Tremors 2: Aftershocks (1995)

63% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
46% of users liked it
(55,323 ratings)

The Graboids are back in this sequel to the campy comedy horror hit that finds luckless Earl Basset (Fred Ward) and survivalist Burt Gummer (Michael Gross) teaming up to destroy the monsters that are wrecking havoc in the Mexican oil fields. It's been a good few years since Earl and Burt saved the… More The Graboids are back in this sequel to the campy comedy horror hit that finds luckless Earl Basset (Fred Ward) and survivalist Burt Gummer (Michael Gross) teaming up to destroy the monsters that are wrecking havoc in the Mexican oil fields. It's been a good few years since Earl and Burt saved the town of Perfection, Nevada from the strange pre-Cambrian predators, and these days Earl is doing his best to find success as an ostrich farmer. Trouble is, none of Earl's birds want to breed, and it looks as if the farm is about to go under. Just when it seems that things couldn't get any worse for this monster-slaying cowboy, a pair of visitors arrives with a rather unusual proposition. According to the strangers, the Graboids have recently resurfaced in Sonora, Mexico, and they're currently getting fat on a steady diet of frightened oil field workers. Local businessman Carlos Ortega is willing to pay $50,000 a head for each worm killed, but Earl isn't so sure he wants to put himself in harm's way like that again. Still, Earl knows that he's the right man for the job, and after a bit of goading from ambitious cabbie Grady Hoover (Christopher Gartin) the pair are loading up their weapons and heading for the border. Upon arriving in Sonora, Earl quickly warms up to beautiful geologist Kate White (Helen Shaver), but the Graboid population has grown faster than suspected so in order to be successful this group will need the kind of firepower that only Burt Gummer can supply. Ever since Burt's wife walked out on him and the threat of World War III went away, the lonely survivalist has lost all direction in life. This is Burt's chance to prove that he's not just a useless middle aged man. But what the humans have failed to realize is that the Graboids have evolved to become deadlier than ever before, and they're not staying underground anymore. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 40 min.
Directed By: S.S. Wilson
Genres: Horror, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy

In Theaters: Apr 9, 1996 Wide
On DVD: Aug 18, 1998

Critic Reviews

Stefan Birgir Stefansson, sbs.is
the sequel captures the humor of the first
Lori Hoffman, Atlantic City Weekly
Yet another bad sequel
Fred Topel, About.com
Not the worst straight to video sequel possible, has some fun moments.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Manu G

Evolution: It's a bitch Good fun movie. This movie is not scary at all, it just thrilling and a joy to watch. Nice sequel. When an army of Graboids - giant, carnivorous underground worms - threaten the Petromaya oil refinery in Mexico, its owners call on Earl Bassett, who once… More
Evolution: It's a bitch Good fun movie. This movie is not scary at all, it just thrilling and a joy to watch. Nice sequel. When an army of Graboids - giant, carnivorous underground worms - threaten the Petromaya oil refinery in Mexico, its owners call on Earl Bassett, who once helped kill four of the creatures in Perfection, Nevada. Having squandered the money that came from his resulting celebrity status, Earl is convinced by the $50,000-a-head bounty offered, as well as the enthusiasm of admirer Grady Hoover, who becomes his partner. At Petromaya, Earl and Grady meet geologist Kate Reilly, and begin Graboid hunting, tricking several Graboids into swallowing bomb-rigged, remote-controlled cars. When they find they're facing a lot more Graboids than they ever expected, Earl calls his friend Burt Gummer, a survivalist who arrives well-stocked with weapons.
Jeff "

Tremors II: Aftershock build on the previous film, and this time the grabboids have invaded an area of Mexico, Earl and Burt are hired to exterminate them. This film has a more ambitious storyline than the first one because there is a lot more action going on, and obviously… More
Tremors II: Aftershock build on the previous film, and this time the grabboids have invaded an area of Mexico, Earl and Burt are hired to exterminate them. This film has a more ambitious storyline than the first one because there is a lot more action going on, and obviously Burt's involved and there's more firepower involved. Tremors 2 is a fine little film that continues to built on the success of the first, but it won't top the original. Tremors II offers everything you'd expect from a Tremors film, Comedy, Guns, monsters and thrills. This series is one of the best Horror Comedy series out there and these movies are to please fans of both genres
Anthony L

A fairly poo follow up, has its moments but the new Graboids are rubbish!
Dean M

The humour is good funny, the special effects have been elaborated, and Michael Gross's gun-welding character Burt Gummer is cool. Not as good as the first, but pretty close. Christopher Gartin is a weak replacement for Kevin Bacon.
Jason O

Most of the time, sequels to great movies aren't nearly as great as the original. "Tremors 2 - Aftershocks" is an exception. It's more adventurous and a lot more entertaining than the first Tremors movie was. This time, the people are up against a new kind of… More
Most of the time, sequels to great movies aren't nearly as great as the original. "Tremors 2 - Aftershocks" is an exception. It's more adventurous and a lot more entertaining than the first Tremors movie was. This time, the people are up against a new kind of monster. Instead of the huge wormlike creatures that terrorized them in the first movie, some much smaller creatures are in this one. The creatures in this movie see by infrared (by heat), instead of by movement. They also reproduce very quickly. "Tremors 2 - Aftershocks" is a better movie than the first Tremors movie in my opinion because it has more of a sense of adventure and moves at a faster pace than the first one did. I recommend anybody to get this movie. NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2000.
Dean !

Not a bad sequel to the cult classic first. No Kevin Bacon this time but his partner from the first film is back. Working as a Graboid exterminator, down in Mexico. This time round can they get any smarter?
Jason S

Eh. It's ok but not as good as the first one. Some of the coolness of the creature goes away when they are able to spawn mini versions of themselves and walk around.
Flutie A

One of those movies you watch over and over as a kid, and it just sticks with you. Entertaining flick....A different feel than the original.
Justin Y

This was my favorite of all 4 of the <i>Tremors</i> series. The story is a bit lame compared to the first one, but it was more entertaining. If you like big guns then you may enjoy the rifle handled by Michael Gross in this one.
Curtis L

Pretty good for a B movie sequel. I love fred ward's character too much, and it's too bad Bacon wouldn't do it.
danny d

not as good as the first, but decent
Christopher H

For a straight-to-DVD sequel, this film actually works quite well. The opening act is a bit long and the new creatures do not come until well into the film, but they are well worth the wait, remaining the one of the only elements that make this film stick out. Also, for 1995 and what… More
For a straight-to-DVD sequel, this film actually works quite well. The opening act is a bit long and the new creatures do not come until well into the film, but they are well worth the wait, remaining the one of the only elements that make this film stick out. Also, for 1995 and what was probably a smaller budget, the graphics are astounding. I am glad that Fred Ward and Michael Gross reprise their roles and at least keep this film interesting.
Simeon D

The sequel to 1989's horror/thriller Tremors, Tremors 2 also has offensive racial stereotypes, horrible special effects, and pitiful sexual appeal, but this time it lacks the anchor of a Kevin Bacon's stardom to keep it from floating away. Fred Ward stars as Earl Bassett,… More
The sequel to 1989's horror/thriller Tremors, Tremors 2 also has offensive racial stereotypes, horrible special effects, and pitiful sexual appeal, but this time it lacks the anchor of a Kevin Bacon's stardom to keep it from floating away. Fred Ward stars as Earl Bassett, who in the first Tremors helped kill and stop an infestation of oversized killer worms along with Valentine McKee, who was played by Kevin Bacon. McKee gets a lot of money for capturing the species, and so does Bassett, but he spends it all irresponsibly on beer and ostriches. Bassett then spends the rest of his days moping about his loss at fame and fortune, when one day a Mexican oil-field worker comes by in a taxi complaining that killer worms had infested his oil-fields, killing his workers, and that the Mexican army would supply Bassett with anything he could need, if only he would help them kill the worms. Coincidentily, the taxi driver that drove the oil-worker there was a big fan of Bassett's work and the killer worms, so he persuades Bassett into taking the job and head to the hills to start a killer worm massacre. But there's a twist! The killer worms evolve into two legged beetle things that can sense heat, hence becoming a new obstacle that Bassett and co. must defeat. What struck me about this film was that since the worms become land dwelling, heat sensoring beings, then the title "Tremors" no longer applies to the series. These new monsters are not only less realistic than the worms, but lack a presence on the screen that invokes fear from the audience all together. Fred Ward, Michael Gross, and Helen Shaver all do a poor job with their acting; escpecially Fred Ward. He tryed to act suprised and confused throughout this whole movie, and I still have that image of him in my head where his eyes wide are open, looking spastically around as if constantly paranoid that someone is watching him. Of course someone's watching you, you're in a movie stupid! The plot is suspenseful, the script is sparce, and the supporting cast is unbearable, but overall this smashes together as a comedy action thriller with a bad excuse for some entertaining violence.
RJ M

A sequel that is far better than it has a right to be. Fred Ward and Michael Gross return from the original Tremors to battle both the "Graboids" and the new creatures they evolve to, known as "Shriekers". These new creatures walk above ground, and sense body heat.… More
A sequel that is far better than it has a right to be. Fred Ward and Michael Gross return from the original Tremors to battle both the "Graboids" and the new creatures they evolve to, known as "Shriekers". These new creatures walk above ground, and sense body heat. To them, heat equals food. Guess who's on the menu? Christopher Gartin joins the cast as a gung ho fan of Ward, and he is the voice for the audience. He's how we'd all be if we were suddenly in the middle of this whole situation. New situations are faced, new ideas are hatched to defeat the new creatures, and new allies are made along the way. Made directly for video, the movie was made by the creators of the original, and they manage to keep the tone and pace of the first Tremors. There are equal amounts of laughs, scares, and colorful characters to carry us through. The worms turn to, but they're not stupid animals, and watching the humans match wits with them is a big part of the fun. An exciting, well made sequel that set the stage for the additional installments to come.