the movie. It was also kind of fun to see patrolman Kelton (Paul Marco) once more but seriously did they really had to give him such a large role?
The crazy narration by Criswell was also completely lame, although not as wacky as Bela Lugosi's in "Glen or Glenda". Criswell also plays himself and the leader of the dead in this movie.
It was a movie I did not enjoy watching and I was seriously bored at times. Even the Ed Wood fans will end up disappointed by this. There is not a lot to enjoy in this mess.
1/10
http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/
At least other Wood movies are fun to watch because they have a certain campy feeling and goofy characters and dialogs. "Night of the Ghouls" doesn't have any of that. Everything about the movie is a failure and the story has more holes than a Swiss cheese. For instance the police are making fun of it and don't believe in ghosts but yet they have a much respected officer who is entirely specialized in hunting down ghosts, ghouls and women in white. And neither does Dr. Acula believe in ghosts and other things like that but yet he has Lobo as an henchman, who is about the biggest monster you can imaging. Oh and Dr. Acula, next time you're trying to escape don't run directly towards your enemies.
The movie is just completely bad as an horror movie. I mean why would you be scared of a woman who all she does is stare. I don't know with what Ed Wood intended to scare the viewers with this one. Nothing in the movie was even close of what I would define as horror.
The movie also has about the worst scene I've ever seen. The whole séance scene with 3 people sitting at one side of the table and 3 fake skeletons on the other while a trumpet flies around on a wire and some wacky 'comedy' music can be heard and a white ghosts comes by every now and then, while a guy with a what appears to be a good old pisspot on his head make weird faces and speaks incredibly irritating...Oh wow, that was really the most awful thing I've seen since my neighbor stopped closing his curtains at night. It was really embarrassing to look at, it was so awful and sad that it didn't even made me laugh. Seriously the most awful scene I've ever seen in a movie as of yet.
Well, at least Lobo is in it again. It seemed like the make-up was really blinding Tor Johson, he bumped in to a lot of things. And apparently he survived all of the events in "Bride of the Monster" but yet a few bullets from a police officer kills him? As for Tor Johson himself, he was acting horrible but he is such an icon that he still maybe was the best thing about the movie. It was also kind of fun to see patrolman Kelton (Paul Marco) once more but seriously did they really had to give him such a large role?
The crazy narration by Criswell was also completely lame, although not as wacky as Bela Lugosi's in "Glen or Glenda". Criswell also plays himself and the leader of the dead in this movie.
It was a movie I did not enjoy watching and I was seriously bored at times. Even the Ed Wood fans will end up disappointed by this. There is not a lot to enjoy in this mess.
1/10
http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/
Was this a sequel or just more nonsense?
bergma15@msu.edu15 November 2005
This is the "lost" Ed Wood film. It wasn't released until 1983 because Wood couldn't pay for the development fees at the film lab. I highly doubt that this would have been the one to break him into the mainstream.
The plot is that Dr. Acula (hee-hee get it?) is running a spook house in the same house that was supposedly burned down in "Bride of the Monster." Tor Johnson also plays the same character, Lobo, who was supposedly burned in the accident. And yet again, Kelton the cop mucks things up with his stupidity. Overall, I really don't think it was intended as a sequel, but in the weird world of Ed Wood just about anything could be recycled. I didn't enjoy this one as much as Wood's other films. I think that he did a better job on this than Plan 9, but it lacked something.
Look for Dr. Tom Watson (this time he actually shows his face unlike when he played Bela Lugosi's stunt double), and Tony Cardoza (MST3K fans should recognize him as everyone's favorite monotone, Coleman Francis collaborator).
The plot is that Dr. Acula (hee-hee get it?) is running a spook house in the same house that was supposedly burned down in "Bride of the Monster." Tor Johnson also plays the same character, Lobo, who was supposedly burned in the accident. And yet again, Kelton the cop mucks things up with his stupidity. Overall, I really don't think it was intended as a sequel, but in the weird world of Ed Wood just about anything could be recycled. I didn't enjoy this one as much as Wood's other films. I think that he did a better job on this than Plan 9, but it lacked something.
Look for Dr. Tom Watson (this time he actually shows his face unlike when he played Bela Lugosi's stunt double), and Tony Cardoza (MST3K fans should recognize him as everyone's favorite monotone, Coleman Francis collaborator).
Not so much bad as it is mostly boring.
mark.waltz24 June 2015
Warning: Spoilers
He's baaaack! Ed Wood that is with his latest attempt at creativity. Kenne Duncan takes over Bela Lugosi territory with his role as fake psychic Dr. Acula (!) who has moved into Lugosi's old house from "Bride of the Monster" as part of his efforts to scam the locals with his promise of bring back the dead. Valda Hansen (aka Vampira) is missing her dark haired Morticia Addams disguise, playing "the white ghost", stalking around the woods near the mansion, while Jeannie Stevens is billed as "the black ghost" who looks closer to Hansen's character from "Plan Nine From Outer Space". In fact, this is sort of a sequel to "Bride" and "Plan Nine", combining both of those brilliant cinematic classics, with Tor Johnson repeating his role of Lobo from "Bride of the Monster" (and nobody recognizing him as the dumb detective who turned into one of the phantoms in "Plan Nine"), scarred with the help of some dried oatmeal. From both films, Paul Marco is back as Policeman Kelton, the dumbest cop on screen since the Keystones and James Burke's continuously typecast detective. It's very apparent that Dr. Acula would have been Lugosi's role (and probably a twin brother of his "Bride of the Monster" character) had he not died several years before.
While the dialog is certainly dreadful, it isn't as unintentionally funny as any of Woods' previous efforts. There are certainly some humorous moments (such as the weird way the fake séance is presented), and Hansen's trick with her hands is also quite eerie. Then, there's the opening scene with Stevens' attack of two teenagers making out on a darkened road, funny with the young girl slapping her boyfriend after allowing him to passionately kiss her, then running out of the car only to encounter Stevens. This insinuates that the "black ghost" is some kind of vampire (and certainly not a ghost) with an exotically made-up look that makes her appear like some sort of Maria Montez like princess. Marcelle Hemphill has an amusing supporting part as a very old lady getting her late husband's approval for her upcoming marriage to a very young man. (Like one of Woods' earlier films, this insinuates "Jail Bait"...) There are certainly lots of moments one will find amusing, but it lacks the camp punch of "Glen or Glenda" and the other Woods films I mentioned, and having only had a brief preview before going back into the vault (since Woods couldn't pay the lab bill), it also becomes his last real Hollywood release, with all of his future films of the sex market rather than main-stream (or middle stream in Woods' case) of this one.
While the dialog is certainly dreadful, it isn't as unintentionally funny as any of Woods' previous efforts. There are certainly some humorous moments (such as the weird way the fake séance is presented), and Hansen's trick with her hands is also quite eerie. Then, there's the opening scene with Stevens' attack of two teenagers making out on a darkened road, funny with the young girl slapping her boyfriend after allowing him to passionately kiss her, then running out of the car only to encounter Stevens. This insinuates that the "black ghost" is some kind of vampire (and certainly not a ghost) with an exotically made-up look that makes her appear like some sort of Maria Montez like princess. Marcelle Hemphill has an amusing supporting part as a very old lady getting her late husband's approval for her upcoming marriage to a very young man. (Like one of Woods' earlier films, this insinuates "Jail Bait"...) There are certainly lots of moments one will find amusing, but it lacks the camp punch of "Glen or Glenda" and the other Woods films I mentioned, and having only had a brief preview before going back into the vault (since Woods couldn't pay the lab bill), it also becomes his last real Hollywood release, with all of his future films of the sex market rather than main-stream (or middle stream in Woods' case) of this one.
Has a great opening scene but goes downhill from there
TheLittleSongbird21 June 2011
I actually liked Plan 9 From Outer Space, it's not a good movie, but it is fun and I just cannot hate it. Night of the Ghouls was a movie I couldn't get into at all really, the opening scene is great and very funny and while Ed Wood Jnr is far from a great director I just can't bring myself to say he is the worst director of all time because of the heart he brings to his pictures. Sadly, the rest doesn't work. The production values are very creaky even by today's standards with the editing slapdash and the effects and sets fake, the story is slow and meandering even for a film that is not very long, and most scenes and the dialogue are embarrassing. The acting is amateurish as well, even from Bela Lugosi. Overall, a bad film with only one good scene that saves it from total disaster. 2/10 Bethany Cox
Yikes!
xredgarnetx4 April 2006
I got about as far as I could into this Ed Wood "home movie," and finally gave up. Wood recycles footage and sets and characters and situations from his other "home movies" to tell us a story about a decrepit house where a mad doctor once made monsters. All I know is there's a cute gal in white who scares people and is in turn scared, and a Vampira-looking woman in black who kills people by covering them with her veil. Tor Johnson shows up as a badly scarred and injured Lobo from a previous film, BRIDE OF THE MONSTER. It's a tossup for worst performance. I will give it to the guy playing phony medium Dr. Acula (how's that for a clever name?). But there is plenty of bad acting to go around. And check out some of the sets! One of the scenes inside a "police station" shows a cop sitting at a desk, with a bunch of plain paneled curtains hanging on the wall behind him.
feeble sequel
jem-710 March 2001
You'd have to be pretty perverse to rate this a '10,' or indeed anything higher than the lowest possible score. Even by Ed Wood's previously established low standard, this mess is just about without redeeming features. It's even hard to find laughs this time. It's ostensibly a sequel to his pretty funny BRIDE OF THE MONSTER, even bringing back Tor Johnson as Lobo once again. But otherwise there are no more than a few chuckles to be had from the inept 'acting' of Wood's 'performers.' Skip it and stick to his earlier 'classics' like PLAN 9 or THE VIOLENT YEARS.
i... i... i can't go on living without valda hansen...
itburnsitburns25 February 2000
i just... i just love her so... i... i think that... actually this is a marvelous film - tor johnson makes every movie a winner, stumbling around in his monster-contacts, and valda hansen is radiant in her "ghost"ness. anything that starts with criswell in a casket is bound to be a revelation (though maybe hard to understand) of the nature of existence and the transitory nature of our humanity. i'm not kidding.
One of Ed Wood's best.
crmurton-117 February 2005
I agree that the film is one of the director's best, and I enjoyed it more than 'Plan Nine from Outer Space.' I wish Bunny Breckenridge had been in the cast though.
Valda Hansen, in a beautiful, flouncy Victorian gown, is ravishing, and she and the black ghost, along with Vampira (in 'Plan Nine', but not in this film) show that Ed Wood would have loved the Gothick style of female fashion - which sadly only appeared after he had died.
I have read the comments here, and a bit more about Ed Wood, and I'm surprised that nobody has noticed that in the opening scene of 'Night of the Ghouls' there is a small 'WANTED' picture of Ed Wood himself sticky-taped onto the wall of the police station.
Valda Hansen, in a beautiful, flouncy Victorian gown, is ravishing, and she and the black ghost, along with Vampira (in 'Plan Nine', but not in this film) show that Ed Wood would have loved the Gothick style of female fashion - which sadly only appeared after he had died.
I have read the comments here, and a bit more about Ed Wood, and I'm surprised that nobody has noticed that in the opening scene of 'Night of the Ghouls' there is a small 'WANTED' picture of Ed Wood himself sticky-taped onto the wall of the police station.
Wow
BandSAboutMovies31 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
How do you follow Plan 9 from Outer Space?
You bring back Tor Johnson as Lobo and Paul Marco as Kelton the cop from Bride of the Monster, you get Criswell to do another framing story and get the character of Captain Robbins to return as well, even if Johnny Carpenter takes over the role from Harvey B. Dunn, who does play a frightened driver in this.
Originally called Revenge of the Dead, this sat on the shelf for years after its premiere. Wood had intended to make changes but couldn't afford the post-production work. The film laboratory opted to keep the negative footage and for years, people thought that this wasn't a real movie or a lost one. Film archivist Wade Williams managed to locate the film with the help of Wood's widow Kathy.
It's also a lot like The Unearthly. The writer of that movie is supposedly the director's wife, but I've also heard it was Ed Wood. The plot is the same - there's an isolated setting, a supernatural carny and undercover cops. Tor Johnson also plays Lobo in both movies, which were both shot in 1957. It also has a lot of stuff taken from the movie Sucker Money.
Criswell starts us off by pronouncing "How many of you know the horror, the terror I will now reveal to you?" Oh Criswell. We're ready. Maybe not for you to talk about juvenile delinquents and drunk driving, but whatever you want to discuss.
Then we watch as a couple fight when the man gets too aggressive. They are soon killed by a Black Ghost. That's when Kelton comes on board to investigate, saying "Monsters! Space people! Mad doctors! They didn't teach me about such things in the police academy! And yet that's all I've been assigned to since I became on active duty! Why do I always get picked for these screwy details all the time? I resign."
Are we in the Ed Wood Cinematic Universe? Yes.
There's also a White Ghost who is really an actress named Sheila (Valda Hansen), a Dr. Acula (played by "The Meanest Man In the Movies" Kenne Duncan; as for the name Dr. Acula, does anyone still fall for that?), a seance at a table filled with skeletons, the Black Ghost (Jeannie Stevens) being revealed as a real undead creature and Criswell bidding us farewell from inside a coffin, telling us we'll all be dead someday. Thanks Criswell.
Sometimes, Jeannie Stevens wasn't there for her scenes. So when you see that, you're seeing Ed Wood as her. I wonder if he wore his angora sweater under the costume.
You bring back Tor Johnson as Lobo and Paul Marco as Kelton the cop from Bride of the Monster, you get Criswell to do another framing story and get the character of Captain Robbins to return as well, even if Johnny Carpenter takes over the role from Harvey B. Dunn, who does play a frightened driver in this.
Originally called Revenge of the Dead, this sat on the shelf for years after its premiere. Wood had intended to make changes but couldn't afford the post-production work. The film laboratory opted to keep the negative footage and for years, people thought that this wasn't a real movie or a lost one. Film archivist Wade Williams managed to locate the film with the help of Wood's widow Kathy.
It's also a lot like The Unearthly. The writer of that movie is supposedly the director's wife, but I've also heard it was Ed Wood. The plot is the same - there's an isolated setting, a supernatural carny and undercover cops. Tor Johnson also plays Lobo in both movies, which were both shot in 1957. It also has a lot of stuff taken from the movie Sucker Money.
Criswell starts us off by pronouncing "How many of you know the horror, the terror I will now reveal to you?" Oh Criswell. We're ready. Maybe not for you to talk about juvenile delinquents and drunk driving, but whatever you want to discuss.
Then we watch as a couple fight when the man gets too aggressive. They are soon killed by a Black Ghost. That's when Kelton comes on board to investigate, saying "Monsters! Space people! Mad doctors! They didn't teach me about such things in the police academy! And yet that's all I've been assigned to since I became on active duty! Why do I always get picked for these screwy details all the time? I resign."
Are we in the Ed Wood Cinematic Universe? Yes.
There's also a White Ghost who is really an actress named Sheila (Valda Hansen), a Dr. Acula (played by "The Meanest Man In the Movies" Kenne Duncan; as for the name Dr. Acula, does anyone still fall for that?), a seance at a table filled with skeletons, the Black Ghost (Jeannie Stevens) being revealed as a real undead creature and Criswell bidding us farewell from inside a coffin, telling us we'll all be dead someday. Thanks Criswell.
Sometimes, Jeannie Stevens wasn't there for her scenes. So when you see that, you're seeing Ed Wood as her. I wonder if he wore his angora sweater under the costume.
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