Directed by Don Michael Paul
Starring Michael Gross, Jamie Kennedy and Pearl Thusi
The people behind this franchise have always had a knack for upping the ante and trying new things. Whether it's a prequel, a new creature, or a TV series with a whole slew of non-Graboid-related mayhem, Stampede Entertainment did a hell of a job taking its simple concept of "quirky characters meet even quirkier monsters" and milking it for all it was worth. Now, we're in 2015. As far as I know, Stampede had nothing to do with this particular feature film, choosing to bring Michael Gross back as Burt Gummer but none of the previous cast members, and filming live on location in South Africa. Sounds like a decent enough concept, but with no Brent Maddock, S.S. Wilson and Nancy Roberts involved? It just didn't seem right. At any rate, this movie is still pretty fun, so let's just get right to it.
The movie opens up with an introduction for a reality show starring Burt Gummer - "The Survivalist," which serves to both remind us of who this guy is at the same time that it educates new viewers as Michael Gross might be 68 years old, but he has lost absolutely none of his charm or his ability to make this character likable and badass. Within short order, he is interrupted by filmmaker Travis Welker (a.k.a. Jamie Kennedy on a motor bike), who relieves Burt's cameraman of his duties before announcing that he wants to expand Burt's brand. Within even MORE short order, a representative of the South African wildlife organiation (or something - it's not important) arrives with an assignment. Ass Blasters (and yes, that's what they're still called) are on the loose on the dark continent, and Burt is on the way along with Travis, who wants to film the proceedings and make Burt a household name once again.
There's your setup, and it's time to meet the secondary characters, beginning with two paleontologists (one of which played by the impossibly hot Natalie Becker) who summarily get slurped by a Graboid. Of these, the two most important are Erick Van Wyk (Daniel Janks), the guy who did the aforementioned hiring, and Dr. Nandi Montabu (Pearl Thusi), the woman in charge of the village conveniently located near creature central and even more conveniently a master bow and arrow marksmen. This coincides with the South African government confiscating Burt's expected cache of huge guns that he brings with him, meaning that our heroes are behind the 8 ball from the beginning.
Overall, this movie is MUCH less humor-driven than previous entries in the series, no doubt an effect of not having the usual Stampede suspects in charge of the script and creative direction. Instead, it's much more about rampaging monster action and gunplay. On that level, however, it is pretty fun. The last time we saw Graboids, Shriekers and Ass Blasters (seriously, that name) given the heavy CGI treatment, it was pretty rough. Fortunately, there have been some big advancements in the field in the last 12 years or so. Thus, we get some pretty cool-looking monsters on a low budget. The script again doesn't disappoint when it comes to bringing new wrinkles, either, as the Graboids have now gone mobile (their tentacles detach - spoiler alert) and we get something of a human villain in the form of Erick Van Wyk (he's actually a poacher who wants the Graboid eggs for himself - more spoiler alert). All throughout, we get some pretty effective action sequences, with Burt and Travis shooting down the new monsters in the South African wilderness while Nandi fights off an AB invasion in the village.
It's very strange. Ever since Tremors 2, I have had the exact same experience with each movie. I start off not liking a particular character, but by the end of the film, I'm somehow on their side. It's a hallmark of old school creature features that put a focus on writing...and it happens ONCE AGAIN with this movie. The subject in question: One Mr. Jamie Kennedy.
This dude is one of the strange cases in my long movie fandom. I absolutely loved his character in the first Scream movie, thought he was pretty cool in Malibu's Most Wanted, and then outright hated him on Ghost Whisperer. I didn't even know this movie existed until I subscribed to Netflix, and when I saw him on the marquee along with Michael Gross (and folks, it isn't a Tremors movie without Michael Gross), my heart kind of sank. Or maybe I was just still mad at him for dating Jennifer Love Hewitt in real life. Again...take my word for it, he grows on you as the movie goes on, and by the time this movie throws its BIG curveball at you with this character, you'll accept it readily. Complete with what's admittedly a pretty damn cool ending showdown and mid-credits sequence featuring the character.
So...this is it. This is it for the Tremors attack-a-thon, as the franchise has come straight up to the present day. I must say, I was expecting something pretty bad, and instead was actually given something pretty slick and polished. Odds are, if you're watching this movie, you've probably seen the previous movies. And if you're watching this, you're not going to see anything that pisses you off. The writers of this movie seemed to understand that, as continuity and pleasing the audience were always hallmarks of this franchise. It shows. It's not a masterpiece or anything, but it's fun.
*** out of ****. Cool creatures, decent characters, and some good swerves that Vince Russo would be proud of. Check it out.
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