Product: Tremors 2: Aftershocks (1996)
Rating: 4.0
THE GRABOIDS ARE BACK BUT THERE IS A TWIST PLUS SOME NEW FACES & PLACES
IN A NUTSHELL:Indeed the Graboids are back and there is a twist, but you will haveto be patient to see this film develop into a worthwhile creature feature.WHAT IS 'TREMORS 2' ALL ABOUT: [plot spoilers below]For the first 40 minutes of the film we get exactly what we would expect from an unimaginative 'B Creature-Feature'. But then, at about the time when I regretted buying this DVD, things began to change rather unexpectedly for the better. The beginning of the film suggested a walk-through for Fred Ward who was recruited to a Mexican oilfield where more Graboids had apparently appeared, causing the closure of the oil field. Earl Bassett, [Fred Ward] and an unlikely side-kick, Grady Hoover [Christopher Gartin] find themselves in Mexico playing bounty hunter for $50,000 for each graboid killed. They bagged a dozen or so without really having to break into a sweat and frankly I was more than a little disappointed in the way this film was going.It was unabashedly derivative, making a lot of stale attempts to copy the film 'Jaws', and there was little or no chemistry between the actors, unlike the original 'Tremors'.BUT THEN SOMETHING HAPPENED:IT MORPHS INTO SOMETHING SCARY - UNEXPECTED & COMPELLINGAlmost halfway into the film the plot suddenly appeared. Lured by the chance to capture one of the monsters alive, Earl and Grady camp out waiting for a transport vehicle to arrive at the scene of what our heros presumed was a "sick one". Out of the darkness we heard what sounded like something tearing apart the monster, who appeared more like a beached whale than a graboid, but our heros wisely stayed hidden. This is where the film literally morphs into something unexpected, scary and delightfully compelling. Fortunately by now, our heros have called for some backup in the form of Burt Gummer [Michael Gross] so at least they have a chance now that the worm has turned, so to speak. For the rest of the film our heros are litterally fighting to stay alive as the new morphed threat has a much different capability than the graboids did making it an 'unknown'.Finally, in the second half, Kate White [Helen Shaver] has some scenes to act in. However, making her a former playboy centerfold turned scientist, is a major gaff. This hurts the credibility of the film at a time when it was just beginning to recover from the bounty hunter walk-through that comprised the first half. To compound this in a very juvenile way, Kate is the pin-up from 1974 that has been decorating Earl's kitchen wall to represent that which is unattainable -- until now apparently.-----> THE PRODUCTION TEAM <-----S.S. Wilson - Director / ScreenwriterChristopher de Faria - ProducerNancy Roberts - ProducerBrent Maddock - Screenwriter / Executive ProducerVirgil Harper - CinematographerJay Ferguson - Composer (Music Score)Bob Ducsay - EditorIvo Cristante - Production DesignerKen M. Larson - Art DirectorMichele Poulik - Set DesignerRudy Dillon - Costume DesignerRon Underwood - Executive Producer-----> THE CAST <-----Fred Ward - Earl BassettThomas Rosales - Oil WorkerMarco Hernandez - JulioChristopher Gartin - Hoover, GradyMichael Gross - Burt GummerHelen Shaver - Kate WhiteBOTTOM LINE: UNFORTUNATELY THIS LOOKS & FEELS LIKE A 'DIRECT TO VIDEO' PRODUCTIONIt seems that with only 3 million dollars compared with 11-12 for the production of the original 'Tremors', the producers of 'Tremors 2' only had enough money to make half of a good creature feature. Also, without Ron Underwood directing, the film seemed to have lost much of its cohesion, chemistry, and intensity. Nevertheless, after a lackluster first half, 'Tremors 2: Aftershocks' morphs literally into a respectable B Creature Feature. Though this film is not the surprise classic that the original 'Tremors' has become, 'Tremors 2' does manage to maintain some real suspense, hold our interest, and surprise us for the important and climactic last half of the film.HOW DOES THIS TREMORS' SEQUEL RATE?I gave this film 4 stars for fans of the original 'Tremors', but without that classic in mind, this film still manages a 3-star rating within the Creature-Feature genre. If the creature feature genre is NOT one you enjoy you will NOT enjoy this film either.