Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Critters 2: The Main Course Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf December 1, 2018

When 1986’s “Critters” managed to become a home video success (after mediocre box office results), New Line Cinema elected to go forward with a sequel. However, unlike many follow-ups from the day, money was actually spent to give a potential franchise a proper continuation, adding some coin to the budget and giving “Critters 2: The Main Course” a newfound appreciation of comedic extremes, with co-writer/director Mick Garris brought in to make Crites more mischievous, humans more appealing, and the brand name more alluring to genre fans. In a rare creative success story from the brand-heavy 1980s, “The Main Course” is a proper match to the original “Critters,” having fun with itself while supplying all the monster movie violence and mayhem one could ever want from the series. It’s a bigger, bolder endeavor, with Garris losing none of the sneaky appeal of the first film.

Returning to Grover’s Bend to visit his grandmother, Brad (Scott Grimes) has tried to shed his reputation as the Boy Who Saw Critters, trying to keep a low profile in town, which is preparing for a grand Easter celebration. Meeting Megan (Liane Alexandra Curtis), an old school classmate, Brad hopes to enjoy himself, but trouble returns when Crite eggs are accidentally thawed, hatching a new round of disaster for the community as the monsters quickly go to work eating everything they can find. Arriving to help eradicate the Crites are alien bounty hunters Ug (Terrence Mann) and Lee (Roxanne Kernohan), while apprentice Charlie (Don Opper) has hesitations about returning to Earth.

Pretty much all there needed to be said about “Critters” was offered in the 1986 film, but that’s never stopped movie producers before. For “The Main Course,” the action returns to Grover’s Bend, which feels like a bigger place this time around, with Garris creating a wonderful sense of lived- in appeal for the Norman Rockwell setting, also giving Brad more to explore for the sequel, reuniting with family and friends, while a meat processing plant is situated just outside of town, offering a playground for the last act. While an iffy director overall, Garris shows impressive confidence with “The Main Course,” achieving comfort with screen elements right away, including a reunion with the alien bounty hunters, with Lee imprinting on a Playboy centerfold, creating a sexbomb destroyer of Crites, which is exactly the type of PG-13 impishness this picture needs.

The Crites remain dangerous, with more furious attacks as Garris orders up faster rolling monsters and bloodier feasting on humans and local livestock. Comedy is there, finding “The Main Course” definitely sillier than its predecessor, but not offensively so, save for a few sound effects that briefly turn anarchy into a live-action cartoon. Garris keeps panic going once it begins, tracking Brad’s efforts to shut down the Crite invasion while dealing with skeptical locals, aided by Megan’s belief and Sheriff Harv’s (a scene-stealing Barry Corbin) commitment to the cause, giving the second half of the feature a lively pace and a few shock deaths. However, while “Critters” had some grim moments, “The Main Course” is aiming to please a slightly wider audience, taking the challenge of comic mayhem seriously.

Critters 2: The Main Course Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Along with "Critters," the sequel is billed as a "New 2K scan from the original film elements." The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "The Main Course" does well with the limited visual reach of the endeavor, which once again works with a low budget to bring small town carnage to life. Detail is acceptable for the softly shot feature, offering a satisfactory sense of Crite construction, with softer fur and sharp quills, while the human characters enjoy varied facial surfaces and textured costuming. Grover's Bend distances are preserved. Colors supply a feel for period fashion and town decoration, also supplying a rich sense of holiday celebration, with Easter hues periodically dominating the palette. Skintones are natural. Delineation isn't threatened, holding frame information during the evening rampage. Grain is fine and filmic. Source is in good shape. Some mild judder is detected, especially during the end credits.

Critters 2: The Main Course Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix provides a lively listening event for "The Main Course," leading with dialogue exchanges that hold their range and emphasis, never slipping into distortion once panic sets in. Crite grunts and cackling is also open for study. Scoring is pleasingly defined, with warm strings helping to set the small town mood of the effort, while more frantic instrumentation is supportive during action scenes, holding position. Sound effects are defined, and some mild panning is appreciable during spaceship flybys. Atmospherics communicate community movement and the rural setting.

Critters 2: The Main Course Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Note: While the packaging lists the participation of actor Scott Grimes, he doesn't appear in the supplements.

• "The Main Course" (63:00 HD) continues the examination of the "Critters" series, this time highlighting the unexpected production of the first sequel, which was championed by the New Line Cinema home video department, who found themselves with a VHS hit after the so-so theatrical performance of the original film. Losing most of the creative time from the first installment, set command was offered to Mick Garris, a Spielberg protégé in charge of locating a specific balance of horror and comedy for the effort. Casting is recounted, with Scott Grimes aging into a heroic role, joined by Liane Curtis, who's carefully described as "rebellious." Amusing anecdotes are shared about the shoot, which occurred in freezing weather, making heat an elusive luxury. Cast and crew interviews highlight production design triumphs and Chiodo Brothers mastery, identifying the more specific Crite creations for "Critters 2," with an extensive study of the Crite Ball from the climax. Individual sequences are examined, including the Hungry Heifer showdown (with a restaurant theme song composed by Mick's wife, Cynthia Garris) and the female transformation of Lee, with actress Roxanne Kernohan's own Playboy past useful to the production. Post-production challenges are shared, and Garris is clearly disappointed by the financial performance of "Critters 2," which tanked in 1988, going on to enjoy cult longevity on home video.

• Cut Scenes (13:09, SD) present low quality broadcast footage from the television debut of "Critters 2." Short scenes are offered, including additional character definition, town prep for the Easter festival, and a carefully censored version of Lee's female transformation.

• Behind-the-Scenes (23:49, SD) is actually a compilation of various "Critters 2" set visits, most highlighting the technical labor required to bring Crites to life, while the crew discusses their intent with special effects and tone. Most bizarre is a visit from a news crew, with the reporter trying to ditch his cameraman before being devoured by a Crite.

• Still Gallery (3:05) collects BTS shots, publicity stills, and an assortment of VHS covers and poster art.

• T.V. Spot (:32, SD) is offered.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:40, SD) is included.

Critters 2: The Main Course Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Main Course" is short, to the point, and filled with wonderfully low-fi special effects and charming Chiodo Brothers' puppetry. While it doesn't build on "Critters" in any profound way, there's more time and money handed to Garris, who has a vivid imagination for Crite shenanigans and killing machine evolution, tasked with giving the fans a viewing experience they recognize, but also pushing tonal limits as the monster devour innocents and remain appealingly daffy. "Critters 2: The Main Course" is a fine celebration of franchise highlights, and while it's missing the richer characterization and sheer surprise found in the first film, it finds its own footing as a thrill ride with B-movie interests, returning to the Crite realm with a grander imagination for pandemonium.