TREMORS (1990)

Mentioned near the top in recent obits for undersung actor Fred Ward, I’d not been aware of missing this sharp goof of a horror pic.  (Had I confused it with HOLES/’03?*)  A modest performer initially, it became a monster hit in home video, generating many poorly rated sequels.  But the original is a paradigm for this type of silly/scary night-at-the-movies fun, with everyone bringing their best to the survival game tropes as huge blind underground wormy beasts attack a small southwest desert community.  Director Ron Underwood, with stinkers like THE ADVENTURES OF PLUTO NASH/’02 to look forward to, is on top of every piece of business, either pushing or lying low as needed while getting strong eccentric perfs out of a pitch-perfect cast.  Ward’s co-stars, Kevin Bacon & the less well known Finn Carter, take charge trying to out think the fast evolving creatures, with a fine company of eccentrics joining battle.  Gung-ho survivalist gun-nuts Reba McEntire & Michael Gross are particularly winning & funny.  And now the film has acquired as extra layer of wit as prescient parody of A QUIET PLACE/’18 using the same gimmick of noise-activated attacks . . . but with more laughs.  And a bright, sunny look rather than the usual modern murk doesn’t hurt either.  The film is almost too much fun.

ATTENTION MUST BE PAID: You know you’re in a '90s pic with an opening shot that spots Bacon from the back as he shakes off a pee before giving his ass a scratch.  (It’s okay, he keeps his jeans up.)  Had to let the kids know they were seeing something they couldn’t get for free on NBC at home.

DOUBLE-BILL/LINK: *Here’s a link to HOLES which turns out to have little in common with TREMORS.   https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2008/05/holes-2003.html

And to QUIET PLACE which has rather more.   https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2019/01/a-quiet-place-2018.html