Tremors - Shrieker Island (2020)

 Burt Gummer (Michael Gross, at 73 and just as grizzled and cranky, fired up and ready to go into action as he did back in 1990) in one last go, as this seventh film in the Tremors franchise reaches the 30th anniversary of the first film. This film is set on tropical islands, this go-around, where Bio-tech scientist, Bill (Richard Brake) has an island called Dark Island specifically for hunting. Bill is responsible for four genetically mutated graboids, and the queen (another big one spawned shriekers that burst from it), a massive-sized creature that grabbed an 11,000 pound elephant, is able to not only travel underground but underwater. That's the one Burt knows will be his greatest adversary yet. Look, you've seen one Tremors sequel, you've seen them all. The film does give you graboids with sensor sight right out of "Predator" complete with references from Jon Heder of "Napoleon Dynamite" fame, in the film as a project organizer, with Caroline Langrishe as Heder's scientist hired by him. Langrishe's Jan is also a lover in Burt's past, the two sharing a son together she kept from him regrettably. Bill's modification of these graboids costs him several silicon valley wannabe hunters looking for thrills, not anticipating certain death. Jan and Heder's Jimmy will pursue Burt's help when they realize Bill's error. While Bill gradually goes mad, his bow-and-arrow expert hunter, Anna (Cassie Clare), retreats to Burt and Jimmy's team, trapped by Bill and his gunmen in an underground bunker equipped for nuclear fallout (but even its reinforcements can't stop the queen graboid). Brake's idiocy is mind-numbing and the plot is right out of so many sci-fi monster movies we've seen countless times in the 80s/90s/2000s/2010s. That Brake's Bill simply won't listen to reason and insists on hunting the graboids despite every sign pointing to his demise is such a sci-fi monster movie cliche. This is a nice send-off for Burt as he gets to use flame throwers, machetes, and dynamite traps to kill graboids of different sizes. After starring in all seven films, the closing credits puts together a cool montage of his many appearances as a goodbye to both Gross and the Burt Gummer character. The tropical island setting is lust, attractive, and idyllic. Despite having to rely on tricks (lots of screaming men being pulled away by creatures hidden out of sight) due to obvious production limits, the film nonetheless blows shit (and graboids) up with plenty of orange guts showering and raining down on folks. 2.5/5

***I think Tremors franchise fans will enjoy this one more than perhaps those who specifically site just the 1990 film as their stopping place.***

***Jackie Cruz, as a badass with lots of weapons and strategic knowledge due to being raised on "Murder Mountain" growing weed and killing game, is very sexy and a nice teammate to Burt, who is very impressed with her know-how and guts***