Tremors: Shrieker Island

This is a four, but I'm adding a star for effort. If you watch it with the reasonable expectation of it being from the economy side, it's decently entertaining and goes to places where I didn't expect, comically exaggerated effects that's seem on purpose.

This is by far the best in the newer sequels episodes of Tremors. Its obvious from the start that this is very different movie in tone and in production values than anything which appeared after the initial trilogy. This is a much more serious and darker film, gone is the comedic tone and in its place we get much better action sequences and a real air of menace. There definite and deliberate nods to the movie Predator, particularly in the action scenes. One in particular midway through the movie is simply the best action scene in any Tremors movie. The production values for this are probably the best in the franchise. We have stunning visuals as this is set in Thailand which gives the movie a kind of Jurassic Park prehistoric vibe but the cinematography is worth a mention. Probably a first for a Tremors movie. The cast are great and unexpectedly (to me any) Jon Heder shows up as does an English actress mainly known for TV shows who plays Berts ex love interest, Fans of the franchise will be more than happy with this edition although there is an obvious departure from the previous formula. This perhaps signals an end to either the saga or possibly a shift away to a new Tremors series of movies. I wouldn't complain if they did based on this episode. I gave this a 6 however as its still a Tremors movie and partly for the ending...

About a year ago I took on the journey through all six of Tremors movies: some of them were fine (1,2,4), an ok one (3), and the other two were watchable (5,6) and as soon as I've learned that there is a seventh part already out there I naturally went out and got it. The new chapter of Burt Gummer's adventures is a lot better than the last two; different setting (the island), fantastic landscapes, great music and score and the one and only Michael Gross - the true soul of this franchise. What is also worth mentioning is that this part makes many references to previous movies making this one more conclusive and allows it to truly look like it is a part of the same universe as the first four movies were; besides that it also has a couple of nods to the great Predator starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, not ripping it off but treating it with respect, dignity and a little of self-irony of course too. Overall a good improvement over the sixth, very disappointing part, but still the same over-the-top silly horror comedy that I grew to like so much despite this. If there's an eighth part ever to surface the face of the internet - I'll be among the first ones to watch it hands down.

Tourists are hunting super Graboids on a tropical island led by arrogant leader Bill Davidson. Burt Gummer (Michael Gross) is now a retired beachcomber living off the grid. He's out, but Jimmy (Jon Heder) convinces him to get back in.

I like the location. It gives me Jurassic Park vibes with a dose of Survivor. The movie does not always use it correctly. It has moments of good horror, but mostly it looks cheap. The camp isn't much other than Gross. The only interesting character is Gummer. I had hoped for better from Heder, but he has not developed as an actor. The flamethrowers are fun and there are lots of explosions. In the end, this is only occasionally interesting.

The first Tremors movie was a gem. A campy and fun monster movie with quirky characters, I used to watch it every time I saw it on TV and my wife was not around. Just because of that one film I watched all the other... seven are they? Anyway, none was actually worth watching, including this possibly last one. Everything is cardboard and the monsters aren't even scary. One could have created a world terrorized by graboids, expanded it with high budgets and top actors, made it a cinematic universe and cross it over with Underworld, Piranhas, The Meg or even Sharknado. It would have still been stupid, but at least enjoyable. The first Tremors movie was a gem, the rest are the mud.