Where was Tremors filmed? All filming locations explored

Tremors is a science-fiction horror film directed by Ron Underwood and released on January 19, 1990. It is produced and written by S.S. Wilson and Brent Maddock. Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, Reba McEntire, Michael Gross, and Finn Carter round off the film's lead cast. It is the first installment in the Tremors series, which features five sequels, one prequel, and one television series.

The synopsis of Tremors, as per Rotten Tomatoes, is as follows:

"Repairmen Val McKee (Kevin Bacon) and Earl Bassett (Fred Ward) are tired of their dull lives in the small desert town of Perfection, Nevada.....they happen upon a series of mysterious deaths and a concerned seismologist (Finn Carter) studying unnatural readings below the ground."

It continues:

"With the help of an eccentric couple (Reba McEntire, Michael Gross), the group fights for survival against giant, worm-like monsters hungry for human flesh."

The movie features breathtaking mountain ranges, unique desert landscapes, and vast open valleys. It was filmed entirely in the California towns of Olancha and Lone Pine.

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All the filming locations of Tremors explored

Kevin Bacon as seen in the movie (Image via Movieclips, Tremors trailer, 01:26)

Tremors was filmed over 50 days in early 1989. It is set in the fictional town of Perfection, Nevada, but was shot in multiple locations in California.

Olancha, California

The entire town of Perfection was built as a set near Olancha, just off Cactus Flat Roads. It is located between Ridgecrest and Lone Pine in central California. The film introduces the town with a signboard stating 'The City of Perfection, east 1902'. Tremors was shot at Cactus Flat Roads.

Scenes depicting the Graboids (worm-like creatures) attacking Walter Chang's market were also filmed in Olancha.

Lone Pine, California

The Lone Pine region, located 23 miles north of Olancha, was another shooting location for the film. The town lies close to the striking Alabama Hills, a popular filming location featured in numerous movies and television shows. The ravine along Tuttle Creek also served as a filming site for one of Tremors' earlier scenes.

The scene where Earl, Rhonda, and Val try to escape from the Graboids by pole-vaulting to the nearby boulders was shot in the surroundings of Mount Whitney, California's highest peak.

Owens Lake

The dry Owens Lake can be spotted in the background during the film's climax scene. Situated east of the Sierra Nevada mountain range and south of the city of Bishop, the site offers the perfect backdrop for the final face-off between the humans and worm-like Graboids.

Sierra Nevada

The beauty of the majestic Sierra Nevada mountain range was captured in several background shots in the movie.

Lastly, some shots of Perfection were also captured in the isolated town of Darwin in Inyo County.

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Plot Summary

Tremors depicts the story of the residents of Perfection, Nevada, as they fight against the deadly Graboids, who kill humans for their flesh. Two friends, Val and Earl, take charge of saving their townsfolk from the massive creatures that look like worms with help from seismologist Rhonda and a survivalist couple named Burt and Heather.

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Cast and characters

An image from the movie (Image via Movieclips, Tremors trailer, 0:20)

Below is a list of the entire cast of Tremors:

• Kevin Bacon as Valentine 'Val' McKee
• Fred Ward as Earl Bassett
• Finn Carter as Rhonda LeBeck
• Michael Gross as Burt Gummer
• Reba McEntire as Heather Gummer
• Bobby Jacoby as Melvin Plug
• Richard Marcus as Nestor Cunningham
• Bibi Besch as Megan Wallace
• John Pappas as Carmine
• Charlotte Stewart as Nancy Sterngood
• Ariana Richards as Mindy Sterngood
• Michael Dan Wagner as Old Fred
• Víctor Wong as Walter Chang
• Tony Genaro as Miguel
• Conrad Bachmann as Dr. Jim Wallace
• Sunshine Parker as Edgar Deems
• John Goodwin as Howard

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