Tremors
5: Bloodlines
(2015/Universal Blu-ray w/DVD)
Picture:
B+/B- Sound: B+/B- Extras: C Film: B-
I've
always enjoyed the original Tremors
film. They're a great throwback to old-school B monster movies with
a modern take, great performances, solid special effects, and an epic
film score. Four direct-to-video sequels and a short-lived TV series
later, we are presented with Tremors
5: Bloodlines,
which blows everything that came since the original out of the water
(...the same thing Universal did earlier this summer with its other
creature franchise, Jurassic
World).
That being said, this is a pretty big fun surprise of a movie. It
hits all of the marks that you would want a Tremors
sequel to hit on and features some fun characters and a few scenes
with shockingly good special effects.
Re-uniting
us with our favorite monster hunter, Burt Gummer (Michael Gross), he
is this time called to Africa to hunt down a new kind of Graboid that
threatens the lives of many in another small remote desert town.
Here, the natives are used to such creatures (they are even depicted
in their history and ceremonial dances) and, in short, need a man of
Burt's expertise to keep them safe. Though Burt is really only
interested in making some extra cash and firing off some weapons in
extravagant grandeur, and this time is joined by Jamie Kennedy,
another fellow monster hunter, and the two must work together to take
down the prehistoric threat.
The
African breed of Graboids (giant worms with snake-like tentacles that
protrude from its mouth) are bigger and badder than ever with an
evolved species that can fly with several rows of teeth (and fire
that bursts from their ass mid-flight) and an appetite for humans.
They are no doubt more terrifying this time out and look great
throughout.
Tremors
5
doesn't forget the films that have come before it and cleverly
mentions them for die-hard fans, but at the same time, sets up the
exposition in the first few minutes to catch anyone up that missed a
few of the forgettable sequels.
At
times, you can tell that the filmmakers were trying to save on their
budget with many scenes that don't reveal the monsters themselves but
instead earthquake type effects, shaky camerawork, and cutaways with
blood to get their point across. This helps makes the times that you
actually do see the monsters more effective (the old Jaws
trick). There are also many nods to Jurassic
Park,
namely one of the opening scenes where some victims are being stalked
by Graboid-like creatures inside a kitchen with sharp clawed feet
that really resemble a Raptor.
The
1080p high definition presentation of Tremors
5: Bloodlines
isn't half bad for a lower budgeted production with incredible
texture and detail and a widescreen aspect ratio of 1.78:1 and
features a stunning, lossless English DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1
track that sounds incredible through a good home surround system.
There's also a DVD presented in standard def. and an anamorphic
widescreen aspect ratio of 1.78:1 and a lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 track
which is fine for the format but not as impressive as the Blu-ray
presentation.
Extras
on the disc include Deleted
and Extended Scenes, Outtakes, and Tremors 5: Behind The Bloodlines.
I
would suggest this film if you love monster movies with a bit of
humor in them. This is B-movie camp and doesn't try to disguise it.
You'll get a kick out of what the subtitle, Bloodlines,
means to the narrative as well. It's not what you may think. Bring
on the next five installments!
-
James Harland Lockhart V
www.facebook.com/jhl5films
