What is the largest possible monster in the "small monsters" sub-genre of film?

[Johnny Unusual]

Answer the question!

 

[Torzelbaum]

I would love to but I feel like I need some more information first. So what do you mean by the small monster sub-genre?

 

[Johnny Unusual]

Gremlins, Ghoulies, Hobgoblins, Critters, Small Soldiers, Munchies, Spookies, Beasties and, arguably, Arachnophobia.

 

[Octopus Prime]

definitely the Mars Attacks Martians

 

[Octopus Prime]

Hmm, does the Critterball count as one monster or many monsters working in tandem?

 

[Torzelbaum]

I don't know about hard and fast rules but based on the examples provided I think a rough rule of thumb would be creatures that at their tallest come up to an average person's waist - if the creature is bipedal. If they normally walk around on four legs but stand on their hind legs to attack then they are small if they can't reach much higher than a person's chest. If they can reach the neck while doing that then they most likely should be considered medium sized.

Wait... What does D&D say about size classifications/categories?

arguably, Arachnophobia.

So are we not making a distinction between "creatures" and "animals"? Because I do feel like that is actually important.

Hmm, does the Critterball count as one monster or many monsters working in tandem?

I would say working in tandem. As a comparison/contrast I am thinking of a group of Dragon Quest slimes merging into a King Slime - which is not what the Crites did.

 

[Octopus Prime]

I think the primary defining characteristic is a monster who is more interested in spreading mischief than violence. With the unspoken understanding that they think violence is hysterical.

It’s not a perfect rule; Small Soldiers are undeniably Small Monsters but they’re completely goal oriented, and Beetlejuice is driven entirely by his ID, but nobody would call him a Little Monster

 

[Johnny Unusual]

So are we not making a distinction between "creatures" and "animals"? Because I do feel like that is actually important.

It's why I said arguably.

It’s not a perfect rule; Small Soldiers are undeniably Small Monsters but they’re completely goal oriented, and Beetlejuice is driven entirely by his ID, but nobody would call him a Little Monster

Note the little monsters in Little Monsters are regular sized monsters.

 

[Torzelbaum]

Note the little monsters in Little Monsters are regular sized monsters.

Do you mean Little Monsters (1989) or Little Monsters (2019)?

 

[Johnny Unusual]

Do you mean Little Monsters (1989) or Little Monsters (2019)?

I haven't seen both but I hope "a child drinks pee" differentiates them.

 

[Purple]

definitely the Mars Attacks Martians

I was going to say "if it can be a guy in a suit, that's too big, which is largely why the Killer Klowns from Outer Space don't quite make the cut, so yeah, this is like... RIGHT on the edge.

 

[Torzelbaum]

Does the plural matter? Is having just one "small monster" OK or do you need to have at least several of them (i.e. more than 2)?

 

[Johnny Unusual]

Does the plural matter? Is having just one "small monster" OK or do you need to have at least several of them (i.e. more than 2)?

I feel like the small monster genre doesn't begin and end with Gremlins but it is hugely informed by the film, which is marked by a horde of monsters. But I feel like there are cases where it isn't the case, like killer doll movies. Note this doesn't include all killer dolls; I feel like the small monsters need to be able to be physical rather than simply a threat. So Annabelle and Talky Tina is no while Chucky and the Zuni Fetish Doll are yes.

 

[Torzelbaum]

So then I'm guessing the following monsters don't count but some of them do feel like they're close to qualifying.

The "Troll" from Stephen King's Cat's Eye
The puppets from the Puppet Master series
Xenomorph eggs/facehuggers and chestbursters

From Star Wars (which is not predominantly horror):
Salacious B. Crumb / Kowakian monkey-lizard
Ewoks (but only for The Empire)

 

[Octopus Prime]

I’d be willing to accept the Puppet Master Puppets and Ewoks.

 

[Purple]

Really like half of all movies Charles Band has had a hand in comprise like half of the pool here.

 

[Torzelbaum]

if it can be a guy in a suit, that's too big

But what if it's a guy (or guys in a suit) some of the time and they're using forced perspective to make the monster(s) appear smaller?

Also, by guy I assume you don't mean a dwarf or a little person.

 

[Purple]

... OK yeah I suppose The Gate really should qualify but nobody else ever makes'em quite like that.

 

[Octopus Prime]

it feels disingenuous to say that the Leprechaun of Leprechaun fame should count as a Little Monster but I can’t think of any reason he shouldn’t.

 

[Torzelbaum]

I can think of a possible reason. He is a nasty little asshole who thinks his murderous antics are the height of comedy but he only does that in pursuit of his goal of getting his gold (or a wife). If you don't have his gold and you don't get in his way or bother him then he'll more or less just leave you alone. As a contrast to that can you imagine how much absolute fucking chaos would be unleashed if the Gremlins showed up in Las Vegas*? (Or maybe Atlantic City since the Gremlins movies have been set more towards that region of the U.S.)

*Which is where Leprechaun 3 was set.

 

[Purple]

There's also just the one Leprechaun. I kinda feel like you need a whole squad to be a proper Gremlins-like.

Since we're testing the edges here though... beyond the stated genre, is there anything that particularly keeps Mac & Me out of consideration?

 

[Octopus Prime]

While absolutely ghastly, Macs antics are motivated out of fear and confusion, it’s the humans that are the absolute maniacs in that

 

[Torzelbaum]

Humans - we've always been the real monsters.

 

[That Old Chestnut]

Yeah but humans are people sized.