The Critters series, you’ve heard of it, but what should you expect? Those pesky little hairy Crites that were such a hit back in the ’80s gracing our screens once more. The teaser trailer has dropped from our non-alien-filled sky, “Critters A New Binge” should have been the start of a new era. I’ve gone ahead and recapped the first four films along with shining a light on some of the stars who appeared in them. Is this the newest pop culture icon to be reimagined successfully?
Airing on Shudder in the USA, the Critters series commenced March 21, 2019. Watch the teaser trailer for Critters A New Binge below.
Critters A New Binge, Trailer
The trailer for “Critters A New Binge” shows some kids hanging out at the Furry Paws animal shelter. Is that from a previous film?
The trailer states that yes, the critters are
HAIRY
They’re
DEADLY
and of course
THEY WON’T LET ANYTHING GET IN THE WAY OF DINNER
With what looks like much of the same schlocky humor of the original critters franchise films, people as old as myself can finally show the younger generations just how cool our era of television and movies was too.
Well, kind of… nowadays, there is cool stuff too but you know what I mean.
Critters A New Binge 2019 Cast
If you think the first films in the franchise weren’t cool, think again. They star horror greats like Dee Wallace (The Howling), Lin Shaye (Insidious), and, Roger Hampton (Halloween.) The first movie also has Billy Zane in it.
The second film has faces like Cynthia Garris (The Shining), Liane Curtis (Sixteen Candles), Sam Anderson (Forrest Gump), Barry Corbin (Northern Exposure), David Ursin (Die Hard) who is dressed as the Easter Bunny no less.
The third and fourth films will show you a glimpse of Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Dourif, and Anne Ramsay to name just a few. If you have time to watch the movies before the new Critters series releases, get onto it— stat.
Critters Series — Picking Up Where the Following Leaves Off
In Critters A New Binge, once the pod is opened we see Charlie is still inside along with some new baby critters. The critters escape and run loose in their new spaceship. As the ship and all the new companions traveling on it, all have their agendas, all hell breaks loose. The ship also has some major mechanical issues to deal with. So, as the critters do their thing, the remaining crew and passengers fight to stay alive.
Meanwhile, the Critters get into the lab and they quickly use the equipment to multiply. They also expedite the process while they’re at it. By the end of the movie, Charlie leaves with Ug aboard the Tetra ship. All parties believe the critters are destroyed and extinct. In addition, the new Critters series will start from Critters 5. For now, buy this surprisingly great box set from Amazon straight away. Sooner or later, we all go back to Critters.
Critters A New Binge Writer and Director
Jordan Ruben (Director) is best known for Zombeavers (2014) and a bunch of comedy shows.
Al Kaplan (co-writer) is best known for Zombeavers as well. He also has an upcoming project called The Ghosting, a horror, thriller about internet dating.
Jon Kaplan (co-writer) is best known for Zombeavers and is working with his brother on The Ghosting too. Jon was the composer for the new cult hit Terrifier, where he put together the music for the short film.
Comedy-horror, exclusive to Shudder on a Thursday in March 2019, the 21st. This series
Critters A New Binge picks up the tale of the Critters who landed on Earth. The hairy, carnivorous, alien film franchise is back. Chased down by intergalactic bounty hunters (who can shapeshift), the Critters return to Earth on a secret mission.
Here they meet Christopher, who’s in high school alongside his best friend Charlie. However, while lusting after a girl called Dana, Christopher battles the hairy balls of mischief under the watchful eye of his mom, Veronica.
Who will survive? And who will be eaten? Let’s Re-cap the first 4 Films, so you can watch Critters: A New Binge, all caught up.
1986 — Critters
On an asteroid prison in a galaxy far, far away some aliens called Crites are getting ready for a bit of a prison transfer. Of course, these guys are pretty clever and, the small group hatches an escape plan.
Two bounty hunters (Ug and Lee) promptly pursue the little rascals. One uses the face and shape of a famous rock star— Johnny Steel and the other still deciding, goes in with no face at all.
Starring the legendary Dee Wallace (Red Christmas) Scott Grimes (Party of Five) and some small furry aliens who love nothing more than chowing down on anything they can get their teeth into. Having landed in small countryside fans will remember the cows and the critter’s original comedic banter and chuckle.
The critters torment and cause havoc to a farming family. They also upset some of the surrounding townsfolk before the bounty hunters finally catch up with them. I won’t spoil the whole first film but the final scene shows that not all is well and the critters left some lovely eggs in the barn.
Critters 2: The Main Course — 1988
The second installment sees the return of Terrance Mann (Ug), Don Opper (as Charlie), and Scott Grimes (Brad) from the first film. It’s been two-and-a-half years and the eggs are ready to hatch. Meanwhile, we are reacquainted with the bounty hunters who now work with Charlie by their side. They are informed that Critters are still on Earth and are assigned to go fix it.
As the critters create havoc again while mostly going unnoticed they begin to grow in numbers. The town bands together to try and destroy this new threat and there is much confusion between the bounty hunters and their ally Charlie about who survived what. The audience knows though.
Critters 3 — 1991
Those who enjoy a bit of Leonardo DiCaprio will like this because he is in it. Critters 3 was the now very well-known actors’ first film.
In Critters 3, the location shifts away from Grovers Bend where the first two films take place, and allows the film to shift its focus.
First of all, it’s only been a short time since the events in Grovers Bend. And secondly, Charlie is still trying to track down the final remaining elusive aliens. We are introduced to a new family of three, Annie, Johnny, and Clifford who have stopped to fix a flat tire.
The family runs into Charlie who tells them that there are aliens. Before they know it though, it seems like, their car is fixed and they leave unknowingly carrying a batch of new critter eggs under their car. These eggs don’t need two-and-a-half years to hatch and instead break free soon after Annie, Johnny, and Clifford arrive home.
Unfortunately, by the time Charlie arrives to save the day he is ordered by the intergalactic council not to destroy the last two eggs and instead transfer them via a pod. Of course, the pod crashes, and the movie ends.
1992 — Critters 4
Critters 4 sees the return of Charlie played by Don Opper. He is joined by Terrance Mann (Ug) and, Angela Bassett (Fran) and, features the wonderful Brad Dourif as Al.
A direct continuation from the previous film, Critters 4 re-caps. Charlie is about to destroy the last two eggs and is stopped by a hologram message telling him they aren’t just the last two eggs on Earth but the last two eggs in existence. In violation of the intergalactic law, they must be saved as they cannot cause the extinction of any species. Charlie obeys and joins the eggs in the preservation pod and rockets into space.
Half a century later in the future, in 2045, a space crew comes across the pod and brings it aboard. Like most films with people who can be corrupted, the news gets out and rewards are offered for the pod’s contents.
