REVIEW: Critters (1986)

As promised - the long awaited first review.

Seeing as this was my first film review (EVER), I began by taking notes.

The first thing we see in Critters is a garish flashing production company emblem (very memorable in design, but the name has already slipped my mind).
This was about the time I stopped taking notes. How do I know what is or isn't important? And how am I going to enjoy the film with my phone in my hand - as we are long gone the trusty pen and paper method of note taking.
I also don't want to explain the bits I liked and didn't like from beginning to end, revealing any spoilers or giving away the plot.

My immediate thoughts about the film was that it definitely hasn't aged very well. With a combination of 80's Doctor Who aliens,  original Tron graphics and Red Dwarf series one weaponry, it is very hard to take seriously. That said, it isn't supposed to be a serious film and the retro feel did take me back to my youth watching the old classics.
These were my personal opinions on the weapons, aliens and graphics - and obviously as it was made at the same time as all of the above, it would have been state of the art of the time. BUT...and this is a big BUT...I must hand it to the directors/writers/prop guys at this point, because they brought in some wonderful tributes that actually make it a much more enjoyable film to watch.

Firstly, ET makes an appearance. The 'Critters' ask a rubber ET model "Who are you?" - when in reality ET was probably looking right back at them and thinking the exact same thing.
Next, the bowling shirt of the team the Dad plays for has a Ghostbusters tribute on it.
Finally, the cat was called Chewy.

Three of the biggest sci-fi movies of the 80's (even today still up there), and this film honours them all.

Being a big sci-fi fan myself, you'd think this was the highlight of the film for me. It wasn't. This was:

I haven't formally introduced myself yet, but to the other writer of this blog, I have been called Grover for a very long time. When I caught a glimpse of this scene I wanted to phone him straight away, but know he will get more pleasure from seeing it on here.

I can already feel myself waffling on about a film that definitely doesn't require an essay to summarise.

If you are a fan of 80's classics, if you like a bit of sci-fi from yesteryear, if you don't mind relatively happy endings, or Critter montages, then I would say watch this film today.
If the above doesn't really tickle your pickle, avoid it at all costs.

As for the scare factor, I think the 15 rating is for the swearing and the amount of fake blood they used - nobody nowadays is scared of one of these fellas right??

IMDB Score: 5.9
Mike's Film Critter Score: 7