There can be an argument made that since the beginning of film there was always going to be the inherent other side of prestige and relative opposite of the term “good” because there is always an audience for something dumb and schlocky. For every mass-produced or smaller-funded movie that aims to please without being regarded as “bad” or “so bad its good,” there are going to be movies that want to fall into those categories anyways. While most of these films get their legs by being discovered by fans perusing used movie bins, going to local cinemas which show a variety of titles that aren’t just the next big thing, or just stumble upon the film one way or another, these films get discovered. In this modern age we are living in, there are film labels that pride themselves on bringing restorations of these films (and others) to the limelight for fans, and Arrow Video brings to life a new and beautiful edition of Tremors 2: Aftershocks to 4K UHD and Blu-ray.
There is always a world where cinephiles will be buying things blind, meaning they’ve never seen it and have only heard of the movie or are just simply intrigued by it. It would be weird, but not unheard of, for someone to buy a sequel in a franchise without at least having seen the first one, but alas. Tremors 2: Aftershocks focuses on Earl Bassett (Fred Ward) as he is hired by a Mexican oil company to solve their Graboid issue, however not only has Earl learned how to kill the Graboids, the Graboids have learned new ways to kill humans and try and preserve themselves as well.
When digging into the 1996 movie, it is evident that the transfer and restoration that Arrow has created here is simply pristine and undeniably attractive to the eye. Considering the movie was filmed on a small budget and in 1996, it would be safe to assume it would have this grainy VHS look to it which would be appealing for the film that Tremors 2: Aftershocks truly is. However, this 4K restoration from the films negative that was supervised by the director, S.S Wilson (Tremors 4: The Legend Begins), is superb. It gives the film a new life, for the most part, and truly highlights the films b-style of shooting. The only downfall is that because there are moments in the film where the Graboids are clearly CGI, and 1996 low-budget CGI looked like clunky robotic animation, it is more prominent in this new presentation. Moreover though, for a movie such as Tremors 2: Aftershocks, a rough and distorted CGI fits the bill for this schlocky sequel being brought to life on 4K.
When it comes to Arrow releases, they are always labeled as limited editions that can be bought direct or through other outlets and may or may not have standard releases down the road. Now, there are plenty of films that love to label themselves as limited editions or collectors’ editions and get away with it because they feature a slipcover and call it a day. However, Arrow always goes above and beyond to ensure that their fans and collectors get the most bang for their buck. There are two different limited editions for Tremors 2: Aftershocks; one that is available through retailers and one that is specific to the Arrow site itself. The difference appears to be the color of the case and trap sheet. The non-store exclusive is green while the store exclusive is brown and the same color as the first Tremors movie release. Atop of having the slipcover for the film, the limited edition also comes with an illustrated booklet with tons of behind-the-scenes information and a history of Universal’s direct-to-video division. Rounding out the bonus goodies that come with the Arrow limited edition is a double sided fold out poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Matt Frank and a secondary smaller fold out poster featuring new Shrieker X-ray art by Matt Frank as well.
With all this being said, Tremors 2: Aftershocks has never looked better, and, arguably, will never look better than this restoration from Arrow. The limited-edition sets are packed with extras that are exclusive to the sets themselves and are loaded with extra features new and old that makes adding this b-movie creature flick a worthy addition to anyone’s collection.
Tremors 2: Aftershocks Special Features:
- New 4K restoration from the original negative by Arrow Films, approved by director S.S. Wilson
- 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
- Original lossless 2.0 and 4.0 surround audio
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
- Brand new feature commentary by director/co-writer S.S. Wilson and co-producer Nancy Roberts
- Brand new feature commentary by Jonathan Melville, author of Seeking Perfection: The Unofficial Guide to Tremors
- Graboid Go Boom, a newly filmed interview with special effects designer Peter Chesney
- Critical Need-to-Know Information, a newly filmed interview with CG supervisor Phil Tippett
- The Making of Tremors 2, an on-set featurette with the cast and crew
- Outtakes
- Trailers for Tremors and Tremors 2: Aftershocks
- Image gallery
- Illustrated perfect bound booklet featuring new writing by Jonathan Melville on the Tremors 2 scripts that never got made, and Dave Wain & Matty Budrewicz on the history of Universal’s DTV sequel division
- Double-sided fold-out poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Matt Frank
- Small fold-out poster featuring new Shrieker X-ray art by Matt Frank
- Limited Edition packaging featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Matt Frank
Available on 4K UHD and Blu-ray November 28th, 2023.
For more information, head to the official Arrow Video Tremors 2: Aftershocks webpage.
To purchase, head to the official MVD Entertainment Group Tremors 2: Aftershocks webpage.
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Categories: Home Release, Home Video, Recommendation, Reviews
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