Critters 2: The Main Course (1988)

April 1, 2026·1 hr 34 min·5 clips

Trace shocks Joe by confessing his love for the maligned Critters 3, driven by childhood nostalgia.

This episode of Horror Queers features hosts Joe and Trace analyzing the 1988 horror-comedy sequel "Critters 2: The Main Course." The hosts, known for their queer-focused commentary on horror films, explore this cult classic's production and legacy. They frame the sequel as a more comedic, town-wide creature feature compared to the more horror-focused original. The episode details how the sequel was greenlit by home video distributor Media Home Entertainment due to the first film's rental success, not by New Line Cinema's Bob Shaye. Director Mick Garris was hired for his first directing job and aimed to make the film bigger and funnier than the original. The script went through multiple writers, including David Twohy, who quit after extensive studio notes. The $4 million production built the town of Grover's Bend in Santa Clarita, California, and featured over 50 puppets from the Chiodo Brothers. A major casting change saw Barry Corbin replace M. Emmet Walsh as the sheriff, while Dee Wallace confirmed she was never asked to return. The film includes a scene where bounty hunter Lee transforms into a Playboy playmate, using unreleased photos of actress Roxanne Kernohan. A surprising insight is that the original "Critters" script predated "Gremlins," challenging the common perception it was a rip-off. The hosts note the film's tight 82-minute runtime and its PG-13 rating, which required no cuts despite nudity, unlike the R-rated first film. They discuss the disappointing box office gross of $3.8 million against its budget, which led to later sequels going straight-to-video. Mick Garris believed marketing was strong, suggesting audience disinterest, not promotion, caused the flop. The hosts highlight the unexpected, gently progressive humor around the shapeshifting bounty hunter's transformation. The tone is conversational and nostalgic, blending film criticism with personal anecdotes about watching the series as kids. The style is educational, delving into production trivia from Scream Factory's Blu-ray special features. Fans of 80s creature features and behind-the-scenes Hollywood stories would enjoy this deep dive. Listeners seeking a serious, scholarly analysis of horror or those with no tolerance for B-movie camp might want to skip it.

As heard by us

A brisk, funny read on a sequel that leaves room for identity and queer interpretation.

Horror Queers uses Critters 2: The Main Course as a goofy sequel and a workable excuse for a queer reading. The case lands because the hosts keep circling Lee's blank face, the talk about finding the right self, and the script's genderless framing without turning the discussion…

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Why you'd press play

Want a horror chat that treats Critters 2 like a case study in identity, not just a goofy sequel?

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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