Tremors: Shrieker Island | |
---|---|
Directed by | Don Michael Paul |
Screenplay by |
|
Story by | Brian Brightly |
Based on | Characters by |
Produced by |
|
Starring | |
Cinematography | Alexander Krumov |
Edited by | Heath Ryan |
Music by | Frederik Wiedmann |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | Universal Pictures Home Entertainment |
Release date |
|
Running time | 103 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Tremors: Shrieker Island [1] (also known as Tremors 7 and formerly Tremors: Island Fury) is a 2020 American direct-to-video horror monster film directed by Don Michael Paul and co-written with Brian Brightly. [2] It is the seventh film in the Tremors franchise. The film stars Michael Gross and Jon Heder.
The film was released direct-to-video on October 20, 2020, by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. [3]
Big game hunter Bill, owner of Avex-Bio Tech, leads a hunting party with his best hunter Anna, where he takes wealthy participants to hunt down Graboids on Dark Island, a private area where he operates his company. Dr. Jasmine 'Jas' Welker and colleague Jimmy work on the research site next to Dark Island where they were experiencing unnatural seismic vibrations. When Jas sees Bill leaving Dark Island, she along with Jimmy and her friend Ishimon start investigating what Bill was up to and find a dead Graboid. The Graboid gave birth to Shriekers, which kill Ishimon. After fleeing, Jas instructs Jimmy to use coordinates provided by her son Travis to find Burt Gummer. She visits Bill's camp and learns that he genetically bred the Graboids on the island and made them more powerful and intelligent for his hunt. He also cut off communications so nothing would stop him and his hunting party.
Jimmy finds Burt, who has now lived in isolation as a survivalist away from the government and is content on being retired from anything related to Graboids. Jimmy says that they need his help and Travis is unavailable due to being arrested in Mexico for smuggling shrooms. After learning that Jas is there, Burt refuses to help due to their history and keeping Travis' birth a secret from him for years. Jimmy, however, manages to change his mind.
Burt gets to meet the crew. Bill shows up to intimidate Burt and tells him to back off his hunt. Burt, however, is not afraid. While trying to gather weapons, he discovers that they have no firearms to defend themselves, only a bunker from World War II which has machetes, two flamethrowers, and unstable dynamite.
On Dark Island, the Shriekers Jas and Jimmy encountered, like their parent Graboid, are superior to the originals and can now use their screams as sonic weapons allowing them to pick off Bill's hunting party one by one. The party is saved when Burt and the others arrive killing the Shriekers and one Graboid, leaving two remaining Graboids. Returning to Jas's research site, they learn that a Graboid reached their location. Burt warns Bill to call off the hunt and turn the communication system back on, but he refuses. Bill tranquilizes Burt and locks him and the others in the bunker.
Bill's hunt continues, but goes wrong when the Graboid that reached Jas's site, dubbed "The Queen" by the hunters due to its superiority, appears. Anna quits when Bill's lust for the hunt proves too dangerous.
Anna frees Burt and the others from the bunker, but they are attacked by a Graboid before they can leave. They use the dynamite to blow it up leaving only The Queen. Burt locates Bill to reason with him but cannot convince him to quit his hunt. The Queen eventually finds them and devours Bill. The Queen is killing the weakest off until Burt, who Jimmy points out must be the Alpha, is left remaining. Burt gathers the remaining survivors and, inspired by the way his friends Valentine McKee and Earl Bassett killed off an intelligent Graboid in his first encounter with the creatures, [lower-alpha 1] they plan to lead The Queen to "Devil's Punchbowl," an inactive volcano, and lure The Queen over a plateau onto a bed of spiked dynamite.
While Jas and the others set up the trap for The Queen, Burt and Jimmy reach Dark Island and begin killing off the Shriekers with the bunker weapons.They return to the research site, where The Queen is waiting for Burt. The team heads to Devil's Punchbowl with Jimmy following behind Burt. The pair are leading The Queen into the trap when Burt pushes Jimmy out of the way and lets himself be swallowed by The Queen to ensure her demise. The Queen dies from the dynamite and spikes, and Burt dies. The others make a memorial for Burt, leaving behind their weapons with his hat and sunglasses.
On December 13, 2018, Michael Gross confirmed that Universal Pictures had ordered a seventh entry in the series and that he would return to star, stating "Tremors fans will be delighted to know I have just agreed to the terms of a contract for a seventh film. My best estimate is that Burt Gummer will begin his hunt for Graboids and other nefarious forms of wildlife in the fall of 2019." [5]
Principal photography began on November 13, 2019, in Thailand, under the working title of Island Fury, with Alexander Krumov serving as cinematographer. [6] [7] [8] On November 26, 2019, Jon Heder, Jackie Cruz, and Richard Brake signed on to star alongside Gross. [9] On December 12, 2019, Gross confirmed that filming had wrapped. [10]
In August 2020, the film was officially titled Tremors: Shrieker Island. [11] Jamie Kennedy, who portrayed Burt Gummer's son Travis B. Welker, in Tremors 5: Bloodlines and Tremors: A Cold Day in Hell , did not reprise the role in Shrieker Island. [4]
Tremors: Shrieker Island was released direct-to-video on October 20, 2020, by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. [12] [13] [14]
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 44% of 9 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.1/10. [15]
Sol Harris, of Starburst gave the film 3 stars out of 5, feeling that there was "plenty of Graboid action, a handful of great gags and a surprisingly emotional climax ultimately renders Tremors: Shrieker Island closer to perfection than you might think." [16] Josh Bell, of Crooked Marquee, gave the film a "C", saying that while the film "isn't a particularly good movie, it's a nice showcase for a character who has become an unlikely cinematic institution." [17]
In a negative review, John Squires of Bloody Disgusting gave the film 2.5 stars out of 5, saying "There's clearly just not enough money at the disposal of the filmmakers to do anything more with the franchise than they've already done." [18] Roger Moore, of Movie Nation, gave the film a 1.5/4, saying "if you want a scary, tense and hilarious movie about giant worms eating desert California, rent the original Tremors, directed by Ron Underwood, starring Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, Michael Gross and Reba McEntire. No Shrieker necessary." [19] AllHorror.com also gave a negative review, stating that "Tremors: Shrieker Island did something the Tremors franchise never did before, it became an entirely different movie. Shrieker Island is basically Jurassic Park . Swap out a Graboid for a T-Rex and you have Jurassic Park starring Burt Gummer and Napoleon Dynamite." [20] Clarisse Loughery, of The Independent , gave the film a 2/5, saying "It may speak eloquently to its fanbase, but it's guaranteed to baffle any outsider". [21]
Tremors: Shrieker Island earned $2,348,198 from domestic home video sales. [22]
In a podcast with Bloody Disgusting , Gross mentioned that "part of me that feels that Universal Home Entertainment might've had enough of Tremors", though he followed up by saying "The door is still open for an eighth Tremors. It may seem unlikely by what people see on the screen, but it is possible. There could be an eighth. And if there were, and if it were an interesting story, I would be up for it because Burt is always a great deal of fun. It would depend on his physicality. How much they want me to do. If it's in another two years, I'll be 75 years old. So I will continue to hope and pray that I stay in shape, to do what is asked of me – if it is asked of me." [23] Gross later said on Facebook "There are no guarantees, but for those who wonder aloud if this is the final film, I will say what I have said before: SALES drive sequels. Show biz is 5% show and 95% business, so if this latest addition to the Tremors franchise, sells well, Universal Studios Hollywood will follow the money, and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment may will [sic] be back for more." [24]
Tremors is a 1990 American monster comedy horror film directed by Ron Underwood, produced by Brent Maddock and S. S. Wilson, written by Maddock, Wilson, and Underwood and starring Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, Finn Carter, Michael Gross, and Reba McEntire.
Michael Edward Gross is an American television, film, and stage actor. He is notable for playing Steven Keaton on the sitcom Family Ties (1982–1989) and survivalist Burt Gummer in the Tremors film franchise, being the only actor to appear in all the films, television show, and a canceled pilot.
Napoleon Dynamite is a 2004 American independent coming-of-age teen comedy film produced by Jeremy Coon, Chris Wyatt, and Sean Covel, written by Jared and Jerusha Hess, and directed by Jared Hess. The film stars Jon Heder in the role of the titular character, a nerdy high-school student who deals with several dilemmas: befriending an immigrant who wants to be class president, awkwardly pursuing a romance with a fellow student, and living with his quirky family.
Jonathan Joseph Heder is an American actor. He is best known for his role as the title character of the comedy film Napoleon Dynamite (2004). He has also appeared in the films Just like Heaven (2005), The Benchwarmers (2006), Blades of Glory (2007), When in Rome (2010), Walt Before Mickey (2015), Ghost Team (2016) and The Unexpected Race (2018). He also provided voice work for the animated films Monster House (2006), Surf's Up (2007), and Thelma the Unicorn (2024), as well as the Napoleon Dynamite (2012) animated series.
Tremors 2: Aftershocks is a 1996 American Western comedy horror film and the sequel to the comedy horror film Tremors. In this sequel, the character of Earl Bassett, returning from the first film, is hired to deal with a subterranean "graboid" infestation at a Mexican oilfield. It was directed by S. S. Wilson, and stars Fred Ward, Christopher Gartin, Michael Gross, and Helen Shaver.
Tremors 3: Back to Perfection is a 2001 direct-to-video horror monster film directed by Brent Maddock, and is the third installment in the Tremors series featuring the subterranean worm-creatures dubbed "Graboids". It is a sequel to Tremors 2: Aftershocks. Michael Gross, Charlotte Stewart, Ariana Richards, Tony Genaro, and Robert Jayne reprise their roles from the first film. It is followed by Tremors 4: The Legend Begins.
Tremors 4: The Legend Begins is a 2004 direct-to-video horror Western film directed by S. S. Wilson and written by Brent Maddock, Nancy Roberts, and Wilson. It is the fourth film in the Tremors series of films and released on DVD on January 2, 2004. As a prequel to the earlier films and television series, it depicts the town of Rejection, which is the location that would later be renamed Perfection, the main setting for the first Tremors film. It stars Michael Gross as Hiram Gummer, the great grandfather of the character Burt Gummer, who Gross portrayed in every other Tremors film.
A film series or movie series is a collection of related films in succession that share the same fictional universe, or are marketed as a series.
Zombie Holocaust is a 1980 Italian horror film directed by Marino Girolami. The film is about a team of scientists who follow a trail of corpses in New York to a remote Indonesian island where they meet a mad doctor who performs experiments on both the living and dead in his laboratory. The team face both zombies and cannibals in an attempt to stop the doctor. The film was re-edited and released theatrically in the United States in 1982 under the title Doctor Butcher M.D.
The LAR Grizzly Big-Boar is a breech loading, single shot sniper rifle chambered for .50 BMG rounds. It was developed by L.A.R. Manufacturing Inc., a gunsmithing firm headquartered in West Jordan, Utah. The gun has been used in several Hollywood films, probably because its distinctive appearance and unusual loading method make it a memorable weapon.
Jonathan Lajoie is a Canadian comedian, actor, rapper, singer, songwriter, director, record producer, musician and Internet celebrity. He gained fame mostly from his YouTube channel, posting comedic original songs and comedy skits. Lajoie is also known for his role as Taco MacArthur on the FXX comedy series The League. Since 2016, he has released indie folk music under the moniker Wolfie's Just Fine, and has also contributed original music to TV shows and films.
The Collection is a 2012 American horror film directed by Marcus Dunstan and co-written with Patrick Melton, and starring Josh Stewart, Emma Fitzpatrick, Lee Tergesen and Christopher McDonald. It is a sequel to the 2009 film, The Collector. The story follows a young woman who gets captured by The Collector, while Arkin escapes but is recruited shortly after by a group of mercenaries whose mission is to save her at the Collector's base.
The Tremors franchise consists of a series of American monster comedy-horror films and a spin-off television show, with a plot centered around attacks from subterranean worm-like creatures known as Graboids. It began in 1990 with the release of Tremors, which spawned a series of direct-to-video films and a television series. A second television series was ordered to air on Syfy, and a pilot was shot for the spring of 2018, but the project was ultimately cancelled.
Tremors 5: Bloodlines is a direct-to-video horror monster film directed by Don Michael Paul and produced by Ogden Gavanski. Released on October 6, 2015, it is the fifth film of the Tremors franchise.
Halloween is a 2018 American slasher film directed by David Gordon Green and co-written by Green, Jeff Fradley and Danny McBride. It is the eleventh installment in the Halloween film series and a sequel to the 1978 film of the same name, while disregarding all previous sequels. The film stars Jamie Lee Curtis who reprises her role as Laurie Strode. James Jude Courtney portrays Michael Myers, with Nick Castle returning to the role for a cameo. Halloween also stars Judy Greer, Andi Matichak, Will Patton, Haluk Bilginer, and Virginia Gardner. Its plot follows a post-traumatic Laurie Strode who prepares to face Michael Myers in a final showdown on Halloween night, forty years after she survived his killing spree.
Tremors: A Cold Day in Hell is a 2018 direct-to-video horror/sci-fi film directed by Don Michael Paul. It is the sixth film in the Tremors series of monster films. The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray, as well as on Netflix on May 1, 2018.
"The Most Dangerous Game" is an influential 1924 short story by Richard Connell. It tells the story of big-game hunter Sanger Rainsford becoming the hunted when trapped on a jungle island owned by General Zaroff, a Russian aristocrat who has turned to hunting man after growing bored of hunting animals.