Tremors (1990): A Cult Horror Comedy

What do you mean we have to defeat gigantic worms?

Tremors slithered into theaters in 1990. A small town is attacked by gigantic worms that travel underground. At the sound of any vibration, the monsters swallow you whole. The residents join forces to figure out how to defeat these creatures.

Tremors is a fun time! I first watched this movie when I was 14, and my love for horror started. You can do a lot with horror-comedy. A lot of excitement happens through Tremors. You have to figure out how to survive these monstrous creatures which is not easy.

Kevin Bacon and the late Fred Ward are a riot as Val and Earl. Bacon didn’t think this film would be successful but later admitted Tremors saved his career. Val and Earl make a great team, though they don’t always agree on who is assigned what chore. Their rock-paper-scissor game never gets old.

Tremors stars a variety of actors. Finn Carter plays the smart Rhonda who always has a plan. Casting includes Michael Gross, Bobby Jacoby, Charlotte Stewart, Tony Genaro, Richard Marcus, and Sunshine Parker. It also debuts singer, Reba McEntire, and Ariana Richards who would later star as Lex in Jurassic Park.

A good cast of actors stars in Tremors, sporting various personalities. Tremors is a character film. I love character dynamics in any movie. Characters play an important role, making it fun to play around with interactions or character traits. I got a sense of this small community’s dynamic. They were natural in all their interactions.

You have one character who likes to play pranks, another who loves bouncing on a pogo stick, and a married couple who store loads of guns in their cellar. It later becomes essential during a vicious attack (also one of the best scenes!)

These monster worms are capable of more than the characters realize. Ron Underwood did the Jaws routine where we see the worms as little as possible. Cameras acted as the perspective. Writers paid the closest attention to everything, including the worm’s abilities.

The special effects team had the most important job in Tremors who brainstormed several ideas for the creature's design. The monster-worms underwent different designs throughout filming. Miniature and Full-size creatures were made.

Creature films aren’t made like they used to be. Underwood and the whole crew made an exciting movie. I remember the first time I watched Tremors I was on edge, wondering what would happen next.

Tremors has a lot of exciting stories about the making of the film. After watching a movie, I always look up trivia or behind-the-scenes tales. You never know what goes on during the filming of any movie, especially Tremors.

At one point, the characters are trapped on a rock. Right when you think they’re going to be here this whole movie, they discover how to get to safety. That’s actually how the idea of this film transpired when writer S.S. Wilson was in the U.S. Navy.

Don’t worry, Tremors takes a break from its horror angle with well-written comedy. Characters quarrel with each other and Val is too nervous to talk to Rhonda (Carter). The combination of horror and comedy makes it a fun viewing experience, accommodating running gags.

Tremors wasn’t a big hit in its theatrical run, but thanks to home video sales the film became a smash hit. An excessive amount of sequels came after this film, but Tremors will always be the MPV of the franchise. The ending of Tremors is heart-pounding. Tremors is a must-watch for monster movie fans in October.