Critters (1986) Plot Summary Explained

The Intergalactic Council intervenes to prevent Charlie from annihilating the remaining eggs, suggesting the Critters may have value or purpose to the galactic authorities. The Council's containment pod that crashes into the basement shortly after implies they wanted to retrieve the creatures alive rather than allow them to be destroyed.

• intergalactic council
• critter eggs
• charlie macfadden
• containment pod

In a state of panic during the attack, Josh mistakenly believes he's containing the Critters by trapping the landlord in the room. His frantic decision to seal the door actually dooms the landlord, as the Critters are already inside the room when he locks it.

• josh
• landlord
• clifford room
• trapped

While the family is distracted talking to Charlie at the rest stop, a Critter sneaks underneath their vehicle and lays its eggs. The family never notices the creature, and they unknowingly drive away with the Critter eggs attached to their car.

• critter eggs
• rest stop
• car
• hidden eggs

The landlord arrives at the tenement building during the chaos and becomes a victim of the Critters. Josh accidentally locks him in Clifford's room, where he is devoured by the creatures. His greedy and corrupt nature makes his demise a darkly comic moment in the film.

Foreshadowing: The landlord's earlier threats to evict the family for unpaid rent establish his unsympathetic character before his death.

• landlord
• death
• eaten
• critters attack

The containment pod is a special vessel dispatched by the Intergalactic Council that crashes into the building's basement. It suggests the authorities have arrived to collect the Critters rather than allow them to be destroyed, setting up the cliffhanger for the sequel.

• containment pod
• basement
• intergalactic council
• crash

Charlie is a professional Critter hunter who tracks the creatures across different locations. He recognizes the family is in immediate danger and uses the rest stop encounter to warn them about the Critters, knowing the creatures are likely nearby and following them.

• charlie macfadden
• hunter
• warning
• family

The Critters are carnivorous extraterrestrial predators that view humans as food. After hatching from the eggs hidden under the car, they systematically hunt through the building, attacking anyone they encounter in their path.

• critters attack
• hunters
• predators
• tenement

Annie takes decisive action by leading the survivors to the rooftop to escape the Critters. She keeps the group together and maintains hope until Charlie arrives with the means to destroy the creatures and save them.

• annie
• survival
• rooftop
• escape

Josh is the stepson of the corrupt landlord. He's traveling with the MacFadden family at the time of the rest stop encounter, which puts him in the right place at the wrong time to witness the Critter threat firsthand.

Foreshadowing: The landlord's mention of Josh as his stepson explains his presence, though Josh clearly harbors resentment toward his stepfather.

• josh
• landlord stepson
• rest stop
• family