Nerds That Geek Movie Review: 'Critters'

Written by John Edward Betancourt

The fact of the matter is, the 1980’s were a magical time for horror films. After all, new ground was constantly being broken in the special effects industry, and home video helped breathe new life into the genre and this perfect storm of creativity allowed for absolute wonders to come to life as effects artists pushed the envelope with their work as they created waves upon waves of new creatures and monsters.

It seemed everywhere you turned in either theaters or your local video store there was something new and exciting waiting for you on the small or silver screen and it really was the first time you had ever seen anything that unique in horror films. It was simply a wonderful time for the imagination and I recently re-watched one of those fresh and original films the other day, Critters. 

They are dangerous eating machines, that will devour anything in their path. They are cunning, relentless and known throughout the galaxy for the threat they pose. They are the Crites, and, they have come to Earth. And their arrival means that this night will be one of total terror for the Brown family as the Crites tear through their farm. Now survival and hope are the only things on this family’s mind, and if they can hold out long enough, a pair of intergalactic bounty hunters that have come for the Crites may be able to save them from becoming the next meal for these voracious monsters… 

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Yes, that is the plot ladies and gentlemen because Critters is a different kind of horror/sci fi film. It's one-part monster mash with hints of Alien thrown in and it makes for a ton of fun. It's silly yes, it's not exactly terrifying, but this is a motion picture that is entertaining enough that you won't be able to stop watching.
 
Obviously, the biggest draw for this film are the special effects, with the Crites taking the center stage. They are animatronic wonders with their glowing red eyes and mouths filled with teeth and they are a blast to watch on screen as they terrorize the poor Brown family. But it doesn't end there, our two bounty hunters have some pretty cool effects moments themselves, especially when the character Ug transforms from faceless void to human being in the goriest of fashion.  

This is truly a popcorn horror flick. You'll find no deep meaning here, no social commentary, just a good old-fashioned monster flick that will have you shoveling handful after handful of Orville Redenbacher brand popcorn into your mouth as you wait for the next awesome gory effect or awesome moment to fall into your lap. Catch this one if you haven't yet, it's an absolute blast.  

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