Tremors Review

Most people don't have the time, money, or energy to watch a lot of movies, so when you do get a chance to watch something, you want it to be good. That's why Rotten Tomatoes exists: to give a snapshot of whether a movie is worth your time. But does it always work? I'll be watching all of Rotten Tomatoes’ Certified Fresh movies from this Wikipedia list starting in the year 1990, the decade I was born, and we'll see if these movies are really worth the hype.

Movie 2 of 1990

Tremors, directed by Ron Underwood, isn't a serious movie, and that's okay. I absolutely love a fun, campy film, and this delivered 100%. This movie is so ridiculous that Kevin Bacon thought it would ruin his career. If that isn't a stamp of approval, I don't know what is. The B-movie sensibilities are cranked up to 11, ensuring a distinct style that is necessary for a memorable creature feature. That is why Tremors has cultivated a cult following, numerous sequels, and even Kevin Bacon came around.

Our story starts with handymen Val (Kevin Bacon) and Earl (Fred Ward) attempting to leave the small desert town of Perfection, Nevada. Right off the bat, we get distinct characterization from these two. Earl loves to have a plan in place, while Val is more go with the flow. The banter between these two is great. I particularly enjoyed their recurring rock-paper-scissors matches that they used to make decisions. Val always lost by the way.

Our two Heroes are introduced to Rhonda (Finn Carter), a student studying seismology who also becomes a love interest for Val after he initially blows her off because she isn't blonde, I guess. The audience also gets to meet the group of quirky townspeople. They all feel like caricatures, such as annoying prankster and conspiracy nut, but it isn't unwelcome in the story that's being told. Who doesn't want to watch Reba McEntire mow down a sand worm with her giant doomer arsenal anyway?

Speaking of sand worms, the effects used to create them were so impressive. Practical effects add so much to a film. Seeing the puppetry and animatronics, and just how much creativity went into making these monsters, was amazing. I loved how the monster’s tongue resembled a bunch of little snakes, and they moved so realistically, just like a snake would. The puppeteers who worked on this project were incredibly talented.

The sequences were a blast to watch. I particularly enjoyed the pole vaulting scene, not only because it was fun to watch, but it also showed that these characters are incredibly resourceful and they won't just be damsels in distress. Each shot filmed from the worm's perspective was great because it gave the audience an idea of how these creatures move around the world and just how fast they can be. A monster that can adapt and learn based on its prey's behavior is also much more frightening than something that's just one note. Each time the heroes overcame, it actually felt earned.

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%

Is it worth the hype?:

Absolutely! This is a movie that I think few people wouldn't have fun watching. The effects definitely hold up, and the characters are enjoyable. I can think of worse ways to spend an evening than with this campy creature feature. Give it a chance if you're looking for a horror/comedy that is light on the gore, but heavy on the creativity.