To help promote the direct-to-video release of 'Tremors 2: Aftershocks' MCA/Universal Home Video has assembled a thorough "Signature Collection" special laserdisc edition of the original 1990 sci-fi/horror/comedy hit 'Tremors'—which launched the career of director Ron Underwood ('City Slickers').
'Tremors' is a rip-roarin’ throwback to the campy sci-fi B-movies of the ‘50s, and what makes the film great fun is that it never takes itself too seriously (unlike the cheap-o monster flicks of yesteryear which are parodied here).
Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, country music star Reba McEntire and Michael Gross head-up a colorful cast of folks doing battle with gigantic mean and nasty underground worms. Thanks to the actors’ easy repartee, a lightning-paced screenplay, superior production values and lots of yucky gore effects (gross enough for an "R" rating, the film nonetheless got away with a "PG-13"), 'Tremors' has earned a much-deserved reputation as a present-day cult classic.
MCA/Universal has assembled a supplementary section that will appease sci-fi/horror buffs: there’s a unique behind-the-scenes look at how the creature effects were achieved and a peek at the making of various models, miniatures, and the full-size set of the town of Perfection. A still-frame gallery contains production and behind-the-scenes photographs. There’s also a 53-minute "Making Of" program, featuring 1995 interviews with director Ron Underwood and writers S. S. Wilson (who directed 'Tremors 2: Aftershocks') and Brent Maddock. Several outtakes are presented within the supplementary section, including the original opening scene and a discarded, less-satisfying ending. Two theatrical trailers are shown, as is a cross-promotional trailer for 'Tremors 2: Aftershocks'. Lastly, there’s a production featurette and talking-head interviews with Kevin Bacon, Michael Gross and Reba McEntire; these materials were culled from the original electronic press kit. There is no audio commentary track.
The quality of the laserdisc is on par with even the best THX-produced packages, with a superior image and strong sound, though the soundtrack itself lacks the constant directional and surround effects of bigger-budget extravaganzas. The image is letterboxed for its theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1, masking off some vertical information as compared to the full-frame cassette, and adding a sliver of picture information to the sides. Nothing appreciable is lost under the masking or gained by the extra width, but the framing is still very satisfying.
The film fits onto two sides of one disc (the side break is extremely jarring). The entire second platter is for the supplementary goodies.
Should you wish to make a double-feature out of 'Tremors' and the new direct-to-video 'Tremors 2: Aftershocks', you’ll want to watch the far inferior sequel first, so at least your double-bill will end on a high note.
Despite some impressive, above-average special effects (courtesy of the Phil Tippet studio, Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff, Jr., the folks behind 'Jurassic Park' and 'Jumanji', we’re told in the liner notes) and some terrifically gruesome gore effects, 'Tremors 2: Aftershocks' is joyless and humorless; an amateur’s night out from start to finish. This is the sort of misdirected, poorly-written, cheeseball movie the first film so skillfully made fun of.
Fred Ward and Michael Gross were suckered into reprising their roles; Kevin Bacon and Reba McEntire are nowhere to be found. Filling in for Bacon is newcomer Christopher Gartin as Ward’s inexperienced and over-zealous sidekick and Helen Shaver appears as a geologist who catches Ward’s eye. The plot? A lame retread of the first film with a silly twist—our heroes are summoned to Mexico to battle more "graboids." We learn that the worms have existed underground for millions of years—so isn’t it a bit too convenient that they should all, spontaneously, simultaneously metamorphose into kangaroo-like hopping beast-ettes so that the film can assail us with a "twist"? When this happens, the worms are never seen nor heard from again, and it’s an illogical, third-rate take on 'Aliens', 'Predator' and just about every other superior sci-fi film ever made.
When you’re watching the movie, remember that this is a direct-to-video production. Most of the film has a cheap "video movie" look and feel to it, and the cinematography is unimaginative and static. The movie was shot in a theatrical aspect ratio of roughly 1.66:1, so the letterboxed aspect ratio of 1.85:1, obviously, hides some vertical information, while revealing slightly more horizontal information when compared to the full-frame cassette. Occasionally, the matting is too severe—the movie would probably have played better had it been letterboxed at the milder 1.66:1 ratio after all.
'Tremors 2: Aftershocks' was directed by S. S. Wilson, one of the writers of the original 'Tremors', and the first film’s director, Ron Underwood, serves as executive producer. The sequel is the combined effort of most of the same filmmakers, but the difference in the quality—and the fun and entertainment value— between the two movies is vast.
VITAL STATISTICS:
'Tremors' Signature Collection Edition: MCA/Universal Home Video; 2 discs, 4 sides; CLV/CAV; Widescreen (1.85:1); Stereo Surround; Chapter Stops; $79.95.
'Tremors 2: Aftershocks': MCA/Universal Home Video; 2 sides; CLV; Widescreen (1.85:1); Stereo Surround; Chapter Stops; $34.95.
S. Damien Segal.
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