Of course you can talk about the "real" stars all you want. It's the worms everyone is here to see. Though not completely original, they make a worthy adversary for the small town and the small rule set (don't make a single movement) is never broken. There is a mix of miniature (Bart's in his basement), puppetry, and animatronics. The first reveal is great after the tease early on. These things, "Graboids" if you will, are smart too unlike the generally mindless predators of old.
This is one the unrecognized classics in Universal's long line of monsters. In fact, you could say this is the best giant underground worm movie with Reba McEntire ever made. Seriously, this really is one of the greatest creature-features of all time, blending everything together perfectly which makes it appeal to more than just the usual fan base. This one will be recognized for what it really is eventually: A masterpiece of a monster movie. (***** out of *****)
Unfortunately, the movie gets absolutely no respect in the visual department. This 1.85:1 transfer is a mess, and it's a shame too because the print used is pretty clean. Edge enhancement is all over the place, whether be indoors or out. Compression is constantly a problem, though it does disappear for brief periods. Grain is nasty and never dissipates. Flesh tones are off and seem tinted far too red at times while in the next shot they look fine. Some scenes almost look like they lose resolution, giving the transfer an ugly blurry side. You might as well be watching this on a laserdisc. (**)
Audio is pretty meager as well. Presented in Dolby Surround, there are a few instances where the audio doesn't sound overly scratchy and washed out. The subwoofer never gets a chance a shine even though Bart shoots more weapons than the entire cast of "Saving Private Ryan." The rear speaker is left out for most of the movie even though there are plenty of opportunities for it. It's time for a remix Universal. (**)
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