How Sigourney Weaver’s Mistake Created Iconic Ghostbusters Terror Dogs

LOS ANGELES, CA — When the horror-comedy “Ghostbusters” premiered in June 1984, it introduced audiences to beloved characters like Slimer and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. The film, crafted by Dan Aykroyd and refined by Harold Ramis and Ivan Reitman, is remembered for its unique world-building.

One unforgettable scene features Dana Barrett, played by Sigourney Weaver, being possessed by a terrifying terror dog. Interestingly, this element of the film was born from a misunderstanding during Weaver’s audition for director Ivan Reitman. Weaver initially thought her character would turn into a dog herself.

In a recent interview, Weaver explained, “I misunderstood the script, because I thought the girl did turn into a dog. So, at a certain point… the director, Ivan Reitman, was filming me, I started to turn into a dog, and started to gnaw on the cushions, and kind of, you know, shake them, and howl a little bit.”

The dedication Weaver brought to the role, stemming from her background at Yale Drama School and her previous success in Ridley Scott’s “Alien,” impressed Reitman. He was struck by her performance, so much so that he turned off the camera during her audition to say, “Don’t ever do that again. It’s so grotesque an editor might want to use it.”

Despite the initial mishap, Reitman, along with Aykroyd and Ramis, incorporated the idea of Dana turning into a dog during her supernatural possession by Zuul. This decision ultimately enhanced the film, adding to the mix of horror and comedy that characterizes “Ghostbusters.”

The terror dogs also played a pivotal role in a memorable sequence involving Louis Tully, portrayed by Rick Moranis. In this scene, a terror dog chases Tully through Central Park and pins him against a glass wall, where he humorously declares, “I am the Keymaster!”

The terror dogs made a return in 2019’s “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” directed by Jason Reitman, Ivan Reitman’s son. The fact that these iconic creatures stemmed from Weaver’s misunderstanding highlights the happy accidents that can occur in filmmaking. “Ghostbusters” remains available for streaming, allowing new generations to experience its magic.