Tremors 2: Aftershocks

Universal was particularly keen on the direct-to-video sequel.  Any semi-successful property in the ‘90s was turned into an unlikely franchise including Bring It On (6 sequels), American Pie (5 sequels), Dragonheart (4 sequels) and even Darkman (2 sequels).  Tremors (1990), the surprisingly successful creature feature with a cast seemingly chosen at random from a lottery ping pong ball machine, is currently up to six sequels as well with Michael Gross as gung-ho survivalist Burt Gummer starring in every single one of them.  Full disclosure, I thought I had skipped them all.  But I had a vague memory of watching – and enjoying – Tremors 2: Aftershocks (1996) at some point.  An opinion happily confirmed upon viewing Arrow Video’s new 4K Ultra HD limited edition!

Dead broke after the fame and fortune of becoming a celebrity monster hunter, Earl Bassett (Fred Ward) is tempted to step back into the ring when an oil company in Mexico hires him to solve their “graboid” problem at 30K a pop.  Picking up a new sidekick along the way (Chris Gartin) and convincing his old friend Burt (Michael Gross) to lend a hand, the trio find early success luring the monsters to their deaths with a remote-controlled car.  But when evolution kicks in, Earl finds himself once again outnumbered and outsmarted by his underground enemies.

 

Original writers Brent Maddock and S.S. Wilson return – with Wilson directing this time in place of Ron Underwood – bringing a familiar sense of good-natured, rural determination to get the job done…even if the job involves blowing up slimy monsters.  In the absence of Kevin Bacon, it’s nice to see Fred Ward get a chance to shine in the lead role.  Earl might not have leading man charisma, but the Tremors films were always a group effort anyway.  New additions Chris Gartin and Helen Shaver (as another scientific love interest) work well enough, but it’s the monsters who are still the stars of the show.

 

And, man, do they look terrific!  Still a showcase for practical effects, Tremors 2 looks every bit as good as the original and even adds some CGI creatures courtesy of animator Phil Tippett’s production studio.  The action scenes are clever, exciting and plentiful, belying the fact that Wilson’s film was relegated to video stores rather than a big screen showcase.  The humor falls flat in a few spots but Michael Gross (who perfected his deadpan delivery on Family Ties) can always be counted on to deliver a punchline…and a dead-center shot from an elephant gun!

 

Arrow’s unlikely 4K set looks really good with the enhanced HDR, particularly in the few night sequences. Extras includes two audio commentary tracks – one from Wilson and another fact-filled conversation with Jonathan Melville, author of The Unofficial Guide to Tremors – new interviews with Phil Tippett and special effects designer Peter Chesney, an archival Making Of, outtakes, trailers, image gallery, booklet and fold-out poster.

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