TREMORS 3
US, 2001, 104 minutes, Colour.
Michael Gross, Shawn Christian, Susan Chuang, Charlotte Stewart, Ariana Richards.
Directed by Brent Maddock.
Tremors 3 builds on the success, critical and box office, of the original Tremors with Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward. The writers, S.S. Wilson and Brent Maddock, then took it in turns to direct sequels as well as a television series in 2003. They continued to co-write the screenplays.
The common denominator is Michael Gross as Burt Gummer, an expert on the phenomenon of Graboids, the creatures who first emerged in Tremors. Burrowing under the earth, they emerge at the provocation of sound and devour whatever is in their way. At this stage, Gummer has been to Argentina (at the film’s opening) and ridding the town of the Graboids. In the meantime, a young man has set up a kind of theme park, taking visitors out into the desert and his colleague pretending to indicate that Graboids are about. Needless to say, they are.
The film shows the small community in Perfection Valley, Nevada. Susan Chuang portrays the young woman running the convenience store. Charlotte Stewart (who was in the previous film) appears as Nancy and Ariana Richards as her sister Mindy who have some expertise in dealing with Graboids.
The film is the usual confrontation between creatures and humans. The special effects are okay, some scenes taken from the original film. Michael Grose is a kind of warrior hero confronting the Graboids and the others show some nous in confronting them and destroying them. However, halfway through there is a twist, as they metamorphose into flying pterodactyl types of creatures who are attracted by heat. Needless to say, some of the cast are despatched by the Graboids, while the others make good and destroy (for the time being) the creatures.
In 2004, there was Tremors 4, which served as a prequel to the original film.
1.The popularity of the Tremors films? The touch of horror, humour? In an identifiable location? The touch of realism as well as fantasy?
2.Perfection Valley, the locations, the desert, the small town, the shops, the campers? The tourist park? The musical score?
3.The special effects for the Graboids, for the flying creatures? For their wreaking havoc on the desert, on the humans?
4.The introduction to Burt Gummer, his work in Argentina, ridding the town of the Graboids?
5.Perfection, ordinary way of life, Desert Jack Sawyer and his enterprise, the park, his colleague, the tourists, the pretence with the sand rising, the fence coming down? The real Graboids appearing, devouring the colleague? Jack and his ingenuity in getting the tourists back to safety?
6.The arrival of the special agents, their wanting people to move, wanting to get a Graboid for scientific research? Their agreement to get Burt to help – their demise?
7.Burt, his expertise, his being devoured by the Graboid – but getting out, with the help of the radio, Jack to his rescue? His leading the group, ingenuity, getting the radio for sound? The attacks on the Graboids, his vindication?
8.Jack, his interactions with Jodi? His idea for exploiting the Graboids? His participation in the attacks, fights, using his ingenuity?
9.Jodi, Nancy and Mindy? The threats, their standing firm, Jodi and her setting fire to the Graboid? Nancy and Mindy in the store, the attack of the pterodactyl? The communication by phone, playing the loud music, heating up the food in the microwave, neutralising the creatures by food?
10.Miguel, his concern, his cattle, the attack of the animals – the pathos of his death?
11.Melvyn, the local boy coming back, wanting to sell the land, exploit it, being frightened by the Graboids? Turning up at the end – and being sent away?
12.Audience enjoyment of the action sequences, the threats, ingenuity in attacking the creatures, defending themselves, the final victory over the creatures?
