Tremors 4: The Legend Begins (2004)

Maybe it wasn't to be expected after the very mediocre third installment in the series, but this straight-to-video entry is probably on par with the second in the series. 

Pretty unbelievable, I know. But that doesn't change the fact that it's true.

Naturally, because the budget was fairly limited, it shows a little. This has that 'made for TV' sheen all over it, but the writing has vastly improved, the characters are all likeable for a change and they did try to spice things up with a mythology that is by now well known.

Also: this is a prequel set in 1889. 

The small town of Rejection exists thanks to a nearby silver mine. But when miners are killed by something unknown, most people flee, leaving only a handful of stragglers behind. They telegram the owner of the mine, who comes in person to check on what is going on. This turns out to be Hiram Gummer (once again played by Michael Gross), ancestor to Burt Gummer. Only here, he is not a gung-ho weapon aficionado, but a rich dandy, clearly unaccustomed to when life doesn't go his way. He has some obnoxious traits, but he is not irritating. He is just very much a fish out of water in the rough and tumble world outside of his safe haven. When faced with juvenile Graboids, the people soon discover they are way out of their depth and enlist the help of a gunman, in this case Black Hand Kelly. He turns out to be no match for the now fully grown Graboids, so the few remaining townspeople have to work together if they want to survive. 

Contrary to the last entry, here all the characters are fun to watch and you spend more time with them, making them a lot more likeable. The reinvention of Michael Gross' character as something totally opposite of the version we already know, was a very good move. It works, and Michael Gross shows that he has more range than you might expect. Chiselled Billy Drago is wonderful as Black Hand Kelly, who starts off as this tough-as-nails bounty hunter, but who becomes one of the funniest characters in the film. He does get eaten, though, but you can't win them all, I guess. 

That they included a new version of the Graboids, was also a nice touch. Sure, it is nothing really new, but for the first half, it does make you feel as though the stakes are raised and it makes for a few unexpected jolts and scares, so well done there!

Lastly, it's a breath of fresh air to see they went more with practical effects than CG this time. There still is some CG and it sticks out thanks to the paltry budget, but the full size puppets and animatronics of the Graboids are back and by golly, they have been sorely missed. 

After the absolute snoozefest that was the third film, this one is a welcome return to form. For all intents and purposes, they made the most of their budget and even though it looks like a TV-film, it never gets boring and is one of the more engaging entries in the franchise. You will not be bored watching this!