Product Details

• Actors: Christopher Lloyd, Tom Amandes, Roy Billing, Brittany Byrnes, Jose Element
• Directors: Patrick Read Johnson
• Format: Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: English, Spanish
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: Unknown
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• DVD Release Date: September 4, 2001
• Run Time: 93 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005LIRE
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #64,457 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "When Good Ghouls Go Bad" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

A 12-year-old moves with his newly divorced father to Dad's hometown and confronts the usual bullies, town curses, and rampaging by the undead in this screen adaptation of the R.L. Stine juvenile novel of the same name. Danny's first introduction to Walker Falls is the police removal of his spooky door decorations because Halloween is forbidden in this All Hallows' Eve answer to Footloose. To make matters worse, his grandfather (the ever wacky Christopher Lloyd) dies in a pumpkin accident and comes back as a goofy zombie ready to help Danny and his new (girl)friend solve the town mystery. Packed with lots of gross-out zombie action and plenty of junior high humor, this PG-rated film contains mild horror scenes, but no naughty words and one innocent kiss. Fans of the book series should be satisfied with this 93-minute adaptation, which may even inspire some young viewers to pick up a book. (Ages 9 and older) --Kimberly Heinrichs

Product Description

Twelve-year-old Danny Walker is shocked to learn that the small Minnesota town he just moved to can't celebrate Halloween because of a local curse. With the help of his recently deceased (but still kicking) Uncle Fred, Danny must battle an army of prankster ghouls rising from the ground to break the curse once and for all - and bring back the magic of Halloween.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Family Halloween Film. October 6, 2003

By tvtv3 TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:VHS Tape

WHEN GOOD GHOULS GO BAD is a made for television movie, based upon a R.L. Stine story that first aired a few years ago on the Fox channel. The movie is narrated by and stars Christopher Lloyd as the patron of his small town. He has everyone call him Uncle Fred, including his own son and grandson and is a town legend. Uncle Fred used to own the chocolate factory that was the town's bread and butter. However, after a tragic accident involving a baking kiln that Uncle Fred had donated to the local high school, he shut the factory down and the town has been struggling ever since. However, with the accident at the school there also came a curse, that the town was to never celebrate Halloween again or else the young man who was baked alive would come back from the grave to destroy the town. Twenty years pass and Uncle Fred's son and grandson move back to town, wanting to celebrate Halloween. However, the townspeople won't have it. Then strange events start to happen and things go from strange to just plain bizarre.

WHEN GOOD GHOULS GO BAD is a good family Halloween movie to watch together. There isn't anything too scary and much of what could be frightening is tapered with a good sense of humor. The story is easy to follow and the acting is fairly well done for a made for tv flick. Christopher Lloyd is always a joy to watch and if for no other reason, this movie is worth watching for his performance. There aren't a whole lot of deep messages in the movie, though it does have a lot to say about the importance of family and staying connected (in more ways than one). Happy Halloween viewing.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars PRETTY DECENT FAMILY HALLOWEEN FLICK October 22, 2004

By Tim Janson HALL OF FAMETOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD

This was orginally a TV movie which plays every year on the Family Channel. As family Halloween movies go it's pretty decent. Not so scary that very young ones cannot watch but good enough that adults will enjoy it as well.

The story was written or at least based on a story by R.L. Stine of Goosebumps fame and really plays like an extended episode of the old Goosebumps TV show.

A wonderful imaginative and fun Halloween story. Of course one must suspend belief for a while, but it is worth watching. Christopher Lloyd is his usual manic self, and brings life to what would be a typical zombie/monster movie without his energized performance.

When 12 year old Danny Walker moves to his Patriarchal home town in Minnesota he finds that the town does not celebrate Halloween, and things are not quite what they appear to be.

An enjoyable movie that may be destined to be a Halloween classic.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Halloween Fun! May 12, 2010

By MommaMia VINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is another great family film based on a book by none other than the Horror King for Kids, R. L. Stine. It's a charming offering, nothing short of great Halloween fun for everyone in the family. I suppose children younger than 5 or so might not be keen on the grandfather (Christopher Lloyd, who by the way, was fantastic in this)coming back from the dead as a zombie, even though it's really quite comical. Truthfully, it got my 6 year old to ask some intruiging questions about life, death and heaven. She didn't seem frightened in the least, and I think the ending scenes of the dead dancing with the fireflys and gently waltzing into dust was oddly comforting. It was funny, it was scary, it was great family fun and as it turns out, is a favorite amongst many teenagers we are acquainted with. R. L. Stine is always a favorite with kids, and this movie won't disappoint his many fans.