No one can accuse the film company The Asylum of playing it safe! Even though their films often leave something to be desired, they are almost always entertaining stories that don’t resemble anything else. I like that, and I can tolerate occasional shortcomings in the acting and effects. This film is no exception, and as usual with The Asylum, you can also recognize a predecessor. More often than not, they have copied a film with a significantly higher budget than the one in question. These films have even earned their own collective name: so-called mockbusters. I don’t know of an equivalent term in Swedish.
This one actually has fairly good actors. Leading the charge is Treat Williams, whom I have liked ever since I first discovered him in the musical Hair. Alongside him is Ronny Cox, who also delivers a solid performance. In short, there are no real problems with the acting anywhere. Of course, we’re not talking Oscars here, but it’s stable enough that you don’t have to be distracted by it.
In fact, the CGI effects are really good as well! Had they been of this caliber when Jurassic Park came out, no one would have dared leave the theater. But the fact that it involves dinosaurs isn’t the only similarity with Jurassic Park. There is actually quite a lot that feels familiar—not scene for scene or word for word, but the overall concept is similar. Genetically engineered dinosaurs, someone underestimating the risks, the creatures breaking free and running amok in the city.
Treat Williams and his daughter try to stop the rampage, and, like in Jurassic Park, the company’s founder isn’t entirely money-obsessed and realizes there’s more to life than profit. It also seems like the composition of the different dinosaurs has been borrowed from the other film. There is even a smaller species that appears unusually intelligent. Overall, though, the creatures are a bit more imaginative here. They have more color, one could say. That doesn’t make them look silly—they are still realistic, but it feels like the filmmakers have added some originality rather than just copying the story.
I enjoyed the film. It’s certainly not something everyone will appreciate (which film is?), but if you’re interested in fantastic animal and monster movies that are actually realistic in their setup, this one will likely be rewarding. It’s also visually appealing!
