Tremors (1990) Starring Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, Finn Carter, Michael Gross, Reba McEntire & Robert Jayne Written by S.S. Wilson, Brent Maddock & Ron Underwood Directed by Ron Underwood

Well, in the late 80's, some filmmakers where wondering what Jaws would be like if it was in the desert. This was an interesting question and it would eventually lead to the film they would make staring Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward. In it, they invented there own creatures, not any normal animal, but an original monster: Giant Worms.

The result was Tremors.

The movie begins with the title shifting to a Nevada valley at a cliff drop off. Valentine McKee (or Val) is taking a leak over the edge. He then goes to the back of the work truck where Earl Basset is still asleep and he awakens with a false stampede. They then decide on who will make breakfast over Rock/Paper/Scissors, Val loosing. They begin working on the fence which is the reason they're out at the cliff (them being handymen for hire). They then discuss how not having a plan is how they're stuck doing lame work. Once done, they drive back through the valley discussing there next job. Along the way, they see the new college girl camping out and visit her, Val hoping she falls under the category of his last lover who was rather blonde and dumb. Instead, Rhonda is more a tomboy. While greeting, she questions them on weird readings she's been getting from her equipment. After they leave, Earl rants about how limited Val's qualities are for a woman.

We then see Val and Earl have the fun job of bulldozing the local garbage pile up. While having a beer, they discuss how low there standards are for work. It then cuts to them doing the local sewage for Melvin. As they argue more about how it sucks, the pip line erupts, spraying them both to Melvin's amusement. This being the last straw, Earl and Val pack up there things and leave for the much more prosperous Bixby. Before they leave, they're greeted by Nancy and her daughter Mindy who's very gifted on a Pogo stick. She tries to convince the help build her new pottery oven, even with free beer, but they ultimately turn her down and leave believing nothing is between them and Bixby.

Just after saying that, they come across one of the power lines and find someone up there, recognizing it as the local drunk Edgar. Knowing they can't leave him there, Val loses at R/P/S again has to go up to fetch him. After going up and cursing him out for having to go up to fetch him, he gets up top to find Edgar dead with a rifle in his hands. They then take his body over to the local doctor Wallace and his wife Megan who're building there own house a ways out of town. After inspecting the body, he says Edgar died from dehydration, which takes a couple of days to happen.

We then see a farmer by the highway named Fred tending to his garden as his sheep are spooked in there pen. While looking around, he fails to see the scarecrow suddenly tilt to the side for no reason. Then something erupts below him and sucks him down. As Rhonda continues to get strange readings from all over the valley, Val and Earl discuss the strangeness of Edgar's death and how it doesn't make sense. Suddenly, they notice Fred's sheep pin is broken and sheep body parts spread out. After inspecting it, they go out to find Fred's hat in a crater in the garden. After taking the hat, they find his head underneath it.

Driving back to town, they encounter a 2 construction workers on the road jack hammering. They give them a warning, but they don't believe them. After the leave and they continue to jackhammer, it suddenly hits something and blood pours out, a roaring heard. The Jackhammer then speeds away from his grasp and the cord pulls him along with it, his foot entangled. The other one follows but suddenly is buried from a landslide. In town, Val and Earl are questioned by Melvin, Walter, Miguel and Nester about Edgar and Fred as they try to make a call, but find the phone line is dead. They then leave as to get help from Bixby. Along the way though, they find the road collapsed and path blocked. At first they call out to the construction workers, but then find a bloody helmet. Now panicking, both jump into the truck and try to flee, but Val backs the truck up against the bank. When he tries to go forward, the truck stalls, taking several tries until they leave.

Back in town, everyone has gathered at Chang's store. When they go out to great them, they suddenly spot a dead serpent like creature clinging to the back tire frame. Walter manages to buy it off of them for $15, much to the disgust of Nancy. Burt though points out that 1 couldn't have slaughtered Fred and his Sheep, indicating that more are out there.

That night at the doctor's place, he and his wife are enjoying the stars until suddenly the generator dies. When they go out to inspect it, they find it gone. After pulling the cord up, the Generator shoots up from the ground with a low growl. Suddenly the Doctor starts to sink into the ground, his wife trying to stop him but ultimately fails. When she tries digging, serpents like the ones from Val and Earl's truck come up and attack. At first, she takes refuge in her car and appears to be safe, but suddenly it starts to sink down below and is literally buried with her in it.

Walter has started a photo section with the serpent, much to the disappointment of Val and Earl. The rest talk about what to do with these creatures and ultimately decide to use Walter's riding horses, and also volunteer Val and Earl to make the trip.

The next morning, they're preparing the horses and do R/P/S for the better gun (Edgar's riffle or a pistol), Val finally winning. However, Burt and Heather show up and Heather gives Earl her better gun (meaning Val still lost). The group is shocked though when Melvin pulls a prank with the serpent and Burt nearly shoots him. After bad mouthing him, Earl and Val ride off. At the Docs house, they explore to find it abandoned. At first, they think they've simply left since the car is gone, but after hearing the radio, they dig and find the nose of the car.

Now knowing what they're capable of, both ride as fast as they can, intending not to stop until they hit Bixby. However, the horses get wind of something and panic, knocking them both off. Val and Earl watch in horror as one of the serpents is wrapping around one of the horses and kills it. After shooting one of them and it retreating underground, the ground beneath there feat suddenly rise until they jump back. It's then they see the real beasts. The monsters are in fact huge creatures with the serpents meant to be tongues to pull in the prey. After several failed shots, they then flee with it following behind. Coming upon a concrete aqueduct, they try to jump it but fail, but in the process cause the monster to ram into the concrete, barely break through and kill it.

After nearly escaping death, Rhonda appears and joins the guys in the discovery. They figure the beast is blind due to eyes, find it's very long and big, and pushes itself with little daggers on its body. Both Val and Earl start to think of the money they could make and the fame, but Rhonda going over her charts relies that there's actually 3 more monsters in the valley.

When they head for her truck while walking past her equipment, the censor shows that one is close to there location and they flee to a close boulder. When the serpents rise up, they discover it was the one who grabbed there truck since it's missing a head. Stranded, the 3 discuss possibilities of how they came to be, from aliens to pre fossil creatures to scientific creation. Val then gets bored and tries to get reaction from the ground which he gets almost instantly. Rhonda concludes that it can hear almost every sound they make so it knows they're still there.

As the night goes on and the next morning comes, they awake (Val offering Rhonda his jacket much to the amusement of Earl), they throw a shovel down to find the monster is still there. Val and Earl then debate on what to do next while Rhonda finds an answer. Leaning up to the rocks are long wooden polls and she starts using it to poll vault from one boulder to the next, Val and Earl following in suit. At the last one, they all 3 jump together into the back of her truck. Almost instantly, the monster attacks. Rhonda barely manages to get the truck going and they speed away.

Back in town, the 3 try and explain the situation to everyone (except Burt and Heather who're still out patrolling), but either they're struggling to believe it or are more wrapped up in naming and claiming the fame. They also point out how help should come since the power and phone lines are down. But after that, we see an electrician truck in front of the blocked landslide and find bloody helmets and tool belts there as well. Again in town, everyone still fails to comprehend it until Val takes a map of the valley and points out that the monsters are taking a direct path straight for them with each death and going across. Rhonda then proposes that they head up an old Jeep trail to the mountains where it's all rock and the monsters can't attack.

While Nancy looks for Mindy, Melvin scares Earl with his basketball. However, as he wonders through town, his dribbling basketball suddenly gets devoured from below and he screams. The others come out thinking it another prank, but find him hiding up a light pole and suddenly a monster erupts. Melvin runs for a shack, Nester runs for his trailer home and everyone else runs into the store. Inside, they hear the creature slowly move under the floorboards and remain silent. Suddenly, they hear Mindy going through town on her Pogo Stick and see signs of a monster go after her. Val runs and saves her as Nancy joins him. Before he can explain, the Pogo Stick is sucked down and shot back out. Nancy and Mindy then run into there house.

Val then tries to stay hidden on his truck but it's suddenly starts to sink down from below, popping the tires. Meanwhile, another monster heads for Rhonda and Earl who flee, Earl escaping but Rhonda getting her legs trapped in barbwire. When it erupts, it knocks her over, wrapping her legs more in the barbwire and starts to pull her towards it. Val escapes the truck goes to help her. By removing her shoes and pants, they manage to get back in the store in time.

Inside, Val tends to her wounds (Earl again noting an attraction between them) and Walter gives her some new pants and shoes. They then whisper there next plan, them agreeing it has to be the Jeep trail but only a major 4 wheel truck being able to travel, Rhonda's truck not having that and Val and Earl's tires being popped. Suddenly, a cold soda generator starts to malfunction (a job Val and Earl turned down earlier in the film) and causes heavy noise and vibration. They unplug it, but a monster erupts from below the floorboards. It then shoots out its serpents and grabs Walter. The others try to grab him but the monster knocks them back and sink down with him in its mouth.

Before they can grieve, another monster erupts and everyone flees up the store shelves, making there way for the door to the roof. Rhonda though gets knocked over out the window from the shelves knocking over. Val hurries to the roof and searches for her, relived that she escaped to the close by water tower. Melvin also almost gets attacked and flees to the roof of the shack. Val and Earl then warn Nester and Nancy.

Meanwhile, Heather and Burt arrive at there house and calls into town on the radio. Val, Earl and Miguel manage to get the radio from the window and tries to warn them, but Heather starts up a machine for recycling bullets in there basement that vibrates heavy. A monster instantly starts to head for there house. Val tries to warn them, but they don't understand that they're underground in time and one breaks through there wall. At first the guys are in despair but suddenly start hearing gunshots in the distance.

In the basement, Heather and Burt unload there guns in it and when they run out, the back up to the wall full of guns and starts pulling random guns and firing, Burt nearly pulled in. After firing several more guns, Burt goes for his glass encased Elephant Gun and fires 2 shots, finally killing it. They then spread the news to the town on there radio who celebrate. As Burt and Heather take refuge on the roof, the point out how they can't shoot through dirt, even with the Elephant Gun. Earl then suggests they flee to the Jeep Trail and get help. Before that though, they find a monster (the one who grabbed there truck) inspecting the building, then starts messing with the foundation, causing some structural damage. He does the same thing to Nancy's house. However, when it attacks Nester's trailer, it knocks it over and when he tries to hide on a tire wheel, he's sucked down through it and the others hear him scream from underground.

They then pass the word onto Burt and Heather that they won't survive for them to come back. Heather says they'll come and collect everyone, but just then a monster attacks there truck and destroys it. In frustration, Val mentions needing a tank and Earl suggests the Bulldozer and pulling the old Semi Truck trailer behind it. Miguel then suggests sending off Walter's driving lawnmower to distract them. They then agree when the monster attacks again and the roof sinks lower. While Miguel is lowered down and prepares the lawnmower, Val and Earl argue over who runs and do R/P/S to see who goes, Earl winning again, Miguel then sends the mower off which gets the attention of both monsters, the plan working at first. When Val is about to wish Earl Luck, elbows him and jumps down, making the run for it.

While Val gets closer, the Lawnmower suddenly tips over and the monsters start going after him. Rhonda warns him and he suddenly stops, a monster coming out behind him and serpent rising from around his foot. While the others try to make noise to get the monster back, Rhonda breaks the water pipe to pour water out and the monster returns. Val then gets the Trailer and Cat hooked up and starts pulling it, the trailer working. When he gets Rhonda from the water tower, the monster tries to stall it with his serpents but the weight is too much.

While they collect everyone, Heather and Earl are preparing home made bombs to use in defense. When they arrive in there house, the monsters try and sink the Bulldozer. Burt and Heather then jump into the back with there guns and weapons and they take off for the mountains. Along the way, they mourn of how there house was prepared for almost all possible outcomes, and yet these creatures made them flee it easily. At first, they seem to be free as they slowly but safely get closer to the mountains. However, the dirt below them caves in and traps them. Everyone regroups in the trailer and is shocked to find they dug a trap. The monsters then try to sink them again until Burt uses a bomb to scare them off.

They then notice a large set of rocks where they'll be safe. Rhonda concludes that the monsters are so sensitive to sound that the blasts doesn't scare them, it hurts them and they have to flee. They then throw a bomb and flee from the trailer, everyone nearly escaping to the rocks. Once up there though, they find they have no real plan as what to do next. Burt and Val then get into an argument until others stop it.

Later on, Burt says that instead of starving, he'd rather go out with a burning fuse and let them take him down with a bomb. Earl then suddenly gets an idea. Attracting one with rocks, they get a monster to come to the surface, they hen throw out a burning bomb and pull it with a string. The monster then eats and seconds later, explodes underground. The other celebrates, even while pieces of monster rain down on them. They go for the last one, which is again the monster who stalled there truck. Val personally throws the bomb and at first it eats it, but then suddenly it spits it back out. When it lands on the other bombs, everyone flees as they all explode. Val, Earl and Rhonda are seen out in open dirt, Val holding the last bomb.

Before they can get back, a monster erupts and cuts them off. At first, it slowly sinks back in and appears to be gone, but Val points out that it's the smartest one. He also says it's the last bomb and even if they make it to the rocks they'll die days later anyways. He then starts to run, with Earl and Rhonda and the monster following, him screaming he's finally got a plan.

The 3 then run to a cliff drop off and stop just before. Looking back, they see the monster heading straight for them. Val then throws the last burning bomb which he intentionally throws behind it. As it explodes, it makes the monster run even faster. As both Rhonda and Earl flee, Val waits until it's nearly at him, and then jumps over it. The monster then shoots off the cliff and falls to its gory death. Up top, Val says he suddenly remembered from earlier, stampede. The 3 then laugh while the others celebrate. Back in town, Val and Earl are fixing the truck discussing how to make there fame with this. Rhonda then gets a picture of the 2 together and says goodbye. Earl then pressures Val and Val finally caves. Going to her as she leaves, he finally kisses her.

Fun Facts

Heather Gummer was played by country singer Reba McEntire.

Mindy was played by Ariana Richards, who is most famous as the older sister in Jurassic Park.

Walter came up with the name Graboids, which would be the official title for the sequels.

The first Sequel was Tremors 2: Aftershock which had Fred Ward and Michael Gross returning as Earl and Burt. In it, Earl is down on his luck after failing to get much prophet from the Graboid's fame, but gets a chance when Graboids have appeared at some Mexican Oil Fields and is hired to deal with them. Along the way, he gets his "biggest fan" to help him and also meets an attractive woman who he feels attracted too. Eventually Burt comes to help when it becomes too much but they then learn that the Graboids are in fact just one stage in the creature's life cycle. This one heavily followed the same horror/comedy of the last one and was praised for it. Out of all the other films, I will say that this will be done for SfK in the future as well.

The second Sequel was Tremors 3: Back to Perfection which has Burt as the star as well as Nancy, Mindy, Miguel and briefly Melvin, as well as some new characters. In it, Graboids have once again returned to Perfection Valley which has become sort of a tourist trap due to the past incident as well as con artists means to make money. However, once the creatures come back, the government steps in. They also learn of another link the Graboids chain after the creatures from the last one. This one was more heavily relied on comedy, as opposed to the last one which followed in the same vein as the original. It has its laughs, but without the seriousness it isn't the same.

There was also a Prequel called Tremors 4: The Legend Begins. It takes place in the old west and has Burt's ancestor arriving in town. It also explains that the Graboids once birthed go into Hibernation and hence why they awoke at the time of the first film. I haven't seen this all the way through, and I'm not planning on it.

A TV show was also made called Tremors: The Series on Scifi Channel. I personally didn't watch it, but it's said the show wasn't bad. It only last one season, and some believe that its failure was more attuned to Scifi Channel canceling mega hit show Farscape (which I'm a huge fan of) and usual Scifi watchers devoting there attention on Farscape.

My Rating for this film is NC-12 (12+ years or older)

The real big one for this film is the language; as there is an abundance of swear words. Also while there's not a ton of it, there are some bloody scenes, both human and monster. And of course there was Rhonda running around with no pants on. I will say this though, the TV version either alters the audio to less harsh language or censors it completely so if it's on normal tv, go down a grade to 10 and 11. However, if it's the full uncut version, my Rating stands.

That's it for this issue. Next time, we look at Teenage vampires and romance. And before you fret, it's not the one where there's sparkling in it. Until then, have a Happy Holidays.