Film Review: TREMORS: A COLD DAY IN HELL (2018)

It seems that Burt Gummer (Michael Gross) and son Travis (Jamie Kennedy) have found themselves once again in Graboid country in TREMORS: A COLD DAY IN HELL (2018).  Burt finds himself having tax problems (mainly because he hasn’t paid them) and decides he must go back into the wild and battle the Graboids one more time.  Global warming is in effect and the devastating consequences is that the artic ice caps are melting allowing for the appearance of Graboids in Canada’s Nunavut Territory where a couple scientist have been killed.

This is the perfect opportunity for Burt to get back into action one last time to battle Graboids as he soon learns that he is dying from Graboid poison (from an encounter in a previous film) and the only antidote is from a living Graboid.  The race is one for Burt and Travis to not only rid Canada of their Graboid problem but to also find a way to save Burt’s life by catching a Graboid alive.

Although a ludicrous premise (and what really in this franchise isn’t), making Burt more vulnerable places more weight on the supporting characters especially Travis who as Burt’s son comes into his own as an adequate supporting character.

Written by John Whelpley and directed by Don Michael Paul (both of whom worked on the previous film in the same capacity) this is a great companion film to the previous films as it helps craft a new era of the franchise separate from the previous films yet still a part of them.

This film also brings in Global Warming and government conspiracy and other elements that make it more topical than previous entries in the series.  I like the idea of taking Burt and Travis to other countries to fight the Graboid menace (especially since the town of Perfection has been overused in previous films) and it shows that there are still some interesting and interesting stories to tell even six films (and a television series) into the franchise.

Film Review: TREMORS 5: BLOODLINES (2015)

Burt Gummer (Michael Gross) travels to South Africa where the Graboids have returned and deadlier than ever in TREMORS 5: BLOODLINES (2015).  It seems that the Graboids have migrated from North America and found their way to a new continent and a new breading ground.  This film opens with Burt marketing his new videos promoting his latest survival techniques.  When his old videographer leaves for a more production union job in Hollywood, in steps Travis B. Welker (Jamie Kennedy) a fan of Burt’s who wants to help change his image for a progressive future.

When the Graboids surface in South Africa, Burt is called upon to once again bring his expertise to the battle and his new cameraman Travis comes along for the ride to make sure they get good footage.

This film has the Graboids (in all their many different forms) becoming more dangerous and more aggressive than in previous films which is exciting for the series as a whole as it expands the universe but keeps it linked to all the previous films (and television series).  If this franchise has one thing going for it, it’s the continuity of characters which is why fans continue to follow Burt Gummer no matter what he gets himself stuck in.  Travis Welker makes for an odd, but interesting choice for a sidekick this go around.  Travis isn’t quite as interesting as previous sidekicks but when it comes to a Tremors film, it’s the Graboids that are the most interesting thing in the first place.

The film is entertaining in seeing Burt out of his element and in a new country, but the film does suffer from being too much like the original films.  Even though there are some changes and new elements added these additions do little to remind you that you’ve seen everything done before.   This being said, if you’re a Tremors fan then half the fun is seeing Burt and company getting into a new mess.

Book Review: The Book of ALIEN By Paul Scanlon & Michael Gross

Ridley’s Scott’s film ALIEN has been one of the most influential sci-fi horror films in history.  The film has become a franchise spanning over six films and has expanded to comic books, original novels, and created its own toy industry that continues to thrive even to this day.  Paul Scanlon & Michael Gross’ book The Book of ALIEN is a look at the making of the original film but functions more as a look at the artwork and concepts that brought the story to the big screen.

A lot of the actual written word in the book focuses on the decisions that lead to the final designs in the film but a majority of the book is consumed with artwork and concept drawings both of stuff used in the film and those items that never made it to the final phase of production or was edited out of the film.  No item of production was over looked as you easily get the impression that the film was a huge under taking and that everything in the film was meticulously designed from the ground up.

When most people think about the ALIEN films one of the first names that come to mind is famed artist H.R. Giger which the book does devote some time to but the majority of the book doesn’t focus on him at all (as he was not the first person consulted for the film).  The book spends a great deal on artists Ron Cobb & Chris Foss and art directors Roger Christian & Les Dilley not to mention production designer Michael Seymour, to name but a few.  This book tries to give a grand overview of the art and design elements that went into the production of the film.

This book doesn’t go into much behind the scenes talk on the film but for people interested in knowing more about the pre-production phase of the making of the film there is a lot in this book for them.  This is not an all encompassing book on the making of the film but it is a good starting off point for those interested in the art and design of the film.