Common Sense Media Review
By James Rocchi
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Modest monster flick is great fun for teens.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
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Tremors
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 13 parent reviews
Based on 35 kid reviews
Kids say this movie is a fun blend of creature feature and comedy, though it's marked by excessive swearing and some violence that may be unsuitable for younger viewers. While it has moments of humor and suspense, many find it more of a light-hearted experience than a true horror film, making it a cult classic appreciated for its cheesy charm.
- creature feature
- excessive swearing
- light-hearted experience
- cult classic
- humor and suspense
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In TREMORS, handymen Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward are two semi-employed handymen who make the decision to get out of the sleepy burg of Perfection, Nevada; their decision to leave is complicated by the sudden appearance of hungry, colossal tunneling worm-creatures who hunt prey by vibration -- including humans. As Perfection comes under siege, Ward and Bacon rally the town's handful of residents to try to escape before they become a meal for creatures from the beyond.
Is It Any Good?
Modestly made, Tremors is nonetheless a real crowd-pleaser, in part thanks to the chemistry between Ward and Bacon. While the film's got a modest budget, the script has real polish and integrity, as it hews close to the rules it sets and applies real logic and care to its scenes.
There's some adventure violence and peril in the film, yes, but the movie's so wonderfully aware of what it is, hewing close to the B-movie tradition, that it never overdose the rough stuff; instead, it's simple fun that works remarkably well. There have been several straight-to-video sequels, but the original is clearly the best of the bunch -- and a great modern iteration of an old-fashioned creature feature.
Talk to Your Kids 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.
Movie Details
- In theaters : May 19, 1990
- On DVD or streaming : April 29, 1998
- Cast : Fred Ward , Kevin Bacon , Reba McEntire
- Director : Ron Underwood
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Universal Studios Home Entertainment
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Run time : 96 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : December 9, 2020
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