Critters 3 (1991)

 

Ah yes, let's see: how could we possibly continue this franchise? It started on a farm, then they headed into a small town... How about a city? 

Well, that could have been the idea, but instead they stuck this one in a broken down apartment building and not - you know - in the actual city. Budgetary reasons, of course. This one also has a very small cast and only takes about 80 minutes to get through. 

The Crites look good, though. 

Apparently, at least one of the ferocious furballs survived the events of the second installment, as it attaches itself to a camper van and lays some eggs, that hatch when the family (working dad and two kids) arrive at their appartment home. This is a building of which the owner wants to get everyone out so he can build some new thing on it and make more money.

The plot of this one is surprisingly similar to that of 'Batteries Not Included', only with vicious aliens instead of benevolent ones. 

So the Crites hatch and start eating. Well, not really. They eat the arsehat janitor and later on the 'evil' real estate developer, who also happens to be Leonardo Di Caprio's stepdad. Because this is in effect the very first film Di Caprio starred in. He's not in it much, because he's not the focal point of the story. It should be the family/daughter, but she's not that interesting. There's no Bradley-type character here, that much is certain. 

Crites chase the people, people flee to the roof, building on fire, stuff, Crites are done away with in various ways. That's it. Not exactly exciting and that is why this entire film falls rather flat. They also did away with tension, as everything and especially the Crites are played more for comedy. The other films also had comedy, but at least the Crites were still a menacing threat. Not so here. One of them has a running gag where he blows bubbles after drinking soap and there's another one who farts. 

Yes, you read that correctly. 

If there is one thing that does work, it's the puppets and animatronics themselves, as they look really good considering. But that doesn't save this film from being fairly boring and bland.