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Tremors

(1990, Rated PG-13, Science fiction, Starring Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, Reba McEntire)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 12, age appropriate for kids over 14; suggested age 12.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Modest monster flick is great fun for teens.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 12–14

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Perhaps the best thing here is the depiction of how a group of disparate individuals comes together to survive an attack by carnivorous underground monsters; the attack also lets our heroes show that they're reliable, responsible people who can come through in a tough spot.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Bloodless (for the most part) violence is perpetrated against human beings by monsters; gory violence is perpetrated against monsters by human beings. Bombs, bullets, and blunt force are used against creatures; human beings are bitten by tentacles, tugged underground, mangled, etc. A dehydrated dead body is seen. Very mild blood.
  • Sex:

    Light flirting; a climactic kiss.
  • Language:

    Mild strong language, including "hell," "goddammit," "Jesus Christ," "pisses," "s--t," "bastard," "ass," "a--holes," and one non-sexual use of "f--k."

     

  • Consumerism:

    Some brands are seen -- Marlboro, Virginia Slims, Mountain Dew, Pepsi, Caterpillar heavy equipment. Firearms are named by brand.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Characters drink beer.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Tremors

Parents need to know that, for the standards of science-fiction action, this is a rousing, well-made monster flick that's high on fun and excitement but low on terror and gore; there's some salty language, yes, and the monsters are dispatched in fairly spectacular, splattery fashion, but there's not a lot of blood, and the human victims of the creatures are dispatched in bloodless fashion. There's a lot of firearms action in the film - courtesy two "survivalist" characters -- but it's all unleashed against huge, scary worm-monsters who clearly have it coming.

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the appeal of monster films, as well as the tradition of the B-movie -- low-budget, low-starpower films that nonetheless become cult classics. They can also talk about the communitarian message of Tremors, and how the town of Perfection comes together to survive.

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language

    Scary for Younger Viewers 2 F-Bombs, not One

    This movie scared the crap out of me when I was twelve. Not a bad one though. And they're wrong about the f-bombs. There're two. When the monster crashes into the ditch, one hero screams "F--- you!" to it. And when it flies off the cliff at the end, the same guy screams, "Can you fly f---er!?" at it. The second one might not even be an f word though. That's just what I heard.

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Hawaii
    I rate this title off for age 13 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    Very bad language throughout film. Barely even one sentence when out with out a swear word. Kind of stupid movie I like the second tremors better because of less bad language.

  3. I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language

    tremors!!!

    good but lots of language

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