One of The Better "Creature Features" From The 80s
Added 7/20/2009
After Gremlins came out in 1984 it seemed like copy cat films hit theatres\VHS every few months. Of all the knock-offs, Critters would end up being my favorite. The main draw is the titular, fuzzy balls of munching mayhem, better known as The Krites. They're malevolent space creatures, but I've got a soft spot in my heart for them.
Intergalactic, face morphing, bounty hunters have tracked down "asteroid prison" escapees to the Planet Earth. Said fugitives are The Krites, and they're REALLY hungry. They start off snacking on the local fauna and for the main course they descend upon the Brown family farm. Dee Wallace Stone (Mrs. Brown) must smell like country-fried steak or something...
The film systematically evolves into a barricade the house and lock out the creatures affair, but several things prevent it from buying the farm. First and foremost are the gruesome, yet lovable Krites. They're like space porcupines with giant toothy maws, glowing red eyes and insatiable appetites. The Chiodo Brothers (Killer Klowns from Outer Space) were responsible for breathing life into the alien abominations and it's really a joy to see them in action. I just love the "special abilities" they have in their arsenal. They can roll into a ball for faster movement, grow bigger, shoot poisonous spines and of course, chomp the hell out of everything. Shockingly, they also speak in a garbled language which is hilariously subtitled for any humans watching. The Krites are perfectly realized movie monsters.
Critters is a campy "B movie" in every way. The filmmakers were aware of this and they certainly embraced it. For example, we are constantly shown this ridiculous hair band that sings the rock anthem, "Power of the Night". Apparently, one the face morphing bounty hunters thought it was so rockin' that he decides to disguise his face as glam rocker, Johnny Steele (who, incidentally, looks like my old college roommate Keith). Speaking of the bounty hunters, they're terribly naive and watching them figure out human technology is often hilarious. They have the diplomacy skills of a trigger happy terrorist and their, "We've come for the Krites" demands are typically followed with acts of explosive violence (i.e. - them blowing the living crap out of things). Nothing about Critters is subtle and you're going to enjoy the small town pandemonium that ensues.
For a PG-13 affair with a low death count, it's still easy for me to recommend Critters. The low budget sci-fi effects have held up surprisingly well and the Krites are nothing short of amazing. If you can stomach the less than stellar acting and rudimentary plot, then you'll find that Critters is one of the better creature features from the 80s. It's far from perfect, but it's great for some laughs. Critters is a dish best served with a group of rowdy friends and some ice cold brews.
Final Grade: B
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A Joyfully Schlocky 80's Creature Feature (Sci-Fi Horror Movie)
Added 1/15/2009
Ahh, Critters, we remember thee well...
Interstellar hedgehogs with poisonous quills and a killer appetite. Vintage 80's schtick. Very apparent from the costuming and the hair! This series was always a bunch of fun on account of its irreverence and self-referential humor.
Basically bounty hunters get tasked with hunting down the Crites ("critters," in Earth parlance), after they escape from high-security incarceration and hijack a ship that crashes (lands?) on Earth.
The Crites, of course, are hungry and have a rather un-sunny disposition. Much gore and dark humor ensue. Worth a watch for the 80's nostalgia and a few relatively funny moments. However, some parts are just painful (awkward) to watch...
As far as the physical disc itself, it's attractive, but lacks any significant special features. No commentary, no trailers other than the other Critters movies, no other special features. A bit disappointing in that regards. But the picture and sound seemed good enough to me. Considering the source material.
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These Fatal Fuzz-Balls Are Ferocious!...
Added 8/3/2008
CRITTERS is my favorite movie of it's type. I like it even more than GREMLINS (which I love), and far more than any of the other "puppet-monster" movies that came out (Ghoulies, Hobgoblins, etc.). CRITTERS takes us to the tiny town of Grovers Mill, Kansas, the site of an alien invasion. It seems that a renegade bunch of crites ( little, furry, carnivorous space monsters) have escaped from intergalactic prison, and headed straight toward earth for a snack (us)! This leads to a night of horror and hilarity, when the rolly creatures arrive and begin eating any / all flesh in sight! Two extraterrestrial bounty hunters are dispatched to hunt down and destroy the crites before they can fully satisfy their insatiable appetites. The bounty hunters are hilarious, as they can make themselves look like anyone they encounter, which means that one of them looks like a then-current (1986) MTV-type rock star, while his cohort winds up being the sheriff's deputy, the town preacher, and a farm-hand! Now, THAT'S comedy! Most of the CRITTER action takes place at the Brown family farm, where the lovely, legendary Dee Wallace (The Hills Have Eyes, The Howling, Cujo, The Frighteners, etc.) plays Mrs. Brown, trying to survive the alien onslaught w/ her husband and kids. M. Emmet Walsh (Blood Simple) is the sheriff, and a young, pony-tailed (!!) Billy Zane (Dead Calm, Memory) is the ill-fated boyfriend of the Brown's teenage daughter. CRITTERS is a fun, semi-scary movie w/ cute lil' fur-balls that have huge mouths full of razor-sharp, flesh-ripping teeth! Enjoy...
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"They have weapons???? F##&!!!!"
Added 4/9/2008
B-movies seem to have a special place in my heart. This was no excpetion. Another one of those 80's campy sci-fi movies that makes you wonder why you like this movie and how come you haven't changed the channel, lol.
Basically, this is about interstellar furballs known as the Crites. They are pure eating machines. They also have porcupine like spines on their backs that they can shoot out and paralyze anything or anyone. Bounty Hunters from another world chase the Crites throughout the galaxy and locate them on Earth. These bounty hunters are like shape-shifters. They come to earth with no face and they can copy whoever they look at. One in particular copies the face of a rockstar it sees on the T.V. Another copies the town drunk; Charlie. The Crites eventually terrorize the quiet farm town and the Brown family on their farm. The Bounty Hunters in the meantime blow up anything that moves (not including people) in there search for the Crites. How times do you hear them say," We want the Crites!"
All in all this is a good movie. You gotta love those cute little critters! One time (not at bandcamp) they join together like transformers and create this huge critter. It's also funny to watch them communicate with each other. Apparently their language can be translated to english :)
The DVD comes with an alternate ending as well as widescreen and full screen formats. Another great addition to the DVD library.
My favorite part is when the Critters terrorize the Brown family on their farm. When the Critters have them trapped in a bedroom and Jay Brown (Billy Green Bush from Jason Goes to Hell) fires a shotgun, they Critters seem shocked and one says," They have guns?" Another say no, and another shot is fired by the father and kills one of the Critters. That same Critter that wondered, then said a expeditive that I can't repeat. Lets just say it's the curse on the top of the list, lol.
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classic, but...
Added 11/21/2007
This is a classic and after watching it on DVD its not hard to see why. Original concept, believable actors and acting, decent script. Compared to the sequels and remakes coming out of hollywood today, its stands tall. However, after seeing the DVD version, the film needs restored. Thats why i only gave it 4 stars, the film is so dark now that its hard to see whats going on as most of the action is at night. The colors need restored, it all seems like the master copy was not taken care of. Not surprising, but some effort could have been made to clean it up before transfering to DVD.
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One of The Better "Creature Features" From The 80s
Added 7/20/2009
After Gremlins came out in 1984 it seemed like copy cat films hit theatres\VHS every few months. Of all the knock-offs, Critters would end up being my favorite. The main draw is the titular, fuzzy balls of munching mayhem, better known as The Krites. They're malevolent space creatures, but I've got a soft spot in my heart for them.
Intergalactic, face morphing, bounty hunters have tracked down "asteroid prison" escapees to the Planet Earth. Said fugitives are The Krites, and they're REALLY hungry. They start off snacking on the local fauna and for the main course they descend upon the Brown family farm. Dee Wallace Stone (Mrs. Brown) must smell like country-fried steak or something...
The film systematically evolves into a barricade the house and lock out the creatures affair, but several things prevent it from buying the farm. First and foremost are the gruesome, yet lovable Krites. They're like space porcupines with giant toothy maws, glowing red eyes and insatiable appetites. The Chiodo Brothers (Killer Klowns from Outer Space) were responsible for breathing life into the alien abominations and it's really a joy to see them in action. I just love the "special abilities" they have in their arsenal. They can roll into a ball for faster movement, grow bigger, shoot poisonous spines and of course, chomp the hell out of everything. Shockingly, they also speak in a garbled language which is hilariously subtitled for any humans watching. The Krites are perfectly realized movie monsters.
Critters is a campy "B movie" in every way. The filmmakers were aware of this and they certainly embraced it. For example, we are constantly shown this ridiculous hair band that sings the rock anthem, "Power of the Night". Apparently, one the face morphing bounty hunters thought it was so rockin' that he decides to disguise his face as glam rocker, Johnny Steele (who, incidentally, looks like my old college roommate Keith). Speaking of the bounty hunters, they're terribly naive and watching them figure out human technology is often hilarious. They have the diplomacy skills of a trigger happy terrorist and their, "We've come for the Krites" demands are typically followed with acts of explosive violence (i.e. - them blowing the living crap out of things). Nothing about Critters is subtle and you're going to enjoy the small town pandemonium that ensues.
For a PG-13 affair with a low death count, it's still easy for me to recommend Critters. The low budget sci-fi effects have held up surprisingly well and the Krites are nothing short of amazing. If you can stomach the less than stellar acting and rudimentary plot, then you'll find that Critters is one of the better creature features from the 80s. It's far from perfect, but it's great for some laughs. Critters is a dish best served with a group of rowdy friends and some ice cold brews.
Final Grade: B
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
|
A Joyfully Schlocky 80's Creature Feature (Sci-Fi Horror Movie)
Added 1/15/2009
Ahh, Critters, we remember thee well...
Interstellar hedgehogs with poisonous quills and a killer appetite. Vintage 80's schtick. Very apparent from the costuming and the hair! This series was always a bunch of fun on account of its irreverence and self-referential humor.
Basically bounty hunters get tasked with hunting down the Crites ("critters," in Earth parlance), after they escape from high-security incarceration and hijack a ship that crashes (lands?) on Earth.
The Crites, of course, are hungry and have a rather un-sunny disposition. Much gore and dark humor ensue. Worth a watch for the 80's nostalgia and a few relatively funny moments. However, some parts are just painful (awkward) to watch...
As far as the physical disc itself, it's attractive, but lacks any significant special features. No commentary, no trailers other than the other Critters movies, no other special features. A bit disappointing in that regards. But the picture and sound seemed good enough to me. Considering the source material.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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These Fatal Fuzz-Balls Are Ferocious!...
Added 8/3/2008
CRITTERS is my favorite movie of it's type. I like it even more than GREMLINS (which I love), and far more than any of the other "puppet-monster" movies that came out (Ghoulies, Hobgoblins, etc.). CRITTERS takes us to the tiny town of Grovers Mill, Kansas, the site of an alien invasion. It seems that a renegade bunch of crites ( little, furry, carnivorous space monsters) have escaped from intergalactic prison, and headed straight toward earth for a snack (us)! This leads to a night of horror and hilarity, when the rolly creatures arrive and begin eating any / all flesh in sight! Two extraterrestrial bounty hunters are dispatched to hunt down and destroy the crites before they can fully satisfy their insatiable appetites. The bounty hunters are hilarious, as they can make themselves look like anyone they encounter, which means that one of them looks like a then-current (1986) MTV-type rock star, while his cohort winds up being the sheriff's deputy, the town preacher, and a farm-hand! Now, THAT'S comedy! Most of the CRITTER action takes place at the Brown family farm, where the lovely, legendary Dee Wallace (The Hills Have Eyes, The Howling, Cujo, The Frighteners, etc.) plays Mrs. Brown, trying to survive the alien onslaught w/ her husband and kids. M. Emmet Walsh (Blood Simple) is the sheriff, and a young, pony-tailed (!!) Billy Zane (Dead Calm, Memory) is the ill-fated boyfriend of the Brown's teenage daughter. CRITTERS is a fun, semi-scary movie w/ cute lil' fur-balls that have huge mouths full of razor-sharp, flesh-ripping teeth! Enjoy...
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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