The Critters Collection

“They’re back and ready to devour your Blu-ray player!

The terrifying and tiny menaces are out in full force with this four-film collection packed with enough Special Features to make any fan’s mouth water!

In Critters, the terrified Brown family are trapped in a deadly nightmare and must fight for their lives against a litter of extraterrestrial, bloodthirsty monsters. But it’s a losing battle until two intergalactic bounty hunters arrive, determined to blow the creatures off the planet! In Critters 2: The Main Course, some eggs have survived and are popping open, bringing another horde of the little creatures! Brad Brown (Scott Grimes) returns to fight them along with three bounty hunters. Critters 3 stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Josh, a beleaguered Angelino who must lead the fight against the little monsters as they invade an L.A. apartment building. In the final film, Critters 4, a super strain of genetically engineered monsters are designed to take over the universe. This time, Brad Dourif and Angela Bassett must battle the little bloodthirsty hairballs.”

Critters

“It’s no picnic for the Brown family when a lethal litter of carnivorous aliens arrives unannounced at their Kansas farm. Trapped in a deadly nightmare, the terrified Browns fight for their lives against the attacking bloodthirsty monsters. But it’s a losing battle until two intergalactic bounty hunters arrive, determined to blow the hellish creatures off the planet! It’s an alien adventure, full of action and just crawling with Critters!”

The first Critters has always been a favorite of mine, and probably one of the first horror movies I saw as a kid. With a blend of sci-fi and horror, the film introduces a very memorable monster to the genre, who are funny, rude, and downright terrifying given their small stature. Seeing them turn into balls and roll around chasing people and shooting poison quills from their back always stuck with me, making them seem like ravenous monsters yet are still a space-dwelling race capable of flying spaceships around to other planets.

The secluded setting of Grover’s Bend was perfect for this type of film, as was the farm where the Browns lived. In a time with no cell phones, out in the country with no one for miles, this really does feel like they are trapped in their home, making this a great Monster in the House type of story. Although I thoroughly enjoy the bounty hunter characters, it wasn’t until my most recent viewing I realized how utterly useless they are! Out of eight Critters that escape and are hunting this family, the bounty hunters only kill one, point blank in a toilet. It’s the family that comes together and does ALL the work, even at the end. Still, the original is easily my favorite of the four, even receiving two thumbs up from Siskel and Ebert.

Video

Critters is presented in 1080p High Definition Widescreen 1.85:1 with a new 2k scan from the original film elements. This transfer is done extremely well, with no issues of note. Color levels look pretty good, and grain is kept at a consistent level throughout. Scream Factory’s treatment of these films continues to make me extremely happy, bringing back to life older and forgotten films. Critters benefits extremely from their dedication and fans of the film will be happy to see it looking as good as ever.

Audio

The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio Mono. Nothing spectacular here, but everything sounds fine for the track provided.

Special Features

Here’s where you should be getting excited. So many people who were involved in the film come back to talk about it, with some great tributes to the writer. Highly recommended watching all of these if you are a fan of the film.

• NEW 2K Scan From The Original Film Elements
• NEW Audio Commentary With Producer Barry Opper And Star Don Opper
• NEW Audio Commentary With Critter Designers Charles Chiodo, Edward Chiodo, And Stephen Chiodo
• NEWThey Bite!: The Making Of Critters Featuring Interviews With Actors Dee Wallace, Don Opper, Terrence Mann, And Lin Shaye, Producer Barry Opper, Writer Brian Muir, Critters Designers Charles Chiodo, Edward Chiodo, And Stephen Chiodo, Make-Up Artist R. Christopher Biggs, Special Prop Supervisor Anthony Doublin, Composer David Newman, Second Unit Director Mark Helfrich, Critter Voice Actor Corey Burton, And Miniature Effects Supervisor Gene Warren Jr.
• NEW For Brian: A Tribute To Screenwriter Brian Domonic Muir
• Behind-The-Scenes Footage
• Alternate Ending
• Theatrical Trailer
• TV Spots
• Still Gallery

Critters 2: The Main Course

“It’s been two years since the fiendish Critters first terrorized the town of Grovers Bend and sent the Brown family packing. But the “boy who called Critter,” Brad Brown (Scott Grimes), is back…and just in time. Critter eggs have been hatching lethal litters, and the bloodthirsty hairballs are eager to partake in their favorite pastime – eating. In no time, the eggs are popping open everywhere – a field full of livestock becomes a gigantic feeding ground, and local residents are disappearing by the mouthful. Fortunately, three bounty hunters from space, Ug, Lee and Charlie, are flying back to eradicate the problem. But can they wipe out the Critters before Grovers Bend is erased from the map? With outstanding special effects, Critters 2: The Main Course delivers a fine repast of morbid mayhem!”

Critters 2 is a solid sequel to the first, with a lot of the same people involved that ensures we get the same type of feel as we did from the first. This time, director Mick Garris brings his own unique style to the franchise as the film reintroduces Scott Grimes as Brad, a little older and wiser from the last film as he takes some time to visit his grandmother back in Grovers Bend. What I always enjoyed about the second film is how it seems to be a perfect companion film for the first. Taking place in the same town, with a lot of the same characters, including the bounty hunters, watching this back to back with the first is almost seamless.

The humor in these films is what makes them so memorable, and that holds true in the second. Conning my parents into letting me rent this at a pre-teen age the image of the bounty hunter who mimics the form of a topless Playboy centerfold stuck in my mind for obvious reasons, but what I also remembered was the giant staple gag as Lee copies everything, including the staple in the middle of the page which he rips out of his stomach and tosses away.

Charlie takes a much larger role in Critters 2, which I always kind of questioned. His character does have redeemable traits, as he cares about others and wants to keep people safe, but his simpleton-tone is hard to get behind. He and Ug are featured in every Critters film, though not very heavily, which I do think was a good decision. Having the one common thread to bind the films together does give the viewer a sense of connection to the first one, which they all steadily decline in quality unfortunately.

Video

Critters 2: The Main Course is presented in 1080p High Definition Widescreen 1.85:1 with a new 2k scan from the original film elements. Like the first film, this transfer looks good with no major issues noted. Color balance can be a bit muted at times, but overall looks good. Grain is a bit heavy in the darker scenes but overall managed very well. Unfortunately, this is the last of the new scans in the set, so soak it in while you can.

Audio

The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio Stereo. A bit of an upgrade from the mono mix from the original, this track sounds decent and serves its purpose. Levels sound good with no issues of note.

Special Features

Again, some great extras for this film, mostly the same people involved from the first film, but still just as fascinating listening them talk about each film and their experiences on it. Mick Garris is always fascinating to listen to and I recommended checking out his interview and commentary on the film.

• NEW2K Scan From The Original Film Elements
• NEW Audio Commentary With Director Mick Garris
• NEWAudio Commentary With Critters Designers Charles Chiodo, Edward Chiodo, And Stephen Chiodo
• NEW The Main Course: The Making Of Critters 2 Featuring Interviews With Director Mick Garris, Actors Liane Curtis, Don Opper, Terrence Mann, And Lin Shaye, Producer Barry Opper, Critter Designers Charles Chiodo, Edward Chiodo, And Stephen Chiodo, And Make-Up Artist R. Christopher Biggs
• Behind-The-Scenes Footage
• Additional TV Scenes
• Theatrical Trailer
• TV Spots
• Still Gallery

Critters 3: You Are What They Eat

“Leonardo DiCaprio stars in the third and most outrageous installment of the classic cult tale of the infamous Critters. As the fanged, furious furballs viciously invade an L.A. apartment buiding and sink their teeth into the low-rent tenants, Josh (DiCaprio) leads the battle to beat back the conniving critters and save the planet. It won’t be an easy job, but he’s the one person the human race must depend on to destroy these terrifying alien hedgehogs once and for all!”

I feel terrible even including this ‘official’ synopsis from the back of the cover because it’s so misleading. Just because Leonardo DiCaprio made it big years and years after he did Critters 3, doesn’t change the story or the fact that he is by no means a central character. My biggest gripe about this film isn’t even about the film itself, but this delusion that Leo is anything but a secondary character with very limited screen time, so if you’re banking on your enjoyment of the film being pre-teen Leo saving the day, set those hopes aside and lower your expectations to just above nothing and you might enjoy the third installment.

Critters 3 opens randomly as a father and his two kids are travelling home from vacation, back to the real world where his wife has passed away and he psychologically ‘checks out’ as he  takes on long jobs that send him away from his children. As much as the film tries to present an interesting and flawed family, those problems are overshadowed by some really terrible acting as the building they live in is being systematically targeted by some dolt with a couple of rats who thinks he can get everyone to move out of the building so Leo’s step-father can sell the building without paying for relocation fees to his tenants. In the middle of all of this, Don Opper reprises his role as Charlie, who conveniently has been on the road stopping passing motorists and giving children strange crystals that he instructs them will glow green when danger is near. Sure enough, Critters have found their way into the city and laid eggs in the basement, causing a chain reaction that brings Leo, Charlie, and everyone else who met randomly at a rest stop back together to face these monsters.

Although Critters 3 doesn’t treat the monsters in exactly the same way as the others, I was pleasantly surprised how different they tried to make each one. Having one of them come into contact with bleach that scars its skin and turns a portion of its hair white allows the viewer to better identify with them and actually feel like these are independent creatures instead of a mass of fur that the earlier films portrayed. As much as I disliked the film in general, the Critters are always the stars of the show, and here they shine just as well as they did in previous films. The ending of the film was a bit different as well, bringing back a familiar face and setting up a fourth film in the credit sequence.

Video

Critters 3: You Are What They Eat is presented in 1080p High Definition Widescreen 1.85:1.  Unlike the first two films, no special transfer was done for this film, even with all the hype on the back of the disc about Leo’s involvement. Still, this transfer looks pretty good and no major problems were noted. Grain is kept at a consistent level, with some nice detail in some of the brighter, outdoor scenes. Color balance looks pretty good, but can be a bit muted at times, especially in some of the darker scenes.

Audio

The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio Stereo. The track sounds fine for what it is, with no major issues noted. Levels are well balanced throughout.

Special Features

Not as many extras here, but still providing new material for this film is impressive.

• NEW Audio Commentary With Producer Barry Opper And Star Don Opper
• NEW You Are What They Eat: The Making Of Critters 3 Featuring Interviews With Producer Barry Opper, Screenwriter David J. Schow, Stars Don Opper And Terrence Mann, Director Of Photography Thomas J. Callaway, And Critters Designers Charles Chiodo, Edward Chiodo, And Stephen Chiodo
• Trailer
• Still Gallery

Critters 4: They’re Invading Your Space

“The Critters are back in this supercharged sci-fi space adventure! But these are no ordinary Critters—they’re a super strain of genetically engineered mutants designed to take over the universe! This time, they’re hungry to conquer the galaxy, with an appetite for mankind that’s out of this world. Joined by Angela Bassett (Black Panther)  and Brad Dourif (Child’s Play), Don Opper and Terrance Mann reprise their popular roles as they battle for survival against the Critters, a nuclear meltdown and the fate of the universe!”

Finally making it to the end of the franchise with Critters 4 you’ll notice a one glaring issue about this installment. Even though the title is Critters, you don’t really see much of them at all. The story plays out much like Alien: Resurrection, as a rough-neck crew boards a space station and is picked off one by one by the creature(s) before help arrives. But, just like Gremlins which many think the film emulates, Critters was written long before both, a testament to the story and how it fits within the sci-fi/horror genre.

As utterly boring as the fourth film is, some of the acting does make up for it. Brad Dourif basically steals the film and was really the only thing worth watching. Don Opper finally makes his appearance toward the end of the film, realizing that hundreds of years have passed since the events of part three, which does make for an interesting turn of events. It binds all the films together having Charlie traverse time and space to continue to eradicate this species, but that’s about where sentimentality ends. The story makes about zero sense, as according to the events of the third, the eggs on Earth were the last two in existence of the Crites. When they are lost in space and finally recovered in the fourth, why they are sent to an abandoned space station isn’t really answered all too well. It’s kind of implied that they were trying to bring back the species through genetics, but the lack of scientists and activity on the space station reeks of zero budget instead of well written story. Why the hell would they want that species back? Some kind of military purpose? It’s never answered, leaving a massive hole in the plot for all to see. Also seeing Ug after all this time and his lack of enthusiasm or even a shred of humanity raises all kinds of questions I’d love to see explored, but a throwaway line “Things change, Charlie” is all we get.

Video

Critters 4: They’re Invading Your Space is presented in 1080p High Definition Widescreen 1.85:1. No fancy new transfer here, etiher, but for all intents and purposes this looks fine. Grain is a bit heavy in some sequences, and you aren’t going to get the clearest of fine detail, but overall this is a satisfactory transfer that is free of any major issues.

Audio

Presented in DTS-HD Master Audio Stereo, like the others before it, nothing special for the audio mixes. Levels are balanced well, so nothing seems to overpower anything else.

Special Features

The list of people involved with the first continues to dwindle, but it’s still very impressive that new extras were added for this release. Here’s what you’re going to see for the final disc on this set:

• NEW Audio Commentary With Producer/Director Rupert Harvey
• NEW Space Madness: The Making Of Critters 4 Featuring Interviews With Producer Barry Opper, Screenwriter David J. Schow, Stars Don Opper And Terrence Mann, Director Of Photography Thomas J. Callaway, And Critters Designers Charles Chiodo, Edward Chiodo, And Stephen Chiodo
• Trailer
• Still Gallery

The Critters Collection is such an amazing set by Scream Factory. For the price point of their Collector’s Editions, this set with all the extras and treatment they have given it is easily worth it. Although the films do dwindle in quality, Critters are such a fascinating and unique monster populating the sci-fi/horror genre that watching them as much as you can is a real treat. Thanks to the enormous amount of extras on each film, you’ll be enjoying this set long after you finish the films. This collection is highly recommended!