Plot: What’s it about?
After an epic clash with two bounty hunters and some determined humans, the horrible hairballs were sent to their demise. But before that last stand and death sentence, some of the little beasties laid eggs in the barn on the Browns’ farmland. Now some time has passed and locals have all but tried to forget about the horrific encounter, but inside that barn, the eggs have remained dormant and unhatched. But when someone stumbles upon the eggs, the terror is poised to return to Groverville once more. The man who discovers the eggs sees them as a ticket to some free booze, so he trades them to the local junkman for a case of hooch. The dangerous eggs then leave the junkman’s hands and are sent to a daycare center, as they’re thought to be wonderful eggs to use as part of an Easter celebration. Soon enough, the eggs hatch and out come the hideous beasties to unleash hell on the poor locals. Even the town’s sheriff finds himself bitten, not to mention that the bite is somewhere quite uncomfortable indeed. After the attack is launched, the space council once again dispatches some bounty hunters to round up the sick little furballs. But this time, the critters seem meaner and nastier, so it won’t be a simple task. Even with the help of the bounty hunters, can the locals fend off the hairballs one more time?
The original Critters found solid success in terms of box office and even got some critical praise, so a sequel was inevitable. But does this second installment of Critters turn out to be as much fun as the original? That all depends on what you want from your sequels, as if you look for expansion on the ideas created in the original and a deeper exploration of the themes, then Critters 2 is a terrible sequel. But if you want a sequel to offer more of the same madness, then you’re in luck, as that is just what Critters 2 delivers. In truth, the storyline is almost exactly the same the second time around, we just have a new cast, a new location, and even more of those hideous furballs we’ve all come to know and love. I always have fun with Critters 2, but I have to admit, it fails to be as wild and cool as the original. Then again, I expected a dropoff from sequels and since this one is still loads of fun at times, I see no reason to complain. As in the original, the filmmakers and cast are able to keep an excellent sense of humor and that shows on screen, especially in regard to the dead serious performances. You have to wonder how the cast managed to remain straight faced, given the hilarious lines and situations involved. In the end, if you liked the first Critters flick, then you’re safe with this one, so check out Critters 2.
Video: How does it look?
Critters 2 is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, with a full frame version also included on this disc. As was the case with the original, this movie looks excellent and puts all previous editions to shame. The print is in much better condition than expected, with a cleaner, more refined appearance than previous editions. Critters 2 is a dark movie, with tons of shadows and darkness, but this transfer remains stark and consistent. So detail is stable throughout, with nothing lost on account of murkiness or poor black levels. I found colors to be acceptable also, but the film never requires much of its hues. This might be a low rent sequel to a cheese laden creature feature, but it sure looks sweet in this presentation.
Audio: How does it sound?
Not to reinvent the wheel, I figured I would use the same audio comments as I did in the original film’s review, since the soundtracks are so much alike. This disc includes a Dolby Digital 5.1 track and as with most horror movies, the audio is used to mostly create mood and atmosphere. Of course, the theme returns and sounds fantastic, but the rest of the elements also come off very well here. I found this to be a very active track in all respects, but the surround use never seems forced, which is good. The needed offbeat, yet eerie mood is present throughout and no problems seem to emerge at all. The dialogue is crystal clear and always at a proper level, never overshadowed by the other elements. This disc also includes a 2.0 surround option, as well as English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes the film’s theatrical trailer.
