Alright, fellow tape-heads, dim the lights, maybe crack open a Jolt Cola if you can find one, and let’s rewind to a time when creature features didn’t need fancy computers to make you jump, grin, or maybe both at the same time. Today, we’re digging deep into the video store archives for a sequel that dared to ask, "What if those furry little space porcupines came back… hungrier?" Let's talk about Critters 2: The Main Course (1988).
Landing just two years after the surprisingly effective original, Critters 2 wastes no time getting us back to the beleaguered town of Grover's Bend. Young Brad Brown, played again with earnest charm by Scott Grimes, is back visiting his Nana for Easter. You remember Brad – the kid who faced down the Krites the first time? Well, the town’s trying to forget, but some things just won’t stay buried. Especially not clutches of large, leathery alien eggs mistaken for groovy Easter decorations. Uh oh.
More Critters, More Problems
What follows is exactly the kind of escalation you’d expect from an 80s horror sequel. If the first film was a lean, mean siege movie riffing on Gremlins with a harder edge, this one throws open the doors and lets the chaos spill out into the entire town. It feels bigger, brasher, and maybe a little sillier, but honestly, isn't that part of the fun? This was the directorial debut for Mick Garris, who many fans know from his numerous Stephen King adaptations like Sleepwalkers and The Stand. You can feel him wanting to deliver a crowd-pleaser, leaning into the inherent absurdity of rolling balls of teeth from outer space.
And speaking of those rolling balls of teeth – the practical effects are, once again, the absolute stars. The Chiodo Brothers, masters of creature craft who also gave us the magnificent Killer Klowns from Outer Space, returned to bring the Krites to life. These aren't smooth digital creations; they're tangible puppets, bristling with personality (and pointy bits). You see the wires sometimes? Maybe. Does it matter? Not really. There’s a weight and presence to them, especially when they're chomping through scenery or rolling en masse, that CGI often struggles to replicate. Remember how real those bullet hits looked back then, often achieved with squibs and fake blood packs? Critters 2 has that same raw, physical energy in its creature attacks.
Rolling Through Town, Literally
Of course, you can't talk about Critters 2 without mentioning that scene. The giant Critter ball. Seeing dozens, maybe hundreds, of Krites latch onto each other to form a massive, destructive sphere rolling through Grover's Bend is pure, unadulterated B-movie genius. It’s the kind of bonkers escalation that sequels lived for back then. It’s a moment achieved through clever miniature work, forced perspective, and reportedly, a massive fiberglass ball for certain shots – pure practical effects wizardry designed to make jaws drop (or maybe just elicit a delighted groan). Was it completely convincing, even then? Maybe not perfectly, but the ambition and sheer audacity of it were undeniable on a fuzzy CRT screen late at night. It felt huge.
We also get the return of the hapless Charlie (Don Keith Opper, nailing the lovable loser vibe again) and the stoic bounty hunter Ug (Terrence Mann, still looking effortlessly cool in that transforming face). Their dynamic adds a familiar, welcome sci-fi flavour to the small-town horror. It’s worth noting that the script was co-written by Garris and David Twohy. Yes, that David Twohy, the guy who would later give us the much darker and grittier sci-fi worlds of Pitch Black and the Riddick series. It's fascinating to see his genre roots here in something decidedly more playful, though still packed with creature carnage. New Line Cinema apparently wanted a faster, perhaps slightly lighter follow-up after the first film's success on a modest $3 million budget, and Critters 2, with its bigger $4.5 million budget, definitely delivered on the 'more is more' philosophy.
Still Got Bite?
Look, Critters 2 isn't high art. It trades some of the original's tighter suspense for broader action and comedy. Some jokes land better than others, and the plot hits familiar beats. But viewed through the lens of late-80s creature features, it’s a blast. It’s energetic, the creature effects are genuinely fun to watch in action, and it doesn’t overstay its welcome. It perfectly captures that moment when horror sequels started getting a little wilder, a little less concerned with straight scares and more interested in delivering memorable, over-the-top moments. I distinctly remember renting this one hoping for more Krite action, and boy, did it deliver on that front. It might not have scared me as much as the first, but the sheer scale of the Critter invasion felt exciting.
VHS Heaven Rating: 7/10
Justification: Critters 2 gets a solid 7 for doubling down on the creature chaos, delivering fantastic practical puppet effects courtesy of the Chiodo Brothers, and giving us the unforgettable giant Critter ball. It loses a point or two for sacrificing some of the original's tension for broader comedy and a slightly looser plot, but its sheer energy and B-movie ambition make it immensely watchable and a prime example of fun, late-80s sequel-itis.
Final Thought: They just don't make 'em like this anymore – delightfully tactile, unapologetically goofy, and featuring a giant ball of hungry space hedgehogs. Pure drive-in, sticky-floor, rewind-the-tape fun.