Tremors II: Aftershocks (1996)
(On VHS, October 2000) I didn’t have much hopes for this straight-to-video sequel, mostly because I consider the original Tremors to be one of the best (if not the best) pure B-movies I’ve ever seen. Things aren’t off to a great start as Fred Ward is the only lead actor to return from the original film, but looking like a greasy slacker rather than the cool cowboy of the prequel. Things pick up somewhat as soon as they start blowing up the “Graboids” (there are a few nice references to the event of the first film) and even more so when the Survivalist character of the original movie returns for more mayhem. The film takes what may have been a fatal turn about midway through, as new creatures are introduced. Fortunately, the film treats their new capabilities with the same cleverness that made the success of the first film, and this decision merely proves to be half-misguided rather than catastrophic. I won’t try to kid anyone that Tremors 2 is a must see, or even a good film; but it is an acceptable sequel to the first film, and if it doesn’t even begin to match the original, it delivers enough not to disappoint too much.