Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Is Still a Misunderstood Masterpiece

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Since its debut in 1993, Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park has become a huge franchise, including six sequels, two animated TV shows, a theme park attraction, and numerous video games. While none of the follow-up films have been as critically successful as the original, 2015’s Jurassic World came the closest. Though some criticism of the sequels is understandable – they often rely on familiar clichés and lack originality – one sequel doesn’t quite deserve the negative attention it receives.

Though not perfect, Fallen Kingdom is likely one of the best sequels in the series. The film shifts locations halfway through, starting on the well-known Isla Nublar and then moving to a large mansion. This change in setting intentionally mirrors the classic horror vibe of the first movie, creating a suspenseful and eerie atmosphere – but with dinosaurs instead of ghosts!

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’s Climax Took the Franchise Back to Its Horror Roots

Jurassic Park didn’t just create dinosaurs; it brought a childhood dream to life. The movie is full of thrilling moments, but the T. rex chase stands out. When Ian Malcolm spotted the dinosaur’s footprints and hurried everyone back to the jeep, it was incredibly tense, especially knowing that T. rex could run up to 45 miles per hour. Another unforgettable scene is the terrifying hide-and-seek with the Velociraptors in the kitchen.

Few movie scenes are truly perfect, but the moment Lex and Tim hide from the Raptors in Jurassic Park is certainly among the best. The incredible tension and fear in that scene make it a standout.

The first dinosaur attack in the series remains the most shocking and groundbreaking. The tension builds slowly and memorably, using small details to hint at an approaching threat. Things like ripples in water, the feeling of being watched, and a sudden, eerie quiet all create a truly terrifying experience. It immediately establishes that humans are no longer the dominant predators. Unfortunately, the rest of the series never quite recaptured that initial sense of innovation.

The earlier films had a few surprising moments, like the reveal that the Indominus Rex in Jurassic World had raptor DNA, and Eddie’s close call, but those didn’t quite measure up. That all changed with Fallen Kingdom, which doesn’t deserve the criticism it gets. It might actually be the best and most frightening sequel in the entire series.

The idea of being stuck with escaped dinosaurs is scary enough, and it’s a familiar situation in the Jurassic Park movies. But when you put those dinosaurs inside a creepy, isolated mansion, it creates one of the most genuinely frightening scenes the franchise has ever delivered.

While trying to escape the Indoraptor, Owen, Claire, and Maisie find themselves in a terrifying situation that feels like a scene from a classic horror movie. The dimly lit hallways, flickering lightning, and antique furniture all contribute to the suspense. The tension reaches its peak in a bedroom scene where a frightened Maisie hides under the covers as the Indoraptor slowly claws at her bed – a truly frightening moment.

The Indoraptor might be the most frightening dinosaur in the Jurassic World franchise, even more so than the Indominus Rex and Rexy. The scene where it terrorizes Maisie in her bedroom is particularly chilling, with the camera focusing on the dinosaur slowly and deliberately trying to open the window and approach the frightened child. While the dinosaurs in these films often toy with their prey, the Indoraptor feels especially cunning and predatory.

Earlier in the movie, Wheatley met a gruesome end when he encountered the creature. Believing he’d successfully tranquilized the Indoraptor, he foolishly tried to pull one of its teeth as a souvenir. The creature seemed to allow it, but then suddenly and terrifyingly bit off Wheatley’s arm and ate him. This scene powerfully demonstrates just how dangerous the hybrid is, and is both scary and strangely captivating. The Indoraptor also proves its intelligence by preventing others from escaping, blocking the elevator button. However, the most frightening elements of the film are arguably the humans themselves.

Fallen Kingdom Explored Jurassic Park’s Philosophical Questions

The most fascinating aspect of Jurassic Park, aside from the dinosaurs themselves, was the idea of bringing them back to life. It seemed like pure science fiction then, but recent scientific advancements suggest it’s not entirely impossible. While fully recreating dinosaurs like in the movie remains unlikely, innovations in recent years have blurred the lines of what’s possible, raising concerns about interfering with nature.

Scientists recently announced they’ve used DNA extracted from very old remains – a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull – to alter the genes of grey wolves, resulting in pups that share characteristics with the extinct dire wolf. As a step towards bringing back the mammoth, they’ve also created mice with mammoth-like features, such as thick fur and genes that help them survive in cold temperatures. Thanks to improvements in studying ancient DNA, researchers have successfully reconstructed the genome of the Tasmanian tiger with remarkable accuracy, and evidence suggests DNA can remain intact for much longer than previously believed. While some experts question these findings, they clearly indicate exciting potential advances in bringing extinct species back to life.

Throughout the first film, people constantly debated the morality of the dinosaur park. John Hammond, played by Richard Attenborough, was driven and determined to make his dream a reality, but he didn’t fully consider the potential dangers. As Ian Malcolm points out, the scientists were so focused on if they could create dinosaurs, they never stopped to ask if they should. The film’s events prove that trying to control nature in this way has unpredictable and dangerous results.

Each sequel tried to explore the dangers of playing with science and the consequences of bringing dinosaurs back to life, but Fallen Kingdom went a bit deeper. It didn’t just ask if dinosaurs should be resurrected, but considered what their lives mean now that they are here. While seeing dinosaurs in action is fun, the films started to feel predictable after the third one.

The film revitalized the series with a new dinosaur and a contemporary approach. However, to keep the franchise going, it needed more than just bigger dinosaurs and improved special effects. Instead of simply showing characters trying to survive or capture these creatures, Fallen Kingdom presented a story where the heroes actively worked to prevent their extinction.

This established the central idea for the film and marked the first time in the series where humans were the main villains. Previous Jurassic Park movies had human antagonists, but they often took a backseat to the dinosaurs by the end. Although a dangerous dinosaur still appeared in the final scene, the human villain, Eli Mills (Rafe Spall), played a key role throughout the entire story. The franchise often encourages viewers to feel sympathy for the dinosaurs, such as when Claire and Owen…

The film opens and closes with speeches by Malcolm, prompting viewers to feel for the dinosaurs and also question humanity’s choices. Unlike the first film, which debated if dinosaurs should be brought back, this one focuses on what we should do now that they are here.

Despite some weaknesses and not quite reaching the level of the first Jurassic Park, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is likely the best sequel in the series so far. It stands out by blending thought-provoking ideas, compelling villains, and exciting action, making it the strongest installment since the 1993 original. In many ways, it delivers on the promise of The Lost World, building upon the initial film’s concepts and exploring deeper questions about ethics, accountability, and the impact of humans on the natural world.

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2025-11-07 17:10