Tremors

Status:
Wanted
Rank:
159
  • Other:
  • Peak Rank:
    127
Rank Change:
0
User Hype Score:
44
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Hype logged.
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Tremors is a monster horror-comedy film franchise from Universal Pictures that began in 1990, featuring subterranean creatures called Graboids that hunt by sound vibrations in desert settings. The franchise's underground creature attacks and desert town survival scenarios could translate to pinball mechanics involving ball-eating features and multi-level playfields that mirror the films' subterranean action.

Hype Metrics

Franchise Age

Origin:
1990
Age (years):
36

Nostalgia Factor

Nostalgia Score:
66
Nostalgia Rating:
Peak

Cultural Pulse

Wikipedia 7-day views:
70
Culture Rating:
21
Trendline:
up

Tremors Pinball Theme

Tremors is an American monster comedy-horror franchise that began with the 1990 cult classic film directed by Ron Underwood and starring Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, and Michael Gross. The original film follows residents of a small Nevada town who must defend themselves against subterranean creatures called Graboids that detect prey through ground vibrations. The franchise has maintained cultural significance through six sequel films, a short-lived television series, and a dedicated fan base that appreciates its blend of creature-feature thrills, practical effects, humor, and creative monster designs. The series has become a beloved example of 1990s creature features that balanced suspense with self-aware comedy, spawning multiple generations of underground predators that evolve throughout the films.

Pinball enthusiasts have discussed Tremors as a potential theme in community forums, with approximately 65 mentions in online pinball discussions. Fans have cited the property as an appealing surprise theme that would fit well within the horror-comedy niche of modern pinball, with several community members expressing interest in a Tremors machine if executed with quality comparable to other recent horror-themed tables. Discussion has included speculation about mechanical features like subways that could represent the creatures' underground movement, and mentions of the franchise alongside other cult properties being considered for pinball adaptation. The property gained renewed discussion during speculation about manufacturers known for horror themes, with fans noting its potential as an unexpected but welcome addition to pinball lineups.

A Tremors pinball machine offers numerous design opportunities that align well with pinball mechanics. The underground nature of the Graboids suggests natural integration of ball-eating features, subway ramps, and shaker motors to simulate seismic activity and creature attacks. Visual themes could incorporate the desert setting of Perfection, Nevada, creature evolution stages from Graboids to Shriekers to Ass-Blasters, and iconic props like seismographs and improvised weapons. The franchise's distinctive sound design, including the creatures' screeches and underground rumblings, combined with quotable dialogue from characters like Burt Gummer, would provide rich audio opportunities. Gameplay could feature modes representing different films, multiball sequences for creature swarm attacks, and skill shots mimicking the characters' need to avoid ground vibrations, making effective use of pinball's tactile feedback to recreate the tension of detecting underground threats.