CRITTERS 2 : THE MAIN COURSE (1988)

CRITTERS 2 : THE MAIN COURSE  (1988)

Hasn’t your granny ever told you about those space porcupine things?

The plot for this thing is pretty simple. Some critter eggs were leftover from the first critter escape and end up getting mistaken for Easter eggs by the community of Grover’s bend’s church. The Critters are basically space creatures that are sort of modeled after the Tasmanian devil from Looney Tunes only with crazier teeth. On or shortly before and on Easter the eggs hatch and now it’s up to Brad (played by Scott Grimes who is back in town to see his grandmother). For some reason even after the aliens fixed his family’s home, they have moved out of Grover’s. Dee Wallace (who played Brad’s mom, Helen Brown in the first movie) is one of the busiest women in Hollywood to this day, so it’s likely she wasn’t available? Ug, Lee, and Charlie (who is now a space bounty hunter) are back from the first movie and they are coming to handle business because someone has got to save the Hungry Heffer because that’s the best burger place in town.

I will say I do really miss Dee Wallace being part of this movie. She was amazing in the first one. We also miss M. Emmet Walsh as Harv in this one, but the new “Harv” played by Barry Corbin is fine, even if he plays the characters as far more of a jerk than Walsh’s version. Brad’s sister isn’t in the movie but a possible love interest Megan, (played by Liane Curtis most famous for being the girlfriend in GIRLFRIEND FROM HELL) is and this acts as a bit of a replacement of the sister role from part 1. 

While CRITTERS is more of a straightforward horror attempt with little creatures, CRITTERS 2 is a bit more of a comedy but really doesn’t skimp on the horror elements. There is an insane Easter bunny scene and some pretty gross kills, but the buffet scene at the Hungry Heffer does resemble something from GREMLINS 2 only without the creatures wearing outfits. This movie does a ton right including nods to the NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET movies and even a mention of THE BRAIN FROM PLANET AROUS. While I don’t have any real complaints about this movie, I do find it odd just how many creatures managed to come so few eggs? It's also bizarre that when Brad is looking at his old pictures, the one he has of him and Charlie is literally a still from the first movie rather than a picture one of his family members or friends would have taken. 

I should also note, that it is advisable that you watch the first movie before watching this one. It will help you pick up some of the plotlines and help with how the characters relate to one another. 

Overall even with the missing performances and humor added goofier tone, CRITTERS 2 is just a better movie than the first installment. In the ’80s, this was a pretty rare feat but certainly not impossible. I loved this movie and it's part of my Halloween movie lineup each year. I give CRITTERS 2 a solid 7 out of 7.

GRAPHICS ARE THE PROPERTY OF NEW LINE CINEMA AND ARE USED FOR REVIEW PURPOSES ONLY. 

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