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Throwback Thursday

‘Tremors’ is creepy good horror-comedy

PHOTO PROVIDED The movie poster for “Tremors” is shown.

After the first time I watched “Tremors” as a kid I was kinda terrified to walk on the ground. At least until I was reminded that we live in a more rocky area than the flat plains of Nevada.

“Tremors” came out in 1990 and stars well known names like Kevin Bacon, Reba McEntire, Fred Ward, Finn Carter and Michael Gross.

The film takes place in the uber-small town of Perfection, Nevada in the middle of nowhere surrounded by deserts and the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Handymen Valentine “Val” McKee (Bacon) and Earl Bassett (Ward) who have isolated themselves in the town that consists of barely a dozen people decide one day they want to move on to a nearby town.

On the way out they discover the body of another resident on top of an electrical tower still clutching his rifle while wrapped around his perch.

After fetching the town doctor it’s discovered that the man died from dehydration after refusing to come down from the tower.

This is the first of many gruesome deaths that occur in the film as the large alien-like creatures — Tremors — wreak havoc on this small town and its residents.

This movie legitimately had me freaked as a kid. I mean it was basically like someone had taken my illegitimate fear of the ocean and sharks (I’d never been to the beach) and decided to up the fear factor and make a land shark.

Even when I went back and watched it with my sister I found myself a little uneasy when a retired couple who planned to build a home and retire to the country are sucked into the earth.

The story line itself isn’t too bad. The group have to come together in an attempt to save each other, forced to make quick decisions in order to make it out alive and to the mountains where the creatures can’t reach them.

The effects also aren’t too bad. I’m not sure who was in charge of that department but they made some very realistic giant worm monsters for sure. The smaller (but not really) tentacle snake monsters that live in the creatures mouth look as real as can be as they emerge from the ground to snatch its next victim. So do the monsters large beak like mouths that house said snakes.

Even the explosive scenes where one of the snakes gets blown up or falls to its demise look pretty realistic. Although I’m convinced they used pumpkin guts or something to create the splatter effects. I’m no special effects master so I won’t pry into their secrets.

“Tremors” is considered a cult classic by many and it hasn’t slowed down. It’s actually become a franchise with five direct-to-video sequels: “Tremors 2: Aftershocks” in 1996; “Tremors 3: Back to Perfection” in 2001; “Tremors 5: Bloodlines” in 2015 (I don’t know where the fourth went guys); and Tremors: A Cold Day in Hell” in 2018. Apparently they also plan to release another in this very year titled “Tremors: Island Fury.”

I’m thinking the last few are overkill but, hey, I’ve never watched them so I can’t say for sure. Maybe I’ll have to have a Tremors marathon and watch them all. I’m kind of curious to know how exactly they made a franchise out of this one somewhat obscure film.

“Tremors” — only the first one mind you — can be found on Netflix. So if you’re in the mood for a weirdly comedic monster movie check out this film.

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Laura Jameson is a staff reporter for The Express.

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