Space Critters Case Study: Critters Proves You Can Torment No Matter Your Size

*Will contain Spoilers.

Space Critters Introduction

For the majority of cinema the terror, torment, and death within horror movies had come from monstrous creatures and beings that seem unstoppable. We’ve had mythic creatures who seem to play by a wholly different set of rules. Giant beasts born of the atomic age. Aliens from outer space who are superior hunters and predators to us in every possible way. All kinds of demonic entities from the underworld waiting to be set free and lay their claim on the Earth. Savage humans from deep in the jungle who don’t know any other ways. Right the way through to the unkillable Slashers and mental lunatics killing attractive and dumb teens for pleasure. Even when smaller creatures were used to bring rural towns to their knees we supersized them, like in, well… Them!

Then, along came the eighties to finally fully embrace the smaller menaces. There had of course been other smaller creatures before ranging from strange space bugs to killer puppies and possessed dolls, but it was the eighties that truly brought us the Space Critter. Little alien monsters from space, often adorable, always hungry, and as deadly as any of their larger counterparts. At the forefront of these Space Critters was Gremlins, but as they’ve already had more than their fair share of attention over the years I’m instead going to focus on how Stephen Herek’s Critters showed us that when it comes to terrorising and tormenting your victims, size doesn’t matter.

Attributes of a Space Critter

Size

No matter the size, the one thing you can always do before revealing your monster is create dread. The unknown is scary, whether its twenty foot tall, or a bug. What you don’t know builds in your mind, and there’s no scarier place than that. All great (and even bad) movie monsters should be withheld for as long as possible. Sometimes this is done with deaths occurring in the shadows, or getting a glimpse of a claw, while at other times the danger is built up with the action and concerns of others. We could hear that they’ve escaped. Killed. Maybe see a body they’ve mutilated, or hear the screams of a distant victim. Good horror builds suspense, and that’s something which can be done with all creatures and monsters, great or small.

Critters used this philosophy to set up its entire world. We’re shown that the Crites were prisoners. Learn of their cunning as they escape. Hear that they’ve murdered, and that there were originally ten of them before they killed two of their own to aid their escape. We meet the two bounty hunters sent after them, giving us more information about the dangers these Critters possess. The unknown is used perfectly here to build the world of the Crites, while at the same time we get to meet the rural family they will later terrorise and are already feeling sorry for them.

Pack Mentality

The hunt in pack, or swarm mentality, is something that gives the Space Critters trope a different angle within the realms of creature feature horror (and indeed most horror) While other small horrors like killers dolls or rabid dogs generally attack as individuals, Space Critters come in groups, and therefore the danger is everywhere. Michael Myers or a Xenomorph can stalk their prey all night long, but they can rarely ambush their victims the way a small critter could.

This pack mentality increases the danger because there’s no rest. The teen can run away from Jason and by and large he’s not going to suddenly appear in front of her if she’s covered the ground quickly enough (unless it’s that stupid version with the underground tunnels and bells or whatever the fuck) but with Space Critters, they’re everywhere. The little fuckers are laying in wait ready to attack no matter where the victim runs too. The threat is constant. The breathing space is all but gone. There’s not a moment to relax when these vicious little bastards are after blood.

Even when the victims are completely safe there’s no real way of knowing that, especially if the film makers or novelists are good at what they do. They will rarely show all the critters in one shot (outside of the money shot) They won’t describe how many are in one place, or allow you to count them and know that the family is okay for the time being. Fuck that. There should always be doubt. There should always be that thought that they could jump out at their victim at any given moment. That’s the advantage of having creatures in numbers.

Surprise

And this leads to what is maybe their biggest attribute when it comes to terrorising their onscreen victims, and frightening the audience, they can get to places other larger creatures and killers can’t. A Slasher can’t hide in your sock draw, but a Space Critter can. An alien’s not likely to be waiting in your washing machine, but a little furry Critter from outer space could be. You’re not going to mistake a Predator for your dog or cat sitting behind the TV, but you could mistake them for a bitey space hedgehog.

Space Critters can be anywhere, and that’s both visual interesting and absolutely terrifying. As an author or film maker every action can be used to build suspense, as say, maybe your character prepares a meal. Is the Critter in the bread-bin? The food cabinet? The microwave? The oven? A bag of flour? Every action can be a moment of suspense.

We see this plenty in Critters. The little shits are hiding under a police car when they grab Neelix. They’re amongst the hay in the barn. Outside the kitchen window mimicking the actions of the family cat. They’re even in the chicken coop. They squeeze through small gaps when the family sets up barricades. Can slide through partially open windows. Come down the fire place like a miniature furry Santa Claus complete with little teeth and a bad attitude. In one of the more famous scenes a Critter is hiding in the toilet. Can you even begin to imagine how petrifying that scene could have been played if it wasn’t treated as a more comedic moment. They really can be anywhere!

Because of their innate ability to be anywhere (due to their size and natural cunning that seems to come with the shortness) that also makes Space Critters more difficult to fight. They’re harder to spot. Can disappear and reappear with ease. And are able to retreat to small places and pop out of just about everything.

Different Attack

They attack their victims differently as well. While they might not be able to swing a giant blade or rip a teen in half, the fuckers bite. The little shits can bite their victims ankles, or worse, achilles (makes me shudder just typing that) They often jump out from somewhere biting at people’s shoulders or face. The side of their exposed stomach could become a snack. Or, in the case of your friend Billy Zane in Critters, his fingers.

They can attack from upon high, leaping down at the unsuspecting townsfolk, or hide below amongst the dirt and leaves. They can spring out of just about anything, and because they’re so small, they’re normally quiet doing, which only adds to the tension. They could also be mistaken for the family pet, or vice versa, both ways creating potential jump scares or horror moments.

And trying to get a Space Critter off you isn’t as simple as pushing them away or running, especially when there’s so many of them. They cling on to their victims. Often sink their teeth into the young teen or elderly man who couldn’t run quick enough. If our hero or heroine tries to get a grip on the little bastards they could get bitten. The furry shits will snap their little jaws at the prone fingers without hesitation.

Even kicking them is difficult, as proven in Critters when the little Space Hogs kept rolling out the way… Except that one Crite in the doorway. Fuck. As a general rule Space Critters could even get inside the teens clothes! Maybe in some cases, even inside their victim bodies. It’s a different fight, and a completely different fright to their larger counterparts.

Fear The Space Critter

This comes to my last point which is more subgenre related than just to the Critters movie itself. Maybe this is a stretch, maybe not, I’ll let you decide. I think the Space Critter in terms of its size is a more relatable monster to be fearful of than the bigger creatures, demons, and slashers out there. Outside of a few places in the world we don’t fear being attacked by let’s say a bear, or a tiger. Some large creature that could rip us apart with ease. Faced with the threat we’d all piss ourselves, but it’s not something we are ever likely to come across. We can use our imagination, but it’s not a fear we’re particularly related or connected to.

But, plenty of us are fearful of dogs. Of bugs and insects like spiders or bees. People can be scared of cats. These smaller ‘threats’ are all around us. We have a deeper connection to this sort of fear in the modern age. We can feel or remember the the torment a potentially vicious dog has put us through more than some larger creature (outside of other humans of course)

Space Critters, like Gremlins, Critters, or Ghoulies, can feel more like that dog down the street you’re afraid off. That family members cat who always attacks you anytime you go round their house. That spider that’s always lurking in the bathroom, or building a web in the corner of your room while you sleep. I think its easier to be fearful or smaller things, which is why the Space Critter genre works on a horror level, even when paired with more comedic elements.

Their size is their biggest strength. You could open one of your draws right now and a Space Critter could be hiding in it. It’s something to think about.

Stephen