Why you can trust GamesRadar+
Two years after E.T. , Steven Spielberg gave it a mischievous sibling in Joe Dante’s anarchic creature feature, a subversive parable on the dangers of irresponsible pet care that doubles as an antidote to small-town Americana and Yuletide sentimentality.
Built around a cutesy furball that spawns an army of uncontrollable ids when allowed to get wet, it’s as much a Freudian nightmare as a celebration of monsters behaving badly.
More than either, it’s a treat for movie buffs, Dante peppering it with filmmaker cameos, cartoonish slapstick and satirical swipes at Hollywood classics from yesteryear.
Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox

Neil Smith is a freelance film critic and writer who contributes regularly to Heat, SFX and Screen International. He's a long-time member of the London Film Critics’ Circle and was a contributing editor at Total Film for many years.


