When it comes to higher education, the Ghoulies aren’t just interested ― they’ll crawl out of the toilet for it! In this third installment of the campy horror franchise, on Blu-ray™ for the first time, a professor (Kevin McCarthy) who dabbles in the occult decides to sabotage Prank Week by summoning three Ghoulies trapped in the pages of a demonic comic book. Once freed, the raunchy creatures party like there’s no tomorrow, trashing the campus and pulling their own elaborate ― and deadly ― pranks. But one couple decides to take on the monstrous menace, leading to an unhinged, Ghoulie-tastic climax.

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Video Quality

Ghoulies III: Ghoulies Go to College finally makes its Blu-Ray debut with a 1080p transfer that is overall an acceptable viewing experience, but it is not quite a knockout. Perhaps we have been spoiled by the 4K UHD Blu-Ray releases of Ghoulies and Ghoulies II, as it would have been nice to continue that trend. While I have no specific details about the transfer, this appears to be derived from a dated master that has not had an exceptional amount of work done to it. Thankfully, the base transfer is not in bad shape in terms of debris or outright damage. There are small nicks and specks here and there, but largely things look pretty clear and stable.

Colors are the weakest aspect of the presentation with the overall palette appearing desaturated compared to what it should be. Hues lack the vividness and depth necessary to make the presentation sing. If this element was corrected, we would be much more pleased with the state of the transfer. Sure, the black levels could use some work, but they are passable in their depth. From scene to scene, the film can look either incredibly clear and detailed or a bit soft and lacking precision. The transfer is naturally filmic with only a small bit of processing and some decent detail in the landscapes, grimy production design, and texture of the titular creatures’ fur and slime. It is great to finally have the film on Blu-Ray, but a new 2K or 4K scan could have improved this greatly.

Audio Quality

Lionsgate Home Entertainment brings us this new Blu-Ray with a lossless DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix that faithfully and consistently reproduces the film sonically. The movie has a surprisingly buoyant soundtrack filled with catchy tunes that typically hold up with strong fidelity. Dialogue holds up without issue, coming through clearly without being drowned out by the music or sound effects. The environmental effects are distinguished well from the hustle and bustle of the campus to some of the more otherworldly sounds. This track accomplishes what it sets out to do. Optional English (SDH) and Spanish subtitles are provided on this disc.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Film Historians T.J. Bowser and Paul Ashford of Project Louder deliver an informative commentary track in which they discuss the legacy of the film, the background of the ensemble, Easter Eggs in the film, how the series has evolved, the design of the creatures, and more.

Mr. Carter Goes to College: A new 19-minute interview with star Evan Mackenzie in which he discusses his journey to acting, getting involved with Ghoulies Go to College, mishaps at his audition, pulling from different inspirations for the character, memories of the production, the release of the film, and more.

Ghoulies ‘n’ Gags – Behind the Screenplay of Ghoulies Go to College: A new 18-minute interview with screenwriter Jim Herzfeld in which he discusses his background, the influence of The Three Stooges on this story, writing without having seen the original films, visiting the set, memories of the cast and creative team, and more.

Out of the Bowl – Making the Monsters of Ghoulies Go to College: A new 15-minute interview with “Location Ghoulie Operator” Michael Deak in which he discusses the evolution of his career, how he came to this project, his contributions ot the film, working with director John Carl Buechler, and more.

English, French, German, and Spanish Trailers (6:20)

Photo Gallery (7:31)

Final Thoughts

Ghoulies III: Ghoulies Go to College takes on a much different tone than the preceding films, but these characters always worked a little better when things are humorous, given how amusingly grotesque the creatures are. This entry gives up any delusions that the film might be even a tiny bit frightening, but if you are open to the idea of a slapstick, supernatural sex comedy, you will be in business. It is not high art, but it is enough fun to please genre fans. Lionsgate Limited has released a new Blu-Ray through their Vestron Video Collector’s Series featuring a passable A/V presentation and a fine array of special features. If you are a fan of the franchise, this is a pleasing package. Recommended

Ghoulies III: Ghoulies Go to College is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray exclusively through Lionsgate Limited.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Lionsgate Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.