Critters 4 (1992)

'Critters 4' is a belated dud from this franchise. I do appreciate that the filmmakers attempted something different, but for me they didn't pull it off. Firstly, it's too human-centric. The critters don't feature enough, in fact the first quarter of the 90 minutes goes without them - that's a problem. The human side of the story isn't all that interesting, either. It's your fairly standard space mission crew set-up, some crew are good and some are not... you know where it's generally all heading. The space effects also aren't all that convincing, the critters remain solid though. The cast is the most noteworthy thing about this 1992 production. Angela Bassett unexpectedly appears in one of her early roles, she and Brad Dourif are the only two onscreen that I held interest for... and that's probably only due to their other work. Both are decent though. Quite something that this franchise can count young Leonardo DiCaprio and Angela Bassett as alumni. Who'd have thunk it? Away from them, Don Keith Opper and Terrence Mann feature in these movies yet again. Mann is better than Opper this time out. I'm sure 2019's 'Critters Attack!' was a return to form...

man i haven't even seen the first one i just watched it for brad dourif though for someone who hasn't seen the rest of the series and doesn't really like space movies this was kinda fun SPOILER - but i'm sad in a movie about killer little creature guys that brad dourif died by laser gun?? just like that?? i don't like seeing him die in movies to start but come on at least make it cool

That's right. They look nothing like a piranha. But they're hungry like a piranha. Critters 4 is directed by Rupert Harvey and collectively written by Barry Opper, Joseph Lyle, and David J. Schow. It stars Don Keith Opper, Brad Dourif, Angela Bassett, Anders Hove, Terrence Mann and Paul Whitthorne. Music is by Peter Manning Robinson and cinematography by Thomas L. Callaway. The original wave of the "Critters" film series saw 4 films crammed into 6 years, with the decline in quality of each one reaching its nadir with this part 4. Gone is the funny asides that once blended seamlessly with the bloody antics of the razor teeth furballs, in place is a dull "Alien" clone that renders the Critters as bit part players in the series baring their name. In fact the makers have completely jettisoned one of their best forms of attack - the ability to fire lethal spikes from their personage. Still, the cast remains a curious point of interest, what with two Oscar nominated actors working for food. The simple spaceship interior design is effective for the "stalk the prey" story axis, and the cinematography is pleasing for genre tropes. But really this is just a completist piece, and ultimately just one for those who began watching - and having fun - back in 1986 with the first film. 3/10

Why? Why drive this into the ground? This franchise has pretty much followed the Leprechaun formula, with it now being in space. Next one, the Crites will probably wind up in the Hood. It's just boring and makes no sense. The characters are dull and two-dimensional. Drastic character changes from previous installments make no sense. Even the Crites don't feel that threatening, despite the first death being a bit more gruesome than any of the previous ones in the entire series. Actually, I think that's part of the problem with this series' trajectory. In the first movie, the Crites are the main bad guy and the main problem to deal with. After that, it almost feels like they're there to set things off, but they aren't the main problem the characters have to deal with any more. There are other frequently more pressing problems and threats that have to be dealt with, and it seriously has taken away from their screen presence. If you're seeing this to resolve the cliffhanger from the third movie, you're honestly probably better off simply using your own imagination as to how would play out. Don't waste your time, because that's exactly what it will feel like you've been doing.

Lots of horror franchises eventually reach the stage where they just kind of go "You know what? Fuck it. You're going to space." That direction is a little more natural in _Critters_ than with other series, seeing as the titular badguys are themselves from space. But it's still a little odd to jump forwards in time like they did. Seems like the sort of thing that would kill forward momentum in the series. Which I guess it did, seeing as it took another 27 years for another _Critters_ to come out after this one, when we had the first four come out in a six year stretch. I guess it was more important to have humans in space to save money on this film than make another one. When that human cast contains both Brad Dourif and Angela Bassett though, it's hard to complain too much. _Final rating:★★½ - Had a lot that appealed to me, didn’t quite work as a whole._