********CONTAINS SPOILERS********
I've been doing a horror film marathon using Netflix when I came across Ghoul (2012). After I already watched Scorned (2013), Your'e Next (2011) and Apartment 1303 (2012) all which I didn't want to write a review on as they probably would have scored like a 1 star and that's pushing it.
The reason I originally picked Ghoul was because I thought it would be a monster horror but by the time the film finished I had realised I was wrong, however that wasn't a bad thing. There were some very interesting themes throughout the film which I think made the film seem more like a drama. The audience can relate to some of the issues through the film which I found interesting for a horror film because usually its all about sex, gore or hillbillies which aren't really relatable, well maybe to a small minority.
The film centers around three teenage boys who are all best friends and are looking forward to spending time with each other over the summer. They have built an underground fort to play in so are desperate every day to go in it. The main theme which runs through the film is the discovery of friendship. There is a story that goes through the town, the myth of the ghoul. Some say its just to keep the kids in line but some believe it is a real monster that roams around the mines underground. One night two teenagers are attacked, one is killed the other kidnapped and taken to the ghouls den. As the kidnappings are happening, we get to see into the lives of the three best friends. None of them have it easy.
Loss of a family member
Timmy has to deal with the death of his granddad who dies after he lets Timmy go out and play with his friends. He hides a present for Timmy in the underground fort which shows he cares for his grandson. It is sad to watch because they seemed so close with each other.
Spousal and child abuse
Barry's father abuses both his wife and Barry. He is an alcoholic which you find out was due to his friend's family as they had a tragic disaster and he felt guilty. He takes all his anger out on his wife and son. He bullies the other children by calling them names and threatening them. It is hard to watch a man beat up his own child and wife. The sad thing is the mother doesn't even seem to want to leave after Barry is brutally beaten. This is representing the abuse that is going on in the world and that people are too scared to call the police. The wife is in denial which can relate to other women suffering with domestic violence.
Child Molestation
Doug's mother is also an alcoholic, this is due to her husband leaving her. This affects Doug as at night when he is in bed his mother sexually abuses him. The first scene we see this is when the mother strolls in his room and gets into bed with him. My first reaction was shock as I straight away thought it was portraying sexual abuse however I questioned it because the film had shown so many other issues I thought they can't add that in aswell. But they did, and it was hard to watch because Doug tells Timmy in confidence and it's sad because Timmy says he is always there for him. It is showing how strong their friendship is and how far they will go to protect one another, because Timmy also sticks up for Barry when his father starts to attack.
The ghoul isn't a monster, but a man. The man who was friends with Barry's father, he began living underground and killing due to his wife committing suicide along with killing her twin babies. This led him crazy and I think the 'ghoul' was connoting that you don't have to be a creature to be a monster, but just human. Humans can turn into ghouls if you let yourself. The film is conveying that everyone lives with some kind of nightmare or ghoul, which they hide from others. However it is showing that friendship can help you if you let it.
Overall, even though this film wasn't really scary it was a good film to watch.
Please comment with your thoughts!
Cast
Nolan Gould as Timmy
Trevor Harker as Barry
Jacob Bila as Doug
Tim Bell as Martin Kreider/Ghoul
Dane Rhodes as Clark
Barry Corbin as Grandfather
Catherine Mary Stewart as Elizabeth
Catherine Curtin as Carol
Andrea Frankle as Rhonda
Director
Gregory Wilson
Screenplay
Brian Keene (novel)
William M. Miller
****these dates are UK releases and not US.
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