Tremors: A Cold Day in Hell (2018)
Tremors: A Cold Day in Hell (2018) is the sixth installment in the cult-favorite Tremors franchise. Directed by Don Michael Paul, this direct-to-video entry sees the return of survivalist Burt Gummer (played by Michael Gross) and his son Travis Welker (Jamie Kennedy) as they battle the monstrous Graboids in a new and icy environment.
This time, the action moves to a remote research station in the Canadian Arctic. Scientists studying climate change have unwittingly awakened a nest of Graboids and their aerial offspring, the Ass-Blasters. When an early attack leaves several researchers dead, Burt and Travis are called in to investigate. Things escalate quickly when Burt is infected by a parasitic toxin from a Graboid, and the only way to save his life is to capture a live one—no easy task when the creatures are evolving faster than ever.
The movie attempts to refresh the series by changing the setting. While advertised as Arctic-based, most of the film was shot in South Africa, and the snow is minimal—something fans noted as a missed opportunity. Nevertheless, the shift in climate gives the series a slight twist from its usual desert locales.
As always, Michael Gross is the heart of the film. His portrayal of the grizzled and paranoid Burt Gummer remains entertaining, and his chemistry with Jamie Kennedy adds some levity, even if the humor is hit-or-miss. Supporting characters bring some diversity to the cast, though they fall into fairly typical B-movie archetypes.
The creature effects are what you'd expect from a lower-budget production—sometimes practical, sometimes CGI-heavy—but the action scenes are fast-paced and full of monster mayhem. Fans of the franchise will enjoy the grotesque Graboid attacks, inventive kills, and the occasional throwback to earlier entries in the series.
However, the film isn’t without its flaws. The writing is uneven, with several moments of forced humor and awkward exposition. The subplot involving DARPA agents and secret military interests feels tacked on, and some of the dialogue is more laughable than clever. Production values are modest, and the cinematography doesn’t do much to elevate the limited setting.
Critically, the film received mixed reviews. Some praised it for sticking to the fun, campy formula of its predecessors, while others criticized it for feeling repetitive and cheaply made. Still, for die-hard fans of the series, it's a serviceable entry that keeps the spirit of Tremors alive.
