EPISODE · Apr 20, 2026 · 50 MIN
S6 E6: Critters at 40...They STILL BITE!
from That Would Be Rad · host Woody Brown and Tyler Bence
Forty years ago this month, a scrappy little creature feature crawled out of New Line Cinema and straight into cult status.This week, we’re throwing it a proper 40th birthday party and no full plot recap, just the good stuff: the wild trivia you’ve forgotten (or never knew), the behind-the-scenes practical effects magic, how it held its own in one of the craziest movie years ever, and the gloriously unhinged ride the franchise took afterward.From the Chiodo Brothers building fuzzy alien puppets on a shoestring budget… to Corey Burton inventing the Krites’ language on the spot… to Leonardo DiCaprio’s very first movie role getting terrorized by the little furballs… we’re digging into all the rad details that make Critters still feel alive in 2026.We also talk about why these practical-effect monsters hit different in the CGI era, that perfect pre-internet small-town 80s vibe, and how a tiny $2–3 million underdog carved out its own weird little corner in a summer packed with blockbusters.Whether you grew up renting this on VHS or you’re discovering the Krites for the first time — this one’s pure nostalgic chaos with a side of “wait till you hear this.”If you’ve ever loved a goofy, scrappy 80s creature feature and wondered why it still holds up…This one’s for you.Stay curious.Stay weird.Be Forever Rad.CONNECT WITH US📲 Instagram: @thatwouldberadTag us or DM your favorite 80s creature features, practical effects love, or retro movie rabbit holes.🎙 Share a Story / Send a Voice Message: thatwouldberadpodcast.com✉️ Email: [email protected] INFOHosts & Producers: Woody Brown & Tyler BenceRecorded At: Midnight Radio StudiosSound Wizardry:• Woody Brown — Sound Design, Editing, & Music (Solo Episode)• Tyler Bence — Mixing, Mastering, & Art Design (currently on computer resurrection duty)Outro Jam: “Ghost Story” by The Modern SocietyRAD WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR SHOW🎧 Join Our Patreon: Exclusive episodes, bonus content, and behind-the-scenes weirdness — patreon.com/thatwouldberad☕️ Buy Us a Coffee: Fuel our late-night deep dives — buymeacoffee.com/thatwouldberad🛍 Check Out Our Merch: Grab official RAD gear — thatwouldberad.myspreadshop.com
What this episode covers
Forty years ago this month, a scrappy little creature feature crawled out of New Line Cinema and straight into cult status.This week, we’re throwing it a proper 40th birthday party and no full plot recap, just the good stuff: the wild trivia you’ve forgotten (or never knew), the behind-the-scenes practical effects magic, how it held its own in one of the craziest movie years ever, and the gloriously unhinged ride the franchise took afterward.From the Chiodo Brothers building fuzzy alien puppets on a shoestring budget… to Corey Burton inventing the Krites’ language on the spot… to Leonardo DiCaprio’s very first movie role getting terrorized by the little furballs… we’re digging into all the rad details that make Critters still feel alive in 2026.We also talk about why these practical-effect monsters hit different in the CGI era, that perfect pre-internet small-town 80s vibe, and how a tiny $2–3 million underdog carved out its own weird little corner in a summer packed with blockbusters.Whether you grew up renting this on VHS or you’re discovering the Krites for the first time — this one’s pure nostalgic chaos with a side of “wait till you hear this.”If you’ve ever loved a goofy, scrappy 80s creature feature and wondered why it still holds up…This one’s for you.Stay curious.Stay weird.Be Forever Rad.CONNECT WITH US📲 Instagram: @thatwouldberadTag us or DM your favorite 80s creature features, practical effects love, or retro movie rabbit holes.🎙 Share a Story / Send a Voice Message: thatwouldberadpodcast.com✉️ Email: [email protected] INFOHosts & Producers: Woody Brown & Tyler BenceRecorded At: Midnight Radio StudiosSound Wizardry:• Woody Brown — Sound Design, Editing, & Music (Solo Episode)• Tyler Bence — Mixing, Mastering, & Art Design (currently on computer resurrection duty)Outro Jam: “Ghost Story” by The Modern SocietyRAD WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR SHOW🎧 Join Our Patreon: Exclusive episodes, bonus content, and behind-the-scenes weirdness — patreon.com/thatwouldberad☕️ Buy Us a Coffee: Fuel our late-night deep dives — buymeacoffee.com/thatwouldberad🛍 Check Out Our Merch: Grab official RAD gear — thatwouldberad.myspreadshop.com
NOW PLAYING
S6 E6: Critters at 40...They STILL BITE!
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
Mar 26, 2026 ·1m
Jan 2, 2026 ·47m
Dec 21, 2025 ·46m