Tremors Movie Review

By
Darren J Tyson
-
Tremors
Image Source: 3 Brothers Film

Movie: Tremors
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Companies: No Frills Productions & Pacific Western Productions
Director: Ron Underwood
Producers: Brent Maddock & S. S. Wilson
Scriptwriters: Brent Maddock & S. S. Wilson
Main Cast: Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, Finn Carter, Michael Gross & Reba McEntire
Release Date: January 19 1990
Running Time: 96 Minutes
Certificate: 15 (Now 12A For 2014 Theatrical Re-release)

I can’t quite remember the first time I watched Tremors (Underwood, 1990). And I can in fact still remember the feeling, the unease, the stress. All that fear and yet still mesmerized by how lifelike things moved and acted. I can still picture the scene where the ground engulfs a car with a woman still inside. Furthermore, I was surprised by how well the practical effects aged as I got older. The decision to utilize practical over digital means this film remains one of my guilty pleasures. Then, I saw that this movie was leaving Amazon Prime in two weeks. So, I was just handed my excuse to watch it again.

Tremors

Synopsis Of Tremors

In the small southern town of Perfection, USA, it looks like it’s stuck in the Western age. Life is peaceful. However, no good creature feature stays that way. We meet two repairmen who are planning to get gone for good. Val Mckee (Kevin Bacon) and Earl Basset (Fred Ward) believe they’re too big for this little pond of Perfection. Shortly thereafter, we meet the female lead Rhonda (Finn Carter), a seismologist. She enquires about any blasts that have been happening in the area, as she is surveying some unusual seismic activity.

The two laugh as they confirm there is a lot of blasts that go off in the town. The two then return to the general shop, meanwhile elsewhere the monster strikes. Killing construction workers and a sheep farmer. After finally committing to leave, to their dismay upon trying to leave they notice a rockslide has blocked the road out of town and stumble upon the little remains of one of the construction workers.

First Encounter

The two then stumble upon their first encounter with the monstrous flesh-eating grabboids. As one attacks the car as they retreat back to the general store. There they discover the monster stuck under the wheel arch of the boy’s truck. The town of Perfection gathers around and purpose to fight the monsters. Though with the phone lines down, leaving them completely cut off with only the road blocked off by a rockslide, they are left with only one option horse ride to the nearest town.

The boys are equipped by the inhabiting survivalist couple, Burt (Michael Gross) and Heather Gummer (Reba McEntire). It’s on this journey when they attack their horses, we are enlightened to the full body of the Grabboid as it emerges out of the ground. It appears as long large slugs with snake-like tongues that leave the move to grab hold and drag prey into the monster’s awaiting, gaping mouth. Donned the name “Grabboids” by the town’s populace because of the way the snake-like tongues grab you and pull you in.

The monster chases Val and Earl. But they ultimately manage to kill it when they regroup with Rhonda. Then, they head back to town as she informs the boys three Grabboids remain. The town of Perfection gathers around and purpose to fight the monsters yet again, with Burt and his wife being the main voice for fighting the monsters. However, the Grabboids attack while they are deciding on what to do. Leading to a climactic, tense battle that lasts the end of the film as the populace of Perfection attempts to fight off the Grabboids.

Analysis Of Tremors

Cronenberg would be proud of that monster! The standout appeal of this film is the amazing editing. And the effects make this film a delight to watch some 30 years later. The practical effects utilized to bring the Grabboids to life would make film industry practical effect icon Michael Cronenberg blush. With the effects of Tremors being able to hold its own when compared to the likes of Cronenberg’s work. An example is The Fly (Cronenberg, 1986) starring Jeff Goldblum and Shivers (Cronenberg, 1975).

The Grabboids come off as alive rather than lifeless puppets. So, the way they squirm, and how their bodies seem to pulsate as they breathe. This helps bring the monstrous practical effect to life. The snake-like tongues give this creature more of a sinister personality. Especially compared to a lot of low budget horror films’ key monsters, simply just conveyed through its movement.

Complimented with the mystery of not first seeing the monster when it strikes first, killing the sheep farmer. The film seems to have taken inspiration from Jaws (Spielberg, 1975) the camera angles and lack of seeing the Grabboids at times directly reflects the techniques utilized by Spielberg in filming Jaws. The tense, eerie western music only compliments the tone and aesthetic of the film. The science is at times flawed, the shots fast and sometimes disorienting in Tremors. Causing you to feel more nauseated than invested in the film.

Summary Of Tremors

It’s more than worth the suspending of disbelief for 96 minutes. The campy yet heart-filled cast bands together to save each other and their beloved town of Perfection. And this better offering of the 90’s creature features soon spawned up after the groundbreaking success of Jaws. So, Tremors has practical perfection and terrific practical effects. However, at times it could get too nauseating for the viewer with the fast cuts and editing.

Overall Rating: 8.5/10 – Excellent

Links

Check Out All Of Our Movie Reviews!

Post Views: 1,274

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR