Despite flopping at the box office in 1990, Ron Underwood’s movie “Tremors” has thrived as a franchise that spanned three decades and continues to grow. The longevity of this film can be attributed to several reasons. Initially perceived as a financial loss, over time it transformed into a profitable venture. It is one of the iconic films that demonstrated how movies from its era could perform poorly in cinemas but excel on VHS sales. Additionally, “Tremors” was often played on cable television, making it widely accessible to viewers. Furthermore, due to its unique genre-blending, many who watched it on VHS or cable quickly developed a strong affection for the film.
The movie titled “Tremors” boasts several captivating aspects. The setting, reminiscent of a quaint small town, seems authentic, the tempo is swift and precise, the camaraderie between Kevin Bacon and the late Fred Ward is top-notch, Michael Gross from “Family Ties” adds a delightful twist as Burt Gummer (a character present in all seven films). The creature that wreaks havoc over Perfection, Nevada is imaginative in its construction. The Graboid, a monster, stands out among the most creative film monsters ever created. It successfully translated the idea of “Jaws” from sea to land and made it effective. However, while the Graboid can be terrifying at first, it might not maintain the same level of fear every time. So, is the original film the scariest? No, but it is undoubtedly the best.
7) Tremors 5: Bloodlines
Approximately five minutes in the movie “Tremors 5: Bloodlines” shift from horror to comedy. Particularly noteworthy are the opening sequence and the middle part where the Ass-Blasters launch an assault on a camp, with a child being one of their intended victims.
For the remainder of the movie, Jamie Kennedy, an actor who some people find irritating, portrays an unbearable character. There’s also a scene where Michael Gross, in just his underwear, is trapped in a cage and conversing with a lion about their shared alpha status. Additionally, this is where the use of practical effects ended, and cheap CGI struggled to create scares, even when the script was decent – which unfortunately, Bloodlines does not possess.
6) Tremors: A Cold Day in Hell
In the realm of fright factor, I find that “Tremors: A Cold Day in Hell” encounters the very same issues as its recent counterpart. Specifically, it features Jamie Kennedy’s comedic elements and heavily depends on Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI).
While there’s a significant storyline revolving around treating Burt of his illness (contracted from being inside a Graboid in the third movie), this adds some additional tension to the film. As increased stakes can be equated with heightened fear, “A Cold Day in Hell” surpasses “Bloodlines” in terms of creating an edge-of-your-seat experience.
5) Tremors 4: The Legend Begins
Title “Tremors 4: The Legend Begins” seems illogical for several points. For instance, if Graboids have been active for a century (as it’s set in 1889 and the original “Tremors” is set in 1990), why are they presented as a new enigma in the initial movie? Secondly, why does Burt Gummer’s great-grandfather resemble and sound like him so closely? It might be wiser to not delve too deeply into these questions or even consider them.
The film “The Legend Begins” holds a certain appeal, marking as it does the conclusion of the original era, before a hiatus of eleven years ensued. Regrettably, this movie squanders its potential, for within its premise lies the intriguing prospect of a band armed only with six-shooters and pickaxes confronting formidable creatures like the Graboid. Unfortunately, the film fails to fully capitalize on this opportunity by not creating an intense atmosphere as compellingly as it could have. Nevertheless, it’s gratifying to see the original subterranean Graboid reprise its role as the main character (more so when brought to life using practical effects, as in the first two installments), and the original subterranean Graboid remains the most terrifying of them all.
4) Tremors: Shrieker Island
Just as Jamie Kennedy’s character dampened the intensity of the first two movies, so does Jon Heder in Tremors: Shrieker Island from Napoleon Dynamite. Despite this, the movie aims to create fear much more frequently than the earlier three films in the franchise.
Essentially, this film is a budget-friendly take on “Jurassic Park,” but without the Kennedy character and featuring Richard Brake from “Barbarian.” His presence adds an intense weight to each role he plays. Moreover, they end Burt Gummer’s character here, so there are real consequences at play.
3) Tremors 2: Aftershocks
Aftershocks,” being the second and final strong film in the series, isn’t the most terrifying, although it comes third. The reason for this is primarily due to the small, walking Shrieker creature not causing as much fear compared to the unseen monster.
Initially in “Tremors 2”, the focus remains on the Graboids, but they fail to maintain the menacing presence they had in the initial movie. By now, both the audience and characters like Earl Bassett (the late Fred Ward), Burt, and even the newcomer Grady Hoover, are well-acquainted with these creatures. Moreover, the protagonists are armed to the teeth, which seems to lessen the threat. Only about 15 minutes of the film can be considered as frightening as the original, starting from when Earl and Grady discover a Graboid undergoing its next stage of evolution, up until the excitement around the Shrieker subsides. Despite this, these 15 minutes were almost enough to secure the second position on this list.
2) Tremors 3: Back to Perfection
As a fan, I must admit that despite the return of beloved characters like Charlotte Stewart, Tony Genaro, Robert Jayne, and Ariana Richards from the original “Jurassic Park,” “Tremors 3: Back to Perfection” almost feels like the franchise’s first installment that could be easily skipped. The writing and acting don’t quite match up to the quality of the first two films, and the franchise’s early use of CGI, as you might expect from a low-budget monster movie released in 2001, has definitely shown its age.
Despite its efforts to be frightening, the movie manages to remain watchable due to the introduction of the “Ass-Blasters.” These creatures mark the Graboid’s final stage of evolution, following its initial worm form and walking Shrieker form. The Ass-Blaster poses a mixed threat when it comes to scaring you. On one hand, similar to how the Shrieker was less terrifying due to its smaller size compared to the Graboid, the Ass-Blaster is also less intimidating because it’s smaller. However, while the Shrieker could only attack on land, the ground-bound Graboid couldn’t if you were on a sturdy rooftop. The Shrieker would find it challenging to reach that height, but the flying Ass-Blaster could easily swoop down and pose a threat from above.
In conclusion, “Back to Perfection” stands as the second most frightening film in the series due to its antagonists’ increased mobility and proximity to their victims. Moreover, these villains are particularly menacing when they come to life through practical effects, although this occurs infrequently, roughly a quarter of the time. Additionally, the demise of original character Tony Genaro Miguel is particularly poignant, as it carries an emotional impact that resonates deeply with viewers.
1) Tremors
The first Tremors film stands out as the finest and most terrifying movie in the series, hands down. It’s a monster movie that masterfully creates tension by gradually disclosing the monster. For example, when Earl and Val pass Edgar, the town drunk who appears to be stuck on an electrical tower. As we climb up with Val, we share his terror upon seeing Edgar’s pale, completely dehydrated face with a gun in hand. What compelled him to go up there remains a mystery.
Afterward, the town doctor and his wife meet their untimely end. A glimpse is given of one of the Graboid’s mouth tentacles getting snared on Val and Earl’s truck. The ensuing chaos unfolds, with the gruesome details taking place off-screen, only hinted at by the truck’s headlights illuminating the dark sky above. This lengthy sequence is enhanced by clever touches such as the lights highlighting the eerie darkness. It underscores one of the strengths of the movie Tremors, which initially presents a quaint small town and characters we can relate to, only to have them ripped apart by something unseen. Despite its comedic elements, largely due to the chemistry between Bacon and Ward, the film is primarily a well-crafted horror movie, serving as an introduction to the genre in a beginner-friendly manner.
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2025-07-09 21:41