Attempting to modernise Tremors as a social networking conduit ignores some basic truths. From their first appearance, the Graboids posed a threat to humanity. Why does Tremors 5: Bloodlines seem so non-threatening? Perhaps madcap weapons expert Burt Gummer (Michael Gross) has truly “run out of ammo.”

The screenplay by William Truesmith, M.A. Deuce and John Whelpley relocates Gummer to South Africa. Apparently, the Graboids have evolved beyond their natural habitat. There are early glimpses of a skeleton depicting a leaner, nastier variety. Meanwhile, Gummer's reputation could do with a contemporary touch, so filmmaker Travis Welker (Jamie Kennedy) tags along. In short, the latter believes that Perfection's favourite arsonist should boost his profile on Twitter.

Desperation breeds sequels. Admittedly, it was nice to see Gross changing his outlook in Tremors 4: The Legend Begins. He played Hiram Gummer, an aristocratic ancestor of Burt's. Stepping back into the latter's shoes for Tremors 5: Bloodlines could have worked brilliantly. Not this time. Quite often, there's a bemused facial expression which betrays the fourth wall and lets us in on the joke.

Interestingly, Vanick Moradian's editing makes Jaws: The Revenge seem sharp, economical and ground-breaking.

(Released by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment and rated "PG-13" by MPAA.)