Review of Tremors (1990) by Tony G — 25 Dec 2012

"Tremors" is a pretty savvy and surprising film. You wouldn't know it from looking at it at face value. You might expect a creepy-crawly creature feature with jolts and occasional laughs. But "Tremors" delivers beyond that. It's a smartly realized, inventive film that effectively crosses genres and defies conventions.

Seemingly inspired by old 50s cheesy sci-fi horror films with outrageous creatures like giant ants or mysterious aliens, 'Tremors" uses that foundation and injects fun into the proceedings. A hardscrabble community at a small desert community gets attacked by gigantic worms that travel under ground. But these creatures aren't just dumb monsters, they are also highly intelligent and are guided by the group's movements - making them a formidable foe for the town residents.

The film becomes a puzzle as the group attempts to figure out how to defeat these creatures. Director Ron Underwood moves "Tremors" at a quick pace allowing for the film's excitement level to barely decrease. In between action sequences, the film is still an enjoyable ride as the repartee is amusing and smart.

Good credit belongs to the cast who keep the performances light and fun. Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward are loose, Reba McEntire and Michael Gross are wired.

"Tremors" is incredibly cheesy but wears its B-movie status on its sleeve. And for that "Tremors" deserves A-list credit.