Those sneaky little underground critters are back in the third installment of the Tremors franchise, Tremors 3: Back to Perfection. Michael Gross returns as Burt Gummer, survivalist, who has made a living for the past few years hunting the Graboids and Screamers worldwide. But when he returns to the dusty little town of Perfection Nevada for a little rest and relaxation, things go downhill quickly. Business entrepreneur Jack is running a quiet little scam, taking tourists on Graboid adventures in the countryside and ensuring that they get to see just enough action for continued recommendations. But when one of the "fake" Graboids turns out to be less than artificial, it's up to an armed-to-the-teeth Burt to save the day from the newest and deadliest mutation.
I quite enjoyed the first film in this series, Tremors, but was disappointed by the obvious "low budget" plotting and special effects of the second, Tremors 2: Aftershocks. Although this new sequel starts off slow, it quickly shifts into second gear and rockets into a thoroughly enjoyable flick. Suspense, humor, gore and good pacing unite in a combination that absolutely entertains.
Tremors 3 is presented with a 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer that is good, but not exceptional. Black levels are generally well calibrated, as is brightness. Film grain is visible, though the print was quite clear of lint and dirt. The image isn't particularly vibrant or detailed, however as a result I didn't notice any over-sharpening artifacts. Colors are solid and, except for a particular scene with perceptible flickering, I saw no other visual distractions, such as aliasing. The disc contains 7.0 gigabytes of data and is divided into 18 chapters.
Being a direct-to-video release, it's nice to see that Universal has treated Tremors 3 to a 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack. Although the mix is overall acceptable with plenty of floor-shaking bass, the rear channels were used far less than I would have expected for a movie with such surround potential. In addition, I found the dialogue tended to peak in certain scenes, an unwanted distraction from an otherwise pleasant experience. Also included are English and French subtitles.
In terms of extra features, you'll find a 14 minute "Spotlight on Location" that contains numerous behind-the-scenes details. Three trailers are included, one for each of the films. You'll also get text production notes, cast and crew biographies and filmographies and static scene selection screens. Finally, the disc comes in a keepcase with a particularly unintuitive hub design. Secure, yes. Easy to remove, no.
If you enjoyed the first Tremors episode, then Tremors 3 is definitely a movie you won't want to miss.
- Reviewed by Daniel Tonks on September 29, 2001.
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System Equipment
Sony DVP-S500D DVD Player
Marantz SR-18EX THX Receiver
Sony 32" XBR250 WEGA TV using Component
Nuance Spatial Baby Grand 3E & StarSat
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English Dolby Digital 5.1
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