TREMORS (1990)
Monster worms, Kevin Bacon, and a rifle-toting Reba McEntire. That’s almost all you need to know about what makes TREMORS (1990) a must-see cult classic. But of course, there is a lot to love about this sci-fi horror comedy. The plot is simple B movie territory. Two handymen, Valentine (Kevin Bacon) and Earl (the late great Fred Ward), discover the residents of small town Perfection, Nevada is being attacked and eaten by what can best be described as massive underground monster worms with snakes in their mouths—also called “Graboids.” Valentine and Earl must lead the small town to survival. The monster themselves sound ridiculous, but director Ron Underwood was able to create such a rewatchable film that would be a mainstay on cable TV and video rentals in the 1990s.
TREMORS works mainly because of the cast of characters that are so memorable and the story has the right balance of horror and comedy that even younger audiences can enjoy. First of all, the chemistry between Bacon and Ward is perfect. Their quips back and forth throughout the film make them relatable but also you are rooting for this duo from the start. The entire cast outside of the duo is also just as memorable. First, you have Burt (Michael Gross) and Heather Gummer (Reba McEntire) giving great performances as gun-fanatic conspiracy theorists who butt heads with Valentine and Earl nearly throughout the whole film. You also have your standard horror movie “scientist,” Rhonda LeBeck (Finn Carter), trying to explain what these creatures are and of course, there is romantic tension between Rhonda and Valentine. In the town of Perfection you have your typical residents, a doctor, a town drunk, a young mother and her child, an annoying teenager, and a shop owner all the residents lean on for supplies. All the typical characters in a monster movie, but when done right it works and you care for the fates of these people.
Horror and comedy work with great characters, but also you still need great sequences filled with suspense and terror. TREMORS notes from the Steven Spielberg playbook that it doesn’t show the monster until later in the film, and many of the early deaths are not explicitly shown. You have victims taken underneath the ground, but you don’t really see what the creature looks like in these scenes. The theatrical poster of TREMORS is paying tribute to the iconic JAWS poster too, so you get a sense of what kind of monster movie this is going to be. You also don’t have much gore or explicit violence which is fine. A great horror movie doesn’t always need a lot of blood and guts if you have your audience terrified of what you can’t see. One of the reasons this movie became a cult classic is almost anyone can watch it. It's PG-13 horror at its finest. When I first saw this movie as a kid on VHS my favorite sequence involved a station wagon and a couple attacked by the Graboids. I remember being terrified but also fascinated by what will happen next. It was probably my first taste of dark comedy which I still enjoy today.
The cast and characters are memorable, the story is a perfect balance of horror and comedy, but what about the Graboids themselves? When TREMORS was released, CGI had not yet taken over for special effects, so when the Graboids are finally shown its practical effects. The film is not a big-budget blockbuster, so it’s amazing the special effects team was able to create such a memorable monster. A more fake-looking creature or cheap CGI would have made this film much more of a comedy if you are laughing at how bad the monster looked. Watching the film 33 years later, the Graboids still hold up when they emerge from the ground. One of the main highlights of the film is when Burt and Heather Gummer finally get the opportunity to use all their guns on one of the Graboids and it’s a great over-the-top sequence of suspense and practical effects. Also, a creature with snake-like tongues is terrifying and disgusting. I mean how the hell did they come up with that? It’s very imaginative and as a kid, you can’t help but be a little scared if you heard the ground rumbling after seeing this movie.
TREMORS was not a blockbuster like other Universal Studios creature features like JAWS and later JURRASIC PARK but stands on its own with a fanbase that spawned many direct-to-video sequels and a television series. I can’t say I’ve seen all of the sequels, but nothing compares to the original. It's a horror movie you can watch with your family and introduce to your older kids. It is one of the few films that every time I catch on cable, I end up having to finish seeing it. Also, let’s not forget that one of the many reasons this movie still kicks ass it has one of the greatest actors ever-Kevin Bacon. The chaotic energy he brings to the character is one of his most memorable roles. For many their introduction to Bacon is also the classic FOOTLOOSE (1984) but for many millennials like me, it’s TREMORS. I mean it was only a couple of years ago when he made a Visible telephone commercial with his costar Michael Gross referencing TREMORS which shows the staying power of this cult classic.
TREMORS is currently streaming on Tubi and is available for rent/purchase on most digital platforms.
