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Category:    Home > Reviews > Horror > Monster > Giant Monster > Comedy > Tremors 5: Bloodlines (2015/Universal Blu-ray w/DVD)

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

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