Tremors: The Return (2025) brings back the cult-classic monster franchise with thrilling new energy and a blend of humor, horror, and nostalgia that fans have been craving. Set decades after the original Graboids first terrorized Perfection Valley, the film opens with the small desert town now transformed into a quirky tourist hotspot, capitalizing on its monster-hunting legacy. Burt Gummer, once the fearless survivalist and Graboid expert, has long disappeared under mysterious circumstances, leaving behind a new generation to face an evolving threat lurking beneath the sands. When a series of strange seismic readings begin again, the locals fear that the Graboids have returned—but this time, something feels different.
The story follows Jack Gummer, Burt’s estranged son, who runs a failing adventure tour business exploiting his father’s legend. Skeptical and resentful of the old stories, Jack is forced to face reality when a massive Graboid attack wipes out a nearby excavation crew. Alongside Dr. Emily Shaw, a brilliant but secretive geologist, Jack discovers that the Graboids have mutated due to decades of illegal mining and toxic waste dumped into the desert. These new creatures are faster, smarter, and capable of hunting in coordinated packs—making them deadlier than ever before.
As panic spreads, the government moves in to quarantine the area, but bureaucratic incompetence only makes matters worse. Jack reluctantly steps into his father’s shoes, forming a ragtag team of survivors including Earl Bassett’s nephew, a fearless local mechanic, and a sarcastic survival influencer livestreaming the chaos. The group uncovers an underground network of tunnels leading to a hidden military base where experiments on captured Graboids had been conducted years earlier. The revelation ignites a desperate race to stop the monsters from spreading beyond Perfection Valley.
The film’s tone masterfully blends tense creature horror with sharp comedic beats, reminiscent of the series’ roots. The action sequences are practical and gritty, showcasing the new hybrid Graboids bursting from sandstorms, ambushing helicopters, and even attacking at night. Amid the chaos, Jack finds a recording left by Burt himself, warning that humanity’s arrogance would one day resurrect the monsters. This moment becomes the emotional core of the film, pushing Jack to embrace his legacy and lead one final stand.
In a climactic showdown deep in the desert canyons, the survivors lure the Graboids into a massive trap using sonic weapons and explosives. The final explosion levels the valley, sealing the creatures underground once again. As the dust settles, Jack looks to the horizon, uncertain if the war is truly over. The last shot, a subtle tremor shaking the earth beneath his feet, teases that the nightmare may yet continue. Tremors: The Return (2025) revitalizes the franchise with heart, intensity, and humor, proving that no matter how deep they bury them, the Graboids always find a way back.
