Review of Tremors II: Aftershocks (1996) by Rebecca H — 27 Feb 2009

A funny sequel, but lacking whatever it was that really worked in the original. Which is a shame, because the best character from the first film, Earl (Fred Ward), is the lead here.

People keep referring to the monster worms as Graboids, as if that's what they're called. Surely that was just a joke name in a joke scene in the first film. Come on, Graboids? That's a terrible name.

Earl has aged a lot in such a short time, although this may be due to his awful 'aged cowboy' haircut, and he is missing the spark he had in Tremors.

The first half of the film follows Earl and likeable new sidekick, his biggest fan Grady (Christopher Gartin) as they blow up dozens of Graboids in Mexico. This is funny, and all the references are a lot of fun, but after 45 minutes it is lacking a lot of pep and is too straight forward. Why are the Graboids falling for the same trick over and over, when in the first film the whole terror was that once you kill one, they learn and you have to come up with something new?

There are too many worms, too easily killed, to be at all threatening. Added to barely any characters, there's hardly anyone to be killed off. The humans are now the hunters, not the hunted, and that isn't very interesting. Also, there is a shocking dip in the quality of the special effects, although only in comparison to the first film; on their own they work fine.

Then, after 45 minutes, the new threat is introduced (far too late) and it is unfortunately lame. Underground, unseen monsters are a lot more effective than these new ones.

However, it is still an enjoyable film with likeable characters and a witty script.