CRITTERS (1986) – Episode 283 – Decades of Horror 1980s

“Keep your shirt on, asshole.” Did he mean on “your” asshole or is he calling you an asshole? It does make a difference, you know. Join your faithful Grue Crew – Crystal Cleveland, Bill Mulligan, Chad Hunt, and Jeff Mohr – as they follow the battle for survival between the tiny, very hungry, escaped, galactic prisoners and a band of mostly courageous, small-town residents and farmers in Critters (1986).

Decades of Horror 1980s
Episode 283 – Critters (1986)

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Synopsis: A group of small but vicious alien creatures called Crites escape from an alien prison transport vessel and land near a small farm town on earth, pursued by two shape-shifting bounty hunters.

• Director: Stephen Herek
• Writer: Domonic Muir and Stephen Herek (screenplay); Domonic Muir (story); Don Keith Opper (additional scenes written by) (as Don Opper)
• Special Effects: 
  • Chiodo Brothers Productions, Inc. (special critter effects)
    • Critter Designer & Supervisor: Charles Chiodo, Stephen Chiodo
    • Critters Crew: Edward Chiodo, Linda Chiodo, C. Mitchell Bryan, Jason Cardwell, Rene Dorian, Ans Ellis, Deborah Galvez, Kenneth J. Hall, Mike Jones, Michael Joyce, Justin Kohn, Jene Omens, Bradford Plows, Eugene P. Rizzardi, Dwight Roberts 
  • Chuck E. Stewart (special effects supervisor), Casey Cavanaugh, Frank Ceglia, Ray Massara, R. Bruce Steinheimer, Ken Tarallo
  • Clark Hunter (puppeteer)
• Selected Cast:
  • Dee Wallace as Helen Brown (credited as Dee Wallace Stone)
  • M. Emmet Walsh as Harv
  • Billy Green Bush as Jay Brown
  • Scott Grimes as Brad Brown
  • Nadine Van der Velde as April Brown
  • Don Keith Opper as Charlie McFadden (credited as Don Opper)
  • Billy Zane as Steve Elliot
  • Ethan Phillips as Jeff Barnes
  • Terrence Mann as Johnny Steele/Ug
  • Jeremy Lawrence as Preacher
  • Lin Shaye as Lin Shaye
  • Michael Lee Gogin as Zanti
  • Art Frankel as Ed
  • Douglas Koth as Bowler #1
  • Montrose Hagins as Organist
  • Roger Hampton as Jake
  • Chuck Lindsly as Pool Player #1 (credited as Chuck Lindsley)
  • David Stenstrom as Pool Player #2
  • Adele Malis-Morey as Woman #1
  • Corey Burton as Critters (voice)
  • Edward Chiodo as Puppeteer(uncredited)
  • Kevin Thompson as Giant Critter (uncredited)
  • Che Zuro as Johnny Steele – Guitarist (uncredited)

In this episode, Decades of Horror 1980s tackles another franchise-starting film with Critters (1986). The filmmakers swear the story was written before they knew anything about Gremlins (1984), but it’s still regarded by most as a Gremlins rip-off. Even so, the 80s Grue-Crew consider it worthy of a watch in its own right. Firstly, the special critters effects are provided by Chiodo Brothers Productions (Killer Klowns from Outer Space, 1988). Critters is also populated by a strong cast featuring Dee Wallace, M. Emmet Walsh, Scott Grimes, Billy Green Bush, Billy Zane, Ethan Phillips, and Lin Shaye to name just a few. Director Kevin Herek has put together a fun horror comedy that spawned four sequels.

At the time of this writing, Critters (1986) is available to stream from Hoopla, Tubi, and several pay-per-view sources. It is also available on physical media in The Critters Collection [Blu-ray], a 4-disc boxed set that includes Critters 1-4 from Scream Factory.

Every two weeks, Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror 1980s podcast will cover another horror film from the 1980s. The next episode’s film, chosen by Crystal, will be Critters 2: The Main Course (1988). It seemed like the logical picture to cover. Once again, the effects work of Chiodo Brothers Productions (Killer Clowns from Outer Space, 1988) are showcased, but this time, the director is Mick Garris. Scott Grimes, Terrance Mann, and Don Keith Opper return and are joined in the cast by Cynthia Garris, Sam Anderson, Linn Shaye, Barry Corbin, and Eddie Deezen. This should be fun!

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