Critic Reviews
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Douglas Pratt, DVDLaser
A variety of modest but well-executed special effects enlivens the otherwise run-of-the-mill effort about carnivorous aliens terrorizing a farm. The farm wins.
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Michael Ferraro, Film Threat
Black balls that kill... what more can be said?
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Clint Morris, Moviehole
"Gremlins on Acid" - as wacky as it is wicked, loads of fun
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Stefan Birgir Stefansson, sbs.is
a fun "gremling-inspired" movie
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Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
Not a bad little Gremlins' rip-off.
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Eric Henderson, Slant Magazine
Apart from the nostalgic appeal to die-hard New Line horror aficionados, most are likely to share the eye-rolling sentiments of second-billed cameo star M. Emmet Walsh.
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Eric Henderson, Slant Magazine
Critters as a franchise has nothing on the Nightmare on Elm Street films, but it's proven popular enough with Gen X-ers who forward "You know you're a child of the '80s if..." emails to all their office mates.
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Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Entirely enjoyable B-level sci-fi throwback.
Read all 8 critic reviews
Featured Audience Ratings
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Critters involves weird, small, and somewhat humurous creatures from outer space landing in Kansas and terrorizing a family in thier farm. This movie has been compared to Gremlins a lot and I do see similarities, but I found Critters to be more dark. There is gratuitous bloodshed,… More
Critters involves weird, small, and somewhat humurous creatures from outer space landing in Kansas and terrorizing a family in thier farm. This movie has been compared to Gremlins a lot and I do see similarities, but I found Critters to be more dark. There is gratuitous bloodshed, people die horribly and the creatures actually have dialogue. The audience hears them speak in a weird language, but there are subtitles and the things these creatures say are actually pretty funny. I find it funny that they had more personality than any of the Twilight characters. The creatures are also being followed by intergalactic bounty hunters and the scenes with them are entertaining as hell. They're anything but inconspicuous and they just blow up whatever they see. The special effects for the creatures are also pretty good. From what I heard, when this movie was being filmed they had a very limited number of the critter puppets, so the director had to conserve them for the movie until he felt a death scene was appropriate. The movie isn't exactly perfect. There are parts where it felt like a Gremlins rip-off and some scenes I found campy. It still is entertaining though. When it comes to horror comedy, all I can really ask for is humor mixed with enjoyable scenes where people fight and die and all that stuff. Critters spawned three sequels and it's no doubt they weren't as good as the original. If you want to watch any of these movies, just stick with this one.
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Some may be reminded of Gremlins hearing about this movie, but it is very different. The back story is more fantastical for example, and the critters do not start out cute and lovable, they start out small and crazy and get big and scary by the end. This movie is also more of a horror… More
Some may be reminded of Gremlins hearing about this movie, but it is very different. The back story is more fantastical for example, and the critters do not start out cute and lovable, they start out small and crazy and get big and scary by the end. This movie is also more of a horror film than Gremlins, there's a good amount of blood, and people getting eaten up by the critters. But there are also humorous scenes with the critters as well to balance out the film. Overall, it's exciting, scary, fun, and I really liked it.
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Interesting horror comedy from director Stephen Herek following alien like fury creatures who feed on anything and create havoc in the process. a well made comedy horror film, Critters is obviously the best one in the series. This boasts a good cast such as Dee Wallace (Cujo) Scott… More
Interesting horror comedy from director Stephen Herek following alien like fury creatures who feed on anything and create havoc in the process. a well made comedy horror film, Critters is obviously the best one in the series. This boasts a good cast such as Dee Wallace (Cujo) Scott Grimes (Band Of Brothers) and Billy Zane ( Dead Calm). This is amusing and entertaining horror comedy that will definitely please fans of comedy horror. Sure the idea behind the film isn't that great, but the film is very entertaining and is fun from start to finish. What makes this such a good little flick is that it doesn't take itself seriously and the fact that it has a B movie feel to it doesn't hurt. The film will appeal to fans of the Gremlins franchise, though different, both films navigates similar territory. Critters has enough originality to be different from Gremlins, the creatures are meaner, and come from outer space. The film is a worthy viewing and is lots of fun. If you enjoy this type of horror, then you'll enjoy this film.
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Juvenille but ocassionally amusing and fun. Doesn't beat Gremlins though.
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Wonderfully zany little horror romp that would go on to pump out 3 sequels.
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Classic horror comedy I saw when I was a mere kiddie :) can't remember how I saw it but the fantastic original hand drawn VHS cover may have had something to do with it. This is one of those 80's flicks that is kinda bad but kinda good too, a cult now mehtinks with its… More
Classic horror comedy I saw when I was a mere kiddie :) can't remember how I saw it but the fantastic original hand drawn VHS cover may have had something to do with it. This is one of those 80's flicks that is kinda bad but kinda good too, a cult now mehtinks with its oddball cast and cheap looking effects that still look OK today especially the critters, despite being hand puppets (I think) they look hilarious and quite devilish haha reminds me of the horror 'Ghoulies'.
Total B-movie of course but it has some cute moments of gore and laughter which keep you amused, the critters talking to themselves was always neat hehe the bounty hunters are a nice 'Star Wars' idea rip but work well, mysterious and make you wanna know more of their background. Its all very predictable and highly unoriginal but it was popular I believe and just somehow manages to keep people smiling even now.
Think carnivorous lethal man eating muppets and you know your gonna have fun watching ^__^
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I could barely stay awake during this movie, it was so underwhelming. I liked the idea of anchoring an alien invasion movie on a family in an isolated farm house, and I liked the Critters character design. I hated however the Critters' puppetry, and the actual execution of the… More
I could barely stay awake during this movie, it was so underwhelming. I liked the idea of anchoring an alien invasion movie on a family in an isolated farm house, and I liked the Critters character design. I hated however the Critters' puppetry, and the actual execution of the family idea: they were all horrible and annoying human beings, the kind you hope get killed in movies like this. I don't know. Perhaps I was expecting too much. It was my understanding that hunting Critters comes with one caveat: you can't kill them because, since thier planet was destroyed, they are an endangered species. I was disappointed that this didn't happen in the film, but I did like the bit about them being escapees from an interstellar prison transport ship. But there was very very little else I liked about this movie. Plaaaaah.
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Classic 80s sci-fi horror comedy where intergalactic bounty hunters (or pest control) track down a bunch carnivorous aliens that have landed on Earth.
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A very average creature comedy horror. This is probably the best of the series but not a patch on Gremlins.
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One of my best horror films because I love aliens and this is so funny simular to Gremlins but not boringly simular.
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Funny and it had moments that would make you jump. For me this is a nice piece of the childhood.
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Daft Gremins rip off that has some amusingly kitsch moments, especially from the great M. Emmett Walsh. A adequately cheap and cheerful B-movie.
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The first Critters was a real treat for those who loved Gremlins. They were cute little puffballs with sharp teeth, found by a farm boy and his family. They create quite a havoc in a small town for some innocent fun that is original enough on its own. I liked that they also introduced… More
The first Critters was a real treat for those who loved Gremlins. They were cute little puffballs with sharp teeth, found by a farm boy and his family. They create quite a havoc in a small town for some innocent fun that is original enough on its own. I liked that they also introduced some space police who appeared on the scene to hunt the little Critters down. A decent 80's cute monster series.
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After "Gremlins" and "Ghoulies", we didn't really need more furry creatures to go "ah!" over.
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This mild horror film with its hilarious spots culd become a cult classic. In it, eight ravenous critters escape from a distant planet and head for Earth. two futuristic bounty hunters pursue them, and the fun begins.
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As a wee child, I remember sneakily watching this and being devastated by its vicious content. With recent retrospect, it's absolute crap, not in the least bit funny or gory. Not a great comedy-horror, in short. Maybe if I'd left it well alone it may have remained a golden… More
As a wee child, I remember sneakily watching this and being devastated by its vicious content. With recent retrospect, it's absolute crap, not in the least bit funny or gory. Not a great comedy-horror, in short. Maybe if I'd left it well alone it may have remained a golden oldie in my mind. Ignorance is bliss, as they say.
But I disgress, this is a proper poor copy of the great Gremlins, as I'm sure these days will survive as nothing other than a very daft cult curio. Numpty.
Oh, and I do believe it's full of cheesy 80s metal. Comical.
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A rip-off of the far better Gremlins film, Critters still supplies a couple of cheap laughs and a few creepy moments while introducing the cute furry guys with the big appetites. An odd alien bounty hunter plot piece also keeps this thing above water. Worth a watch if you like this… More
A rip-off of the far better Gremlins film, Critters still supplies a couple of cheap laughs and a few creepy moments while introducing the cute furry guys with the big appetites. An odd alien bounty hunter plot piece also keeps this thing above water. Worth a watch if you like this type of stuff.
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