Tremors
Val McKee and Earl Bassett are in a fight for their lives when they discover that their desolate town has been infested with gigantic, man-eating creatures that live below the ground.
Despite its modest budget of $11.0M, Tremors became a commercial success, earning $48.6M worldwide—a 342% return. The film's compelling narrative resonated with audiences, demonstrating that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Tremors (1990) demonstrates deliberately positioned plot construction, characteristic of Ron Underwood's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 36 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Valentine McKee
Earl Bassett
Rhonda LeBeck
Burt Gummer
Heather Gummer
Main Cast & Characters
Valentine McKee
Played by Kevin Bacon
A handyman tired of his dead-end life who becomes an unlikely hero when underground creatures attack his desert town.
Earl Bassett
Played by Fred Ward
Val's easygoing partner and best friend who helps fight the creatures with practical ingenuity.
Rhonda LeBeck
Played by Finn Carter
A graduate student seismologist who discovers the creatures and helps the townspeople survive.
Burt Gummer
Played by Michael Gross
A heavily-armed survivalist who is well-prepared for the underground threat.
Heather Gummer
Played by Reba McEntire
Burt's equally prepared and capable survivalist wife.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Val relieves himself overlooking the desolate Perfection Valley, establishing the dead-end existence he and Earl share as handymen in this isolated desert community.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Val and Earl discover Edgar Deems dead atop an electrical tower, having died of dehydration because something below wouldn't let him come down. The ordinary world is shattered.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 24 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to After their horses are killed, Val and Earl encounter and kill the first Graboid when it gets stuck in a concrete ditch. Rather than flee, they choose to return and warn the town about the creatures., moving from reaction to action.
At 48 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat The Graboids besiege the town, surrounding the general store and trapping everyone. The creatures demonstrate intelligence by waiting them out. False defeat: escape seems impossible., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 72 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Walter Chang is killed trying to make a run for his truck. The survivors are stranded on a boulder outcropping with no vehicle, dwindling supplies, and three Graboids circling. The whiff of death is literal., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 77 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Val synthesizes everything they've learned: the creatures hunt by sound, they can be killed by explosives, and they'll chase anything that vibrates. He devises a plan to use Burt's remaining pipe bombs to lure and destroy them., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Tremors's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Tremors against these established plot points, we can identify how Ron Underwood utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Tremors within the horror genre.
Ron Underwood's Structural Approach
Among the 5 Ron Underwood films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Tremors takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Ron Underwood filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional horror films include Thinner, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Mary Reilly. For more Ron Underwood analyses, see Speechless, In The Mix and City Slickers.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Val relieves himself overlooking the desolate Perfection Valley, establishing the dead-end existence he and Earl share as handymen in this isolated desert community.
Theme
Walter Chang asks Val and Earl, "You boys gonna stay here your whole lives?" challenging their desire to escape and foreshadowing their eventual choice to stay and fight for their community.
Worldbuilding
The isolated town of Perfection, Nevada is established with its 14 residents, including survivalists Burt and Heather Gummer, rancher Miguel, and visiting seismology student Rhonda LeBeck studying strange readings.
Disruption
Val and Earl discover Edgar Deems dead atop an electrical tower, having died of dehydration because something below wouldn't let him come down. The ordinary world is shattered.
Resistance
More deaths mount: Old Fred and his sheep are pulled underground, the road crew is slaughtered. Val and Earl attempt to flee but find themselves cut off, debating whether to stay or go.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
After their horses are killed, Val and Earl encounter and kill the first Graboid when it gets stuck in a concrete ditch. Rather than flee, they choose to return and warn the town about the creatures.
Mirror World
Rhonda's seismograph readings finally make sense—the creatures travel underground. Her scientific knowledge combines with Val and Earl's practical survival skills, beginning their partnership.
Premise
The promise of the premise: the town fights back creatively. Val, Earl, and Rhonda pole-vault between boulders to escape. The townspeople learn the creatures hunt by vibration and find refuge on rooftops.
Midpoint
The Graboids besiege the town, surrounding the general store and trapping everyone. The creatures demonstrate intelligence by waiting them out. False defeat: escape seems impossible.
Opposition
The stakes escalate relentlessly. A Graboid breaks into Burt and Heather's basement. The survivors flee toward the mountains on a bulldozer, but the creatures learn and adapt, cutting off escape routes.
Collapse
Walter Chang is killed trying to make a run for his truck. The survivors are stranded on a boulder outcropping with no vehicle, dwindling supplies, and three Graboids circling. The whiff of death is literal.
Crisis
Despair sets in as the group processes Walter's death. They're trapped with no apparent way out. The Graboids have proven they'll wait forever. Burt laments using most of his explosives.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Val synthesizes everything they've learned: the creatures hunt by sound, they can be killed by explosives, and they'll chase anything that vibrates. He devises a plan to use Burt's remaining pipe bombs to lure and destroy them.
Synthesis
The final battle unfolds. They kill one Graboid with a bomb, another by tricking it into swallowing explosives. Val faces the last one alone, luring it toward a cliff edge where it bursts through and falls to its death.
Transformation
Val and Rhonda kiss as the town celebrates. Rather than leave Perfection, Val and Earl have found purpose, community, and belonging. The men who wanted to escape have become the heroes who chose to stay.