Tremors (1990)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Ron Underwood

Writers (WGA):

S.S. Wilson (story) &
Brent Maddock (story) ...

Release Date:

19 January 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

The monster movie that breaks new ground.

Plot:

Natives of a small isolated town, defend themselves against strange underground creatures which are killing them one by one.

Plot Keywords:

Monster | Nevada | Corpse | Desert | Seismologist

Awards:

5 nominations

Cast

Kevin Bacon	...	Valentine McKee
Fred Ward	...	Earl Bassett
Finn Carter	...	Rhonda LeBeck
Michael Gross	...	Burt Gummer
Reba McEntire	...	Heather Gummer
Robert Jayne	...	Melvin Plug (as Bobby Jacoby)
Charlotte Stewart	...	Nancy Sterngood
Tony Genaro	...	Miguel
Ariana Richards	...	Mindy Sterngood
Richard Marcus	...	Nestor
Victor Wong	...	Walter Chang
Sunshine Parker	...	Edgar
Michael Dan Wagner	...	Old Fred
Conrad Bachmann	...	Dr. Jim
Bibi Besch	...	Megan

Also Known As:

Beneath Perfection (USA) (working title)
Dead Silence (USA) (working title)
Land Sharks (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Canada:14A (Ontario) | Italy:T | Iceland:16 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:15 | France:Unrated | Netherlands:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Ireland:15 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:16 | Singapore:PG | Brazil:14

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The original ending of the film was much different. Val and Earl head out to Bixbie and Val doesn't hook up with Rhonda. But it is implied. The two are looking for their lighter and realize that Rhonda still has it, they turn around and head back. This ending was shot, and tested for one audience, and was not well received. It is available in the documentary on the DVD.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Rhonda and Earl climb out of the flood channel after the first graboid is killed, Rhonda's backpack falls off her shoulder. When the camera cuts to another angle, it's on her back again.

Quotes:

[Burt Gummer, with his wife Heather at his side, berates the dead monster fought off with their "family arsinal"]
Burt Gummer: Broke into the wrong God damn rec room, didn't ya you bastard!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Slither (2006)

Soundtrack:

DROP KICK ME JESUS

Surprisingly enjoyable good old fashioned monster movie!

On paper I would have expected 'Tremors' to suck - a low budget sci fi action comedy written by the 'Short Circuit' guys, and directed by a hack who went on to make 'City Slickers'. It doesn't exactly inspire confidence, does it? But if you put your prejudices aside you'll find that this is a surprisingly enjoyable good old fashioned monster movie. There is humour here, sure, but thankfully the movie doesn't go for a camp, tongue in cheek parody style, something for me that almost never works. The movies real strength is the perfect casting of Kevin Bacon ('Diner') and Fred Ward ('Henry And June') as the small town handymen turned reluctant heroes. They are supported by the left field but inspired casting of 'Family Ties' Michael Gross and country singer Reba McEntire as a couple of gung ho survivalists. 'Tremors' succeeds in what it sets out to be, an exciting and wonderfully entertaining b-grade horror thriller. A lot of fun and highly recommended.