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There is no Dana, only Zuuuul!
Dana possessed by Zuul; Ghostbusters


Zuul (also known as The Gatekeeper) is a demigod and minion of Gozer, alongside Vinz Clortho. She[3] possessed Dana Barrett in Ghostbusters and both Callie Spengler and Lucky Domingo in Ghostbusters: Afterlife.

Canonicity[]

Zuul in the Primary Canon is developed from Ghostbusters (1984) and Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Zuul (prime) appear in the IDW Comic Series, a Secondary Canon, which follows Ghostbusters (1984) and also includes Tobin's Spirit Guide (Insight Editions).

History[]

Primary Canon History[]

Before Ghostbusters[]

Zuul, a minion of the god known as Gozer, was worshiped as a demigod by the Sumerians, Mesopotamians and Hittites in 6000 BC.[4][5][6] It was believed the souls of the dead were ruled by Gozer and protected by a powerful Gatekeeper and Keymaster but in order for Gozer to rise up and walk the human plane again, Gatekeeper and Keymaster had to assume the form of beasts.[7][8] Zuul was one of the entities recorded in Tobin's Spirit Guide, including illustrations of her Terror Dog form.

Ghostbusters (1984)[]

In 1984, when Dana opened her refrigerator to discover the inside was another dimension, she saw Gozer's temple. Zuul looked from the stairs and the other Terror Dog Vinz Clortho suddenly popped up and shouted, "Zuul" at Dana, only for her to freak out and run away screaming, slamming the fridge shut. Sometime later after the incident, during an intense thunderstorm one Thursday night, Zuul manifested in the physical plane atop the Shandor Building's rooftop, breaking out of a Gothic statue in its likeness. Zuul possessed Dana after she arrived home to get ready for her date with Peter Venkman. Demonic claws pinned Dana to her chair then telekinetic activity sent the chair to the kitchen, where Zuul waited to possess Dana.

Zuul, now in possession of Dana Barrett, acted like a seductive temptress and sought only Vinz Clortho, who had likewise possessed Louis Tully, Dana's nerdy neighbor who harbored a not so secret crush on her. As Peter arrived for his date with Dana he noticed her radical change, but curiosity overpowered him and he proceeded to gain entrance to her apartment by tricking Zuul into believing he was a friend of The Keymaster. Peter asked her for her name and she introduced herself as Zuul "The Gatekeeper". Upon further prodding by Peter, Zuul revealed they must prepare for the coming of Gozer "The Destructor". Zuul then aggressively attempted to seduce Peter, to which he responded by refusing her advances, and insisting on talking to "Dana". Zuul was initially amused but became frustrated after further insisting. She responded in a horrific, demonic voice that, "There is no Dana, only Zuul!" Angered by Peter's persistence, Zuul (in Dana's body) began to levitate above her bed while growling and roaring ferociously at Peter. Later, Peter sedated Dana's possessed body with a large dose of Thorazine.

When Walter Peck shut down the storage facility, releasing all of the ghosts Zuul awoke, sensing the supernatural energy. She walked toward her living room, with a sinister grin, to get a closer look at the ghosts escaping from the Ghostbusters' headquarters. Upon seeing the supernatural energy fly in front of her building she suddenly blew out the wall of her apartment with a ferocious roar, leaving Vinz Clortho a way to locate her. Afterwards, The Keymaster noticed Dana's destroyed living room wall as he wandered along the street below. Shocked, he walked into the building and burst open her door. Vinz introduced himself as "The Keymaster" to which a grinning Zuul replied she was "The Gatekeeper". The two demons walked toward each other, meeting at the center of the demolished living room in a passionate embrace. They kissed lustfully before Zuul led Vinz toward an ominous mythical staircase leading up to the building rooftop as lightning flashed violently.

As the Ghostbusters made their way through Dana's apartment both Zuul and Vinz, now standing in the opposite pedestals once occupied by their Gothic statues, raised their arms to the sky, slowly. Suddenly they were both struck by bolts of lightning which they redirected towards the large temple doors, causing them to open. Once the doors were completely opened, Zuul began to absorb the supernatural lightning bolts, shaking violently and smiling as the Ghostbusters finally arrived and stared at her and Vinz. Having absorbed enough demonic energy, Zuul began to lower her arms down to the pedestal surface, her body thrashing uncontrollably under the force of the lightning shooting through her. As her hands touched the pedestal, a large lightning blast converged on her, transforming her and Vinz from Dana Barrett and Louis Tully's human forms back into their natural, satanic Terror Dog forms. The two beasts turned and roared menacingly at the Ghostbusters before taking their positions beside the crystalline temple doors which revealed Gozer. After the Ghostbusters crossed the streams and defeated Gozer, the full protonic reversal also affected Zuul and Vinz, turning their beastly bodies back to stone, leaving Dana Barrett and Louis Tully trapped inside their respective shells. The Ghostbusters dug them out and they survived, having no recollection of any of their actions while under demonic possession.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife[]

One evening in summer 2021, Egon Spengler captured Vinz Clortho in a Trap and sped away from the Shandor Mining Company property in a company truck. He crashed through a locked chain link fence and drove through Summerville. Zuul took on an invisible form and pursued Egon. On the road to the Farmhouse, Zuul rammed the side of the truck. The truck flipped several times into a barley field and came to a stop upside down. Egon hobbled out of the field with the Trap and made it to the Farmhouse. He threw a lever on a column upwards on the porch and three capacitors nearby surged on. Zuul, still invisible, stepped out onto the field. Egon held out the Trap. Zuul took several steps forward. Egon stepped on a trap pedal but the capacitors died out. He tried again several times but nothing happened. He ran into the house and dug a P.K.E. Meter out of a drawer. It detected Zuul and he heard it prowling around. The lights flickered off. Egon hid the Trap in a secret space in the floor of the study and sat down on an armchair. Zuul manifested in a smoke-like form and crept up behind him. A vague Terror Dog form manifested in the smoke. Egon pressed a button and the P.K.E. Meter arms rose up into a taser setting. Several arm manifestations burst out of the chair and grabbed Egon. Zuul yowled and shot out of the house in the form of a pink P.K.E. wisp.

Two days after the release of Vinz by Phoebe Spengler, Podcast and Gary Grooberson, Zuul chose Callie Spengler as her human host to begin the ritual needed to summon Gozer again. Zuul entered Egon's underground laboratory in its mist-like Sentinel form. Callie failed to notice Zuul because she just learned Egon kept track of her entire life. Zuul mades its presence known with a snarl. Callie turned her head. From the darkness, Zuul lunged and roared at her then possessed her. Zuul, now in possession of Callie, returned to the Farmhouse and sat down on the armchair in the study. Phoebe, Podcast, Trevor and Lucky arrived at the Farmhouse after they explored the Shandor mine. Phoebe was the first to find Zuul but was unaware of the possession at first. Phoebe kept calling out to Callie but Zuul, without looking at her, replied, "There is no Mom, only Zuul". Phoebe and Podcast exchanged looks and slowly stepped toward who they thought was Callie. Phoebe asked her if she was okay. They saw Callie's eyes were red. Zuul repeated, "There is no Mom. There is only Zuul." Zuul's demonic voice came through then she started to breathe quickly. Trevor and Lucky ran in. Trevor wanted to know what was happening. Phoebe called to Callie again. Lucky asked if she was okay. The P.K.E. Meter registered an entity. Phoebe and Podcast leaned in. Podcast got on his knees in front of her. Zuul got in his face and snarled then stroked the left side of his face. She then asked Podcast if he was the Keymaster. Podcast had no idea. Phoebe was aghast. Podcast asked Phoebe what to do. Phoebe pulled at Zuul. Zuul snarled angrily. Trevor picked up the P.K.E. Meter, inexplicably in the study, too, but it suddenly went into taser mode. Zuul recognized the taser and quickly hid behind the chair and snarled.

Another earthquake was triggered across town. As Vinz disabled the contraption Egon had built inside the Temple of Gozer, Zuul took notice of the psychokinetic disturbance developing above the mine and leaped through the window then ran through the fields towards the Shandor Mine in search of Vinz. Once she arrived at the mining company property, Zuul soon found Vinz. She tore Callie's clothing off, materializing a golden dress in its place. Vinz complimented Zuul's eyes. Zuul spoke in dog gibberish. He thanked her, took the flower off his ear and offered it to her. She ate it. They embraced and kissed lustfully. After consummating the ritual, Zuul and Vinz entered the mine and took their places in the Temple of Gozer. Lightning from the crossrip struck them and they transformed into their Terror Dog forms. They awaited Gozer's return in the temple.

Gozer emerged from the sacrificial death pit, dispensed Ivo Shandor, greeted Zuul and Vinz, and it took its throne. The Terror Dogs hopped back down to their places. Phoebe stepped out from her hiding place to distract Gozer while Podcast remote-controlled the Remote Trap Vehicle underneath Zuul. It bumped Zuul's rear foot and Podcast narrowly avoided Zuul's detection. On the second try, Podcast got it dead center under Zuul. He triggered the Trap and Zuul was captured. The Terror Dog form dissipated, Callie was freed, and Gozer's power was split as it was not able to maintain its form without both Zuul and Vinz. With the Remote Trap Vehcile following Ecto-1 and Callie secured, Phoebe, Podcast and Trevor drove away from the Mine towards the Farmhouse in order to lure Gozer there. Vinz attacked Ecto-1 in Summerville and attempted to retrieve the Trap containing Zuul, but was ultimately unsuccessful.

After returning to the Farmhouse, Phoebe stood near the porch and held the Trap containing Zuul out to lure Gozer into the Trap Field. The trap failed, however, and Gozer used Lucky's Proton Stream to pull her away from the others. Vinz cut Lucky off from Phoebe and Callie, and Gozer seized the Trap. Gozer broke it open and freed Zuul. Zuul possessed Lucky and transformed again into her Terror Dog form. Zuul's restoration also allowed Gozer to reform. After Peter, Ray and Winston arrived, Peter taunted Gozer. Vinz attempted to charge forward, only to be stopped by Gozer. Zuul and Vinz could only watch on as the Ghostbusters, aided by Phoebe and the ghost of Egon, caught Gozer in a Proton Stream, and Trevor powered the Trap Field with the gunner seat's Proton Pack. With the Traps charged, Callie triggered them. Every entity on and around the property was captured, including Zuul. Zuul's body became a black husk. Lucky pushed one of her hands out and Trevor broke her out.

Secondary Canon History[]

IDW Comic Series[]

1000 years ago, give or take, as a protracted civil war between the Autobots and Decepticons came to an end on Cybertron when the former left the planet. The Decepticons were unable to pursue them due to the presence of Gozer, Zuul, and Vinz Clortho. Megatron, Shockwave, Soundwave, and Starscream approached the Temple of Gozer.

Zuul appeared at Gozer's side when he induced telepathic contact with Ray during the Tiamat incident. Over a year after the Rowan North incident, the team learned about Gozer, Zuul, and Vinz Clortho from the original team after their dimensions accidentally overlapped from an accident with the Interspatial Teleportation Unit. Patty remembered the name "Zuul" and asked if that meant her team would one day fight Gozer. Kylie Griffin believed if Gozer manifested in their dimension, it would only be an echo.

Tertiary Canon History[]

Ghostbusters 2016[]

In Ghostbusters (2016) film at some point after the Rowan North incident, Patty Tolan listened to an EVP recording and heard the name "Zuul" then asked the other Ghostbusters if they knew anything about it.[9] Note, a Terror dog statue can be seen floating briefly in the Portal. Terror Dogs were present as a enemy in Ghostbusters Activision Video Game (2016).

Ghostbusters: The Board Game[]

"Ghost Card Information"
Side A:

  • To Hit: 4 or higher
  • To Trap: Zuul cannot be Trapped.
  • When Hit: Moves 1 space towards that Ghostbuster.
  • When Missed: Moves 1 space at random, then 1 space towards that Ghostbuster, or towards Vinz Clortho if it is on the map.
  • Special:
    • Fear - Ghostbusters adjacent to Zuul cannot take Actions.
    • Zuul cannot move through obstacles or leave the map.
    • Push- When Zuul moves into a Ghostbuster's space, they get Slimed and are moved 1 space in the same direction.

Side B: Zuul is a demigod and loyal minion to the Sumerian shape-shifting god of destruction, Gozer the Gozerian. Zuul, known as the Gatekeeper, and Vinz Clortho the Keymaster are harbingers of destruction and primary agents for summoning Gozer.

Zuul appears as a corporeal Terror Dog, which is a large, powerful demonic monster with two horms and glowing red eyes. Zuul is able to possess a human being as a vessel in order to complete the ritual needed to secure Gozer's arrival.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife ScARe[]

Zuul appeared in a video message for the recruit, having possessed Lucky. Stating that Gozer was coming, Zuul said to wait for the sign and once "the prisoners" would be released, humanity would perish in flame. After releasing Lucky, Zuul let out a roar.

Zuul eventually engaged the recruit during their battle with Vinz Clortho, sneaking up on them with its invisibility before ambushing them. After being partially defeated, Zuul retreated through a portal and allowed Clortho to deal with them. Reappearing after Clortho was trapped, Zuul resumed its fight with the recruit before eventually being trapped.

Zuul was eventually freed from the Containment Unit by Gozer. However, it was recaptured by the recruit using the Trap Field.

Description[]

Zuul is a large, horned, dog-like beast with blazing eyes known as a Terror Dog.

As a Sentinel, Zuul becomes an ethereal bipedal entity resembling a mist.

Personality[]

Zuul is more seductive and tempered than Vinz, as it was able to secretively ambushed Dana and Callie before possessing them.

Zuul is female because it has been shown to possess female hosts and its horns are noticeably shorter than Vinz's.

Powers[]

Zuul has the power of possession and shape shifting. It has taken on the corporeal Terror Dog form, an invisible form, an ethereal Sentinel form that resembles a mist, and a P.K.E. wisp. Zuul has demonstrated the ability to materialize several demonic arms out of physical objects and materialize clothing. In conjunction with Vinz Clortho, she can open a portal that Gozer uses to cross over into the physical plane.

Classification[]

Secondary Canon Classification[]

IDW Comics/Insight Editions Classification[]

Zuul is a Class 7 fully corporeal possessor.[10]

Tertiary Canon Classification[]

Ghostbusters: The Board Game Classification[]

Zuul is a Class 6.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife ScARe Classification[]

Zuul is a Class 7.

Egon's Journal Classification[]

On page 6 of Egon's Journal, a supplement of the Hasbro Haslab Ghostbusters Plasma Series Spengler's Proton Pack, Zuul is listed as a Class 6 Fully Corporeal Possessor.

Quotes[]

  • "I am Zuul. I am the Gatekeeper."
  • "Take me now... subcreature!"
  • "There is no Dana, only Zuuuul!"

Trivia[]

Ghostbusters (1984) Trivia[]

  • Zuul was originally a generic term for the other-dimensional creature that would later evolve into the Terror Dogs.[11]
  • In a deleted scene in the June 6 (and July 6), 1983 drafts, Zuul felt sorry for a horse in a bridle and harness and kissed it.[12]
  • The Terror Dog stone statue paw that breaks was made with a soft carve-able foam covered with a thin layer of plaster.[13]
  • In the scene where Zuul grabs Dana, the bulging door effect was executed by stretching a thick sheet of latex rubber over a special door frame and makeshift handles attached to irregularly-shaped pieces of foam pushed against the elastic door.[14]
  • Originally, the three arms that grab Dana were different - one human, one hook, and one green frog-like sucker arm. Ivan Reitman thought the sucker arm was too cartoonish and it was discarded.[15][16]
  • The three arms were worn as glove appliances by three puppeteers who positioned themselves beneath Dana's arm chair or simply out of camera range.[17]
  • The hairy arm from the chair scene was made with yak hair. It was punched in the arm with a filed down sewing needle that resembled a harpoon with a wood dowel handle. A silicone oil was used to lubricate the needle.[18]
  • For the one shot of Zuul in Dana's kitchen, an articulated Terror Dog was finished later in production around the last days of shooting. As a result, the trashed set was completely rebuilt by John DeCuir and his crew for the one shot to be filmed.[19]
  • Ivan Reitman provided all of the unearthly voices, such as Dana's demonic Zuul voice and Slimer, except for Gozer's.[20][21]

Ghostbusters: Afterlife Trivia[]

  • The billowing smoke was a practical effect using dry ice.[22]
  • Zuul attacks Egon in a similar way she attacked Dana Barrett in the first movie with multiple arms popping out of the chair.
  • Arjen Tuiten, Special Make-Up & Live Acton Creature Effects Designer, puppeteered one of the Zuul arms. Tuiten's shop built the arms. There is more footage filmed of Zuul attacking Egon in the chair and is "quite violent."[23]
  • Zuul leaves the Farmhouse in the form of a pink energy wisp like when the ghosts are released from the Containment Unit in the first movie.
  • Phoebe finds a small statue of Zuul's sentinel form on the desk in Egon's study when she first enters the Farmhouse.
  • The teenagers looking down the Shandor mine shaft and seeing a figure say "Gozer" mirrors the first movie when Dana Barrett looked in her refrigerator and sees a Terror Dog say "Zuul".
  • Possessed Callie's line "There is no Mom, only Zuul" is a callback to the first movie, Chapter 19: Peter's Date with Zuul, when she possessed Dana Barrett and told Peter, "There is no Dana, only Zuul."
    • The line was Jason Reitman's idea.[24]
  • Possessed Callie breathes heavily just like possessed Dana did in bed when the containment grid was shut down in the first movie, Chapter 21: Out of Biz.
  • When Zuul finds Vinz, he is lying down in a pose mirroring one Zuul did in the first movie, Chapter 25: Working the Crowd.
  • It is revealed Zuul materializes a shiny dress from her host's clothing, the dress being a callback to a similar outfit possessed Dana wore in the first movie, Chapter 19: Peter's Date with Zuul and for the rest of the movie.
  • Possessed Callie and Grooberson's transformation into Terror Dogs mirrors Dana Barrett and Louis Tully's transformation in the first movie, Chapter 25: Working the Crowd.

Ghostbusters: The Video Game Trivia[]

IDW Comics Trivia[]

Insight Editions Trivia[]

  • On page 82 of Tobin's Spirit Guide, it is mentioned Vinz Clortho and Zuul are the most powerful members of their race.[30]

Ghostbusters: The Computer Game Trivia[]

  • In Ghostbusters: The Computer Game (David Crane), computer versions and the Sega Master System version have her possessed form represented on the map screen (as a key-lock or a small female human in dress depending on the version) wandering the streets until the PK Energy reaches 9999/red, which then she goes to the Zuul/Zule building. While not named, she is also represented as a Terror Dog on the final battle scene in all but the Atari 2600 version of the game. The NES and Master System versions have her spawning small energy balls to shoot at the player.

Ghostbusters: The Board Game Trivia[]

  • Zuul was added as a Kickstarter exclusive character to Cryptozotic Entertainment's Ghostbusters: The Board Game after the $350,000 stretch goal was achieved. She can only be acquired by backing the game during its fundraising period. The fundraising period ends March 11, 2015.[31]
  • On February 11, 2015, the 2nd stretch goal of Ghostbusters: The Board Game, $350,000, was introduced: Zuul. Zuul was the first to be limited to only Paranormal and Mass Hysteria backers.[32] Zuul was later unlocked and the 3rd stretch goal, $400,000, was introduced: Vinz Clortho.[33]
  • On Zuul's character card in Ghostbusters: The Board Game
    • The caption on the photograph quotes Peter's "So, she's a dog" line from the first movie when the Ghostbusters see Dana and Louis transformed into Terror Dogs.
      • The biography mentions Gozer and Vinz Clortho.

Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed Trivia[]

  • In Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed, Act 3 Scene 3, Eddy Chan states Nameless is weaker than Zuul.
  • One of the three ghosts added to Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed in the DLC #2 update is the Terror Sentinel based on the Sentinel form of the Terror Dogs seen in Afterlife. Its ultimate ability is Terror Claws, in which several arms raise up through the floor around the person that triggers the trap.

Appearances[]

Primary Canon Appearances[]

Secondary Canon Appearances[]

Tertiary Canon Appearances[]



References[]

  1. TCU Collectibles facebook "Mark Bryan Wilson (Slimer Performer/Creature Shop, Ghostbusters) Interview" 42:26-42:51 8/30/2020 Mark Bryan Wilson says: "So the puppeteer for the Terror Dogs would have been myself. Tim Lawrence would have been on the one which would have been Vinz's character and Terri Hardin and her husband at the time was Ron. So Ron and Terri were on the other and they switched back and forth occasionally so that Ron got a chance to be on the inside."
  2. William Forsche facebook 11/19/2017
  3. Wallace, Daniel (2015). Ghostbusters The Ultimate Visual History, p. 97. Insight Editions, San Rafael CA USA, ISBN 9781608875108. John Bruno says: "Then we just had to switch the horns back and forth. The girl had smaller horns, and the guy had a slightly longer set."
  4. Peter Venkman (1999). Ghostbusters - Chapter 14: Welcome Aboard (1984) (DVD ts. 43:33-43:39). Columbia Pictures. Peter says: "Well, the name 'Zuul' refers to a demigod worshiped around 6000 B.C. by the...what's that word?"
  5. Peter Venkman (1999). Ghostbusters - Chapter 14: Welcome Aboard (1984) (DVD ts. 43:41-43:44). Columbia Pictures. Peter says: "Hittites, Mesopotamians, and Sumerians."
  6. Dana Barrett (1999). Ghostbusters - Chapter 14: Welcome Aboard (1984) (DVD ts. 43:47-43:48). Columbia Pictures. Dana says: "Zuul was the minion of Gozer."
  7. Podcast (2022). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Chapter 6 (2021) (Blu-Ray ts. 37:58-38:25). Sony Pictures. Podcast says: "The Sumerians believed in a land of the dead, a dark and shadowy realm within the bowels of the earth. The souls of the dead are ruled by a mighty god, Gozer, and protected by a powerful Gatekeeper and Keymaster, in order that Gozer might rise up and walk the human plane again. The Gatekeeper and Keymaster must assume the form of beasts ."
  8. Phoebe Spengler (2022). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Chapter 14 (2021) (Blu-Ray ts. 01:30:47-01:30:50). Sony Pictures. Phoebe Spengler says: "She needs both of them. No Gatekeeper, no Gozer."
  9. Patty Tolan (2016). Ghostbusters (2016 Movie) Extended Edition; Chapter 16 (2016) (Blu-Ray ts. 2:13:27-2:13:33). Sony Pictures. Patty Tolan says: "Yeah. I heard something really weird. What's "Zuul"?"
  10. Narrator (2016). Insight Editions- "Tobin's Spirit Guide" (2016) (Book p.82). Paragraph reads: "CLASS VII. FULLY CORPOREAL POSSESSORS."
  11. Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters, p. 125 annotation. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0918432685. Paragraph reads: "In Dan Aykroyd's original script, the root of New York's widespread psychic disturbances lay in the fact that a 'Zuul' -- a generic term for the other-dimensional creature which would later evolve into the Terror Dogs -- had somehow strayed out of its rightful time and place and was being held captive by the Ghostbusters' employer, himself a transdimensional being. Unfortunately, the Zuul happened to be a favored pet of the all-powerful Gozer -- absolute ruler of the sixth dimension -- who, it seemed, would stop at nothing to recover it. When this concept was superseded in subsequent drafts, Zuul became a given name for the female Terror Dog, which -- along with her like companion Vinz Clortho -- is seeking refuge from the Gozer in New York."
  12. Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters, p. 124 annotation. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0918432685. Paragraph reads: "The exchange between Louis and the horse harkens back to a deleted scene from the June and July drafts in which Venkman and the alien Zuul -- masquerading as human in Dana's body -- leave the restaurant and encounter several carriage horses. Noticing the bridles and harnesses, Zuul inquires if they are prisoners. Uncertain of her reaction, Venkman responds promptly: "No, no. They're volunteers. This is considered a good job for a horse." "They look so sad," Zuul laments, and then kisses one of the beasts with enough genuine emotion to elicit a worried look from the carriage driver. In the June draft, Venkman pulls her away and segues -- ever so smoothly -- into an invitation which leads to his surprise wakeup the next morning: "You know, I was just thinking. No trip to this dimension would be complete without a visit to the Times Square Motor Hotel."
  13. The Containment Unit YouTube "Terri Hardin (Zuul, Ghostbusters) Interview" 1:43:15-1:43:46 1/2/2021 Terri Hardin says: "So in the opening of Ghostbusters when the stone dog cracks the paw, cracks through. That is a soft foam, carve-able foam like with flowers so it's a foam carved-we did a lot of foam carving-but it's actually carved out of foam and then you put a thin layer of plaster over it and then you can actually break it and it looks like rock but it's the way they painted it to make it look like it's the stone."
  14. Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters, p. 111 annotation. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0918432685. Paragraph reads: "During production, it was decided to augment the eerie light effect by having the door actually bulge outward, as though some unearthly force was trying to push through it. To achieve the effect, Chuck Gaspar and his crew constructed a special door frame over which they stretched a thick sheet of latex rubber. Makeshift handles were then attached to irregularly-shaped pieces of foam -- early tests for the standing mounds of melted marshmallow required later in the film -- thereby allowing the lumpy foam shapes to be pushed against the elastic door from behind to create the desired indentations."
  15. Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters, p. 112 annotation. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0918432685. Paragraph reads: "Through the final three drafts of the script consistently described Dana's chairborne assault by two pairs of inhuman hands, it was decided from a practical point of view to limit the total number of hands to two. Curiously, the sequence ended up with three."
  16. Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters, p. 112 annotation. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0918432685. Michael Gross says: "It was always the intention to have only two, but when Thom Enriquez storyboarded the sequence, he showed the movement of one of the arms by drawing it in two positions, with cartoon-style movement lines in between. This drawing was misunderstood by the guys in the 'monster shop,' so they built three -- and since they had, we used them. When it came time to shoot the scene, Ivan decided to have the third arm come right up between Sigourney's legs. It really made the sequence much more terrifying and threatening. Originally, each arm was different. One was a human arm, one had a hook on the end of it and one was a green, frog-like sucker arm. Ivan didn't like the sucker arm -- he thought it looked too cartoonish -- so we ended up with two human arms and the one with the hook."
  17. Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters, p. 113 annotation. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0918432685. Paragraph reads: "The arms were constructed in the Entertainment Effects Group 'ghost shop' and were worn as glove appliances by three puppeteers who positioned themselves beneath the chair or otherwise out of camera range."
  18. Craig Caton-Largent deviantArt "Ghostbusters hairwork" 7/7/13 Paragraph reads: "Hair work for one of the arms that comes out of a chair and grabs Sigourney Weaver in Ghostbusters. Yak hair was used and hand punched in with a filed down sewing needle that resembled a harpoon that can sorta be seen in the top of the picture with a wood dowel handle. The little jar with the red top contained silicone oil that was used to lubricate the needle."
  19. Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters, p. 112 annotation. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0918432685. Michael Gross says: "Articulated puppets take a long time to build -- and we knew the articulated Terror Dog wouldn't be ready until our last couple days of shooting. So all of the shots requiring an articulated dog, such as the one in Dana's kitchen, had to wait until the very end. Unfortunately, by that time, Dana's apartment set had been completely trashed for later scenes in the film -- holes knocked in the walls and floors torn up and that sort of thing. So after everything else was done, John DeCuir and his crew had to go in and put that set completely back together -- for one Terror Dog shot."
  20. Ivan Reitman (2005). Ghostbusters- Commentary (2005) (DVD ts. 56:49-57:02). Columbia TriStar Home Video. Ivan Reitman says: "I actually do the voice, the deep voice of...that's me. I did Slimer and the voice that comes out of her here. "
  21. Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters, p. 127 annotation. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0918432685. Paragraph reads: "In an unusual twist on the directorial cameo, Dana's demonic voice -- reminiscent of Mercedes McCambridge's intonations in The Exorcist -- was actually that of Ivan Reitman. Reitman, in fact, provided all of the unearthly voices in the film, except that of Gozer."
  22. IGN YouTube "Ghostbusters: Afterlife - Exclusive Trailer Breakdown with Director Jason Reitman" 05:00-05:13 7/26/2021 Jason Reitman says: "First, you have the shot of the dry ice coming out of the chimney. And this is just another example of how much we wanted to do things practically. I think these days, you know, they would just do that all CG but we wanted to do practical effects as much as humanly possible."
  23. Ghostbusters Interdimensional Crossrip "#743 - Arjen Tuiten, Special Make-Up & Live Acton Creature Effects Designer" 40:17-40:37 11/29/2021 Arjen Tuiten says: "We did build the chair arms that grab Egon in the beginning of the film. I puppeteered one of them but unfortunately, the cut is so fast, we don't see quite what they are. Because what we shot was quite violent actually. Grabbing him and basically that's it. That's the end of Egon."'
  24. Hewitt, Chris (2022). Empire Magazine Issue 398 April 2022, p. 57. Bauer Media Group, Harborough, Leicester, United Kingdom. Jason Reitman says: "I'm going to take credit for that because I remember saying to Gil as we were talking about the possession moment, 'There is no Mom, only Zuul,' and he just lit up. Zuul's got a catchphrase so if Zuul were to make a reappearance, I guess that has to come back."
  25. Dille, Flint & Platten, John Z. (2009). Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Draft Revision February 11, 2008) (Script p. 124). Peter Venkman says: "What can I say? I've got a thing for levitating women."
  26. Dille, Flint & Platten, John Z. (2009). Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Draft Revision February 11, 2008) (Script p. 227). Winston Zeddemore says: "At Dana's apartment the night she turned into a dog."
  27. World of Gozer Audio Displays; Board of Trustees area (2009). Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Realistic Versions) - Museum of (Super)Natural History Level (2009) (Video Game). Terminal Reality. Audio Display says: "Gozer the Destroyer became Gozer the Traveler, voyaging to multiple worlds and conquering them. In a key aspect of the legend, Gozer allowed one hero from each world to choose its own Destructor Form. Gozer would then manifest in the chosen form to destroy and conquer that world. Gozer gained access to each world via the coupling of two demigod ambassadors, a Keymaster and a Gatekeeper. History only reveals the names of two of these minions, Vinz Clortho and Zuul. It is believed there are many others. Gozer the Destroyer--"
  28. Reddit AMA "AMA with the developers of 2009's Ghostbusters: The Video Game!" 7/16/16 Drew Haworth says: "Temple of Gozer was a really cool level pitched by Lead Game Designer Steven Cluff that didn't make it into production. Both Zuul & Vinz Clortho made appearances."
  29. Discover Magazine "Meet Zuul crurivastator: I Ain't 'Fraid Of No Ankylosaur" 5/9/17
  30. Narrator (2016). Insight Editions- "Tobin's Spirit Guide" (2016) (Book p.82). Paragraph reads: "The most powerful members of a race of other-dimensional, bearlike creatures that have sometimes been referred to as "terror dogs," Vinz Clortho and Zuul were possessing entities that could take over the bodies of any mortal species."
  31. Ghostbusters: The Board Game Update 5 2/11/15
  32. Ghostbusters: The Board Game Update #3 2/11/15 "Okay, who brought the dog?!"
  33. Ghostbusters: The Board Game Update #5 2/11/15 "Okay... so she's a dog"
  34. Egon Spengler (2010).IDW Comics- "Tainted Love" (2010) (Comic p.8). Egon says: "Protective? You mean, like, some kind of Artifact Guardian of Gatekeeper?"
  35. Tiamat (2014). IDW Comics- "Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #13" (2014) (Comic p.19). Tiamat says: "You were the host of Zuul, the Gatekeeper."
  36. Kylie Griffin (2014). IDW Comics- "Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #15" (2014) (Comic p.8). Kylie says: "We know that Ms. Barrett had a connection to Gozer - she was once possessed by Zuul."
  37. Special Agent Melanie Ortiz (2014). IDW Comics- "Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #15" (2014) (Comic p.8). Melanie says: "And Zuul is... ?"
  38. Kylie Griffin (2014). IDW Comics- "Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #15" (2014) (Comic p.9). Kylie says: "He couldn't enter this dimension without followers paving the way, without securing a Keymaster and a Gatekeeper, without having a form chosen for him."
  39. Ray Stantz (2017). IDW Comics- "Ghostbusters 101 #3" (2017) (Comic p.17). Ray Stantz says: "Gozer's emissaries, Zuul and Vinz Clortho, they were attracted to our plane of existence by the machinations of an early 20th century architect named Ivo Shandor."
  40. Patty Tolan (2017). IDW Comics- "Ghostbusters 101 #3" (2017) (Comic p.19). Patty Tolan says: "Hang on, you said Zuul a minute back, right? I've heard that name before, when Abby had me on EVP detail."
  41. Peter Venkman (2017). IDW Comics- "Ghostbusters 101 #6" (2017) (Comic p.20). Peter Venkman says: "Say weird question - don't suppose you've ever been turned into a dog?"
  42. Narrator (2016). Insight Editions- "Tobin's Spirit Guide" (2016) (Book p.84). Paragraph reads: "Like Vinz Clortho and Zuul, it was capable of possessing a being and transmogrifying this host body into a form that matched its own demonic appearances."
  43. Eddy Chan; Start of Act 3 Scene 3 cutscene (2022). Ghostbusters: Spirits UnleashedFirehouse (2022) (PS4/PS5/PC/Xbox One/Xbox Series X). Illfonic. Eddy Chan says: "Luckily for us, it seems to be much weaker than, for example, Zuul."

Gallery[]

Primary Canon Images[]

Secondary Canon Images[]

Tertiary Canon Images[]

Behind the Scenes Images[]

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