What do you do if you dream of making a dinosaur movie but don’t have the budget for elaborate CGI or practical effects? For most, films like Jurassic Park, Jurassic World, or even Tammy and the T-Rex seem out of reach without a big studio backing. However, director Mike Hermosa found a creative solution to bring his vision to life despite financial limitations. In his film THE INVISIBLE RAPTOR, Hermosa cleverly sidesteps the cost of expensive effects by making the dinosaur, well, invisible. This inventive choice allows the movie to deliver all the terror, gore, and even giant piles of dino dung.
Clever Girl
If there’s one constant in dinosaur movies, it’s that scientists always seem to push the boundaries of ethics and safety in the name of scientific progress. Often, it ends with disastrous results. THE INVISIBLE RAPTOR follows in the footsteps of Jurassic Park with its premise of scientific hubris gone awry. In this aptly titled film, Dr. Willie Walsh (played by Sean Astin of Goonies fame) manages not just one but two groundbreaking achievements: resurrecting a dinosaur and making it invisible. However, his success doesn’t stop there because his creation is also frighteningly intelligent. Echoing the famous “clever girl” line from Jurassic Park this raptor is more than just a predator; it’s a cunning and highly dangerous force of nature, proving once again that some experiments are better left undone.
Set in the aptly named Spielberg County, the film opens with a playful nod to Jurassic Park as we meet paleontologist Grant (yes, like Sam Neill’s iconic Dr. Alan Grant) portrayed by Mike Capes. However, instead of digging up fossils in exotic locales, this Grant spends his days entertaining kids at Dino World. This low-budget amusement park is far from the intense paleontological work of his cinematic namesake. Grant’s job involves singing and dancing with a man in a dinosaur costume while performing the cringe-worthy “Fossil Rap.” His life feels full of monotonous routine rather than thrilling adventure.
Life finds a way
But Grant’s dissatisfaction with his humdrum existence is clear. Once a successful paleontologist, he now finds himself stuck in a dead-end job. His past and former glory are made clear when he bumps into his ex-girlfriend, Amber (Caitlin McHugh). Thus leading to a classic exposition dump about lost dreams and missed opportunities. Behind the zip-up dino costume that dances and sings with Grant, is Deniel “Denny” Dennison (David Shackelford). He has no friends but a whole lot of heart. He doesn’t understand dinosaurs, or social interactions, or really much of anything. His innocence and eagerness create an amusing dynamic between him and the disillusioned Grant. Now, this odd couple must face off against an invisible prehistoric terror. Together, they are ready to rise to the occasion when the stakes are as high as a Spielberg blockbuster!
You’ll never see it coming
Dino World houses a kiddie park filled with educational exhibits and mascot performances rather than living, breathing dinosaurs. Unfortunately, the unsuspecting guests have no idea that an invisible raptor is prowling among them. You might ask, how does one track an invisible dinosaur? Naturally, you follow the trail it leaves behind (specifically, its colossal piles of poop). Think of the iconic scene in Jurassic Park where Ellie digs elbow-deep into a triceratops mound of droppings, only now imagine that level of grossness stretched into an entire film, complete with buckets of blood, gore, and razor-sharp humor. That’s THE INVISIBLE RAPTOR in a nutshell.
THE INVISIBLE RAPTOR is an unapologetic love letter to Spielberg’s Jurassic Park and beyond as it offers up a dino-sized tribute to the director’s iconic work. From clever nods to the raptors to moments that feel plucked right out of E.T. and Jaws, the movie is a non-stop parade of Spielbergian references that fans will devour like a T-Rex at feeding time. Each scene spawns a multitude of jokes and references. Some are subtle and require a second viewing, while others are as bold as a raptor bursting into the kitchen. Blending butt jokes, poop humor, and razor-sharp pop culture gags, the film strikes a weird but delightful balance between absurdity and clever writing. And believe me, there are enough Spielberg Easter eggs (or should we say dinosaur eggs?) to keep you hunting throughout the film. I hope this movie gets Sharknado-famous and makes loads of sequels because someday I would like to have a THE INVISIBLE RAPTOR marathon.
