Main Cast: Aimee Brooks, John Calvin, Katherine Cortez, Leonardo DiCaprio, Geoffrey Blake
Release Year: 1991
Country: US
Run Time: 86 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
The third in the tongue-in-cheek horror series liberally cribbed from Gremlins (1984) features an early performance from future heartthrob Leonardo DiCaprio and was filmed simultaneously with its follow-up. This time out, it's an urban family who picks up one of the fast-multiplying beasties while on vacation, although they are warned by Charlie (Don Opper), a veteran of the creatures' earlier attacks. Once widower Clifford (John Calvin) and his kids Annie (Annie Brooks) and Johnny (Christian and Joseph Cousins) return home to their apartment building, the critter begins to reproduce, and the tenement becomes overrun with diminutive, hungry killers. The first to go is cruel superintendent Frank (Geoffrey Blake), but others soon follow, including the unscrupulous landlord, whose son Josh (DiCaprio) finds romance with Annie. With the appearance of the resourceful Charlie and the heroics of Clifford, the critters' days are soon numbered. Critters 3 was directed by Kristine Peterson, a veteran of the Roger Corman school of no-budget genre filmmaking. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
Don Opper - Charlie McFadden; Nina Axelrod - Betty Briggs; Frances Bay - Mrs. Menges; Diana Bellamy - Rosalie; Christian Cousins - Johnny; Joseph Cousins - Johnny; William Hunt - Briggs; Terrence Mann - Ug; Bill Zuckert - Mr. Menges; José Luis Valansuela - Mario
Credit
Jeff Wallace - Art Director, Kristine Peterson - Director, David C. Williams - Composer (Music Score), Philip Foreman - Production Designer, Thomas L. Callaway - Cinematographer, Rupert Harvey - Producer, Barry Opper - Producer, Frank Ceglia - Special Effects, Chiodo Brothers Productions - Special Effects, David J. Schow - Screenwriter
Critters 3 is a 1991sci-ficomedy horror film directed by Kristine Peterson. It is the third installment of the Critters series. It was shot back-to-back with its sequel, Critters 4. Unlike the first two movies, it does not take place in the town of Grover's Bend. It was also Leonardo DiCaprio's first film, he plays the stepson of the evil landlord.
An urban family stops at a rest area while on vacation, despite warnings by Charlie, a veteran of the creatures' earlier attacks. Once widower Clifford (Calvin) and his kids Annie (Brooks) and Johnny return home to their apartment building, the critters, having laid eggs hitched a ride, begin to reproduce. Despite only two eggs (the third having been crushed by Clifford while fixing the truck) the tenement becomes overrun with diminutive, hungry killers. The first to go is cruel superintendent Frank. The unscrupulous landlord, whose son finds romance with Annie, is the only other death in the film, a marked lowering of the usual death count for the series. With the appearance of the resourceful Charlie and the heroics of Clifford, the critters' days are soon numbered.
