Review of Tremors (1990) by Spencer S — 24 Jun 2013

Strangely entertaining for its content and cast of characters, "Tremors" is beyond definition for a number of reasons. Trying to shoehorn this film into a genre is quite difficult because it touches on themes that are developed in science fiction, horror, thriller, and comedy.

Every bit of this film is beyond comparison, goes a different route than what you except, has interesting plot and characters, and actually horrifies the viewer at various points. Monster movie best describes this film as it centers around the evolutionary phenomenon of giant sand worms, ("Dune" anyone?) trying to kill a group of people.

The setting is a very small (14 people) village in the middle of the Nevada desert, trapped thanks to a landslide at their only road out of town. Under the ground there roams three worms out to get them, which is a number figured out by seismology grad student Rhonda.

Also in the mix are two gun nuts, a couple of day laborers, several families, and a shop owner. They outwit the worms with different ploys but the worms find ways around them, oftentimes resorting to destroying everything in their path just to suck them down into the sandy abyss.

There is a certain amount of cheesiness and cloddish humor to this film, but it always works. There is never a moment when something is so oafish or juvenile that it doesn't let you laugh or find this film entertaining.

A lot of what makes this film enjoyable is the diverse ranks of the cast, ranging from Reba McEntire as an obsessed, gun toting rebel to a teenage boy poking fun at the situation to everyone's chagrin and irritation.

Also, though there isn't any CGI or stop motion animation to this early nineties' film, its' effects are amazing and really scare. You're most afraid when you can't even see the worms, reminiscent of "Jaws," which is probably the best comparison to this entertaining film.