Critters might be a Gremlins knock-off but it’s B-movie magic
Critters, a 1990 B-movie horror film, has become a cult classic despite its low-budget origins and creature-feature premise. The film follows a race of aliens known as Krites who crash land on an Earth farm and begin devouring everything in their path, including livestock and local residents. As the ravenous, hedgehog-like monsters threaten to overrun the farm family, two alien bounty hunters arrive to combat the extraterrestrial threat. The film has achieved lasting recognition in pop culture, notably being referenced in the 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, where the character Raphael is depicted leaving a theater showing Critters. While dismissed by some as cheap creature-feature entertainment, the film exemplifies the practical effects-driven horror and creature design that defined low-budget science fiction cinema of its era. Its enduring presence in entertainment culture demonstrates the sustained appeal of practical B-movie horror despite its intentionally campy aesthetic and limited production values.