In June 1984, the eccentric and entertaining realm of ghostly beings was unveiled to the world with the premiere of “Ghostbusters“. The brainchild of Dan Aykroyd, this concept was further developed by Harold Ramis and Ivan Reitman, resulting in the beloved blend of horror and comedy. Characters such as Slimer, Gozer, and the iconic Stay Puft Marshmallow Man were born from this creative process. The appeal of “Ghostbusters” lies largely in its imaginative and distinctive world-building, making us feel like we’ve stepped into a fully-realized universe where even library staff can be ghosts.
One striking moment in cinema is when Dana Barrett (played by Sigourney Weaver) gets possessed by one of the terrifying ‘terror dogs’. Interestingly, these dogs weren’t initially a part of the Ghostbusters universe. Their presence in the film can be traced back to a misinterpretation during Sigourney Weaver’s audition for director Ivan Reitman, which led to their eventual inclusion in the movie.
The Terror Dogs Put the Horror in Ghostbusters’ Horror Comedy
Prior to the appearance of the terrifying hounds in the film, Dana (Weaver) is on her way to prepare for her date with Peter Venkman (Bill Murray). As she reaches her apartment, she runs into her neighbor, Louis Tully (Rick Moranis). He persuades Dana to join him at his party, which Peter is also invited to. This scene is charming and amusing, but soon after, both Dana and Louis will undergo a drastic transformation into grotesque creatures. Upon entering her apartment, Dana receives a call from her mother. The events that unfold next demonstrate Gary Reitman’s skill in seamlessly blending horror and comedy elements.
While Dana chats casually with her mother, a sense of dread unfolds. The audience notices an unsettling glow emanating from Dana’s bedroom door, and soon enough, she does too. The film’s music grows ominous, and as Dana catches a glimpse of claws scraping at the door, a terrifying creature’s limbs burst forth from the armchair she sits on! They pin her down in the chair, leaving no chance for escape, despite Dana’s frantic screams. Mysteriously, her armchair rotates and scoots towards the now-open bedroom door, leading her straight into her chilling (albeit temporary) ordeal.
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In this memorable scene from the cherished movie, Sigourney Weaver’s portrayal might never have occurred if she hadn’t mistaken Dana’s possession by Zuul in the script. On The Graham Norton Show, Weaver confessed that during her Ghostbusters audition, “I misread the script because I thought the character would transform into a dog. Consequently, when it was my turn to perform, I began acting out this transformation by gnawing on cushions, shaking them, and even howling a bit. As an actor, I fully immersed myself in the role.
It’s hardly unexpected that Weaver fully immersed herself in the character, given her background as a Yale Drama School graduate and her rising fame following her role in Ridley Scott’s Alien. When she auditioned for Reitman, she was already a shining talent. Her acting during Dana’s canine possession scene was so captivating that Reitman paused the recording, stating, “Don’t ever do that again. It’s so grotesque an editor might want to use it.” She recalled him saying this.
Weaver’s Mistake was Ghostbusters & the Fans’ Gain
In the end, it was Reitman, together with writers Aykroyd and Ramis, who decided to use it. They were taken aback by Weaver’s audition decision, even though it was mistaken, and ended up including Dana transforming into a dog during her possession by Zuul in the final production, due to their admiration for her choice.
The film significantly improves due to this aspect, especially with the introduction of the “terror hounds” in Ghostbusters: Tully’s possession. One such scene stands out as particularly iconic and adored by fans. A terror hound crashes into a party, sending Tully fleeing from his apartment building, through Central Park, and slamming him against the windows of the renowned eatery, Tavern on the Green. Once more, it’s another masterful mix of fear and laughter, skillfully orchestrated by Reitman. This is particularly evident when, after being possessed, Tully dashes around the park in disarray, startling New Yorkers and proclaiming, “I am the Keymaster!
In 2019’s “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” directed by Jason Reitman, the iconic terror dogs reappeared on-screen. It’s amazing to consider that these fearsome creatures, now symbolizing the franchise, might never have graced our screens if it weren’t for a mishap involving Sigourney Weaver. This just goes to show that serendipitous moments do happen in reality.
You can stream Ghostbusters movies online.
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2025-05-23 01:38