This Horrible Dinosaur Movie Made Jurassic Park Look Like a Masterpiece in 1993

The iconic film “Jurassic Park” significantly impacted the cinema landscape of the 1990s and the sci-fi genre, with a preceding movie being so poor that it made Steven Spielberg’s masterpiece appear even more impressive. Throughout his illustrious career, Steven Spielberg has ventured into numerous genres, creating some of the most enduring films across various categories. One of his most successful and cherished pieces is “Jurassic Park,” which is an adaptation of Michael Crichton’s 1990 novel by the same name. By utilizing groundbreaking technology, this film brought dinosaurs into our contemporary world, albeit with dire consequences.

Jurassic Park transports audiences to Isla Nublar, where entrepreneur John Hammond (Richard Attenborough), joined by a group of scientists, unveils a living, breathing dinosaur theme park. But when an act of industrial sabotage causes system failure, the dinosaurs break free, putting everyone in grave danger. Released around the same time as another iconic dinosaur film, Jurassic Park became a box office sensation and critical hit, growing even more legendary over time.

Carnosaur Came Out A Month Before Jurassic Park (And It Was Not Good)

Carnosaur Was Released On May 14, 1993

In June 11, 1993, Jurassic Park was successfully launched, yet it wasn’t the solitary film of its genre released that year. A month prior, the science fiction horror movie titled Carnosaur, directed by Adam Simon and inspired by John Brosnan’s novel of the same name, hit the screens. In this film, Dr. Jane Tiptree (portrayed by Diane Ladd) secludes herself from public life to focus on specialized experiments and research for the Eunice Corporation. However, when one of her lab creatures gives birth to a Deinonychus and a strange illness spreads throughout town, she becomes the prime suspect.

Activist Ann Thrush (Jennifer Runyon) and guardian Doc Smith (Raphael Sbarge) uncover Tiptree’s plot: the puzzling sickness is traced back to tainted chicken eggs that carry a deadly airborne virus. This virus inadvertently impregnates women with dinosaur embryos as part of a sinister plan to wipe out humanity, allowing dinosaurs to reclaim the Earth. Critics heavily criticized Carnosaur, labeling it one of the poorest films ever made, and its performance at the box office was equally poor.

As a cinephile, I’ve come across an interesting tidbit about the film “Carnosaur.” Originally slated to hit theaters on the same day as “Jurassic Park,” it was pushed back to May to align with the grand opening of the new George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park in Utah. However, its theatrical run was quite limited, and by December, it could already be found on VHS. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave “Carnosaur” an 18% rating, often citing its questionable special effects, convoluted storyline, and pacing issues as major weaknesses. Surprisingly, this film managed to spawn a series with two sequels and two spinoffs, and over the years, it has amassed a dedicated cult following, becoming a mockbuster in the process.

The Book Carnosaur Is Based On Actually Predates Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park

Before Jurassic Park, There Was Carnosaur

As a passionate film enthusiast, let me share an intriguing tidbit about the connection between “Carnosaur” and “Jurassic Park.” Little did you know that the horror novel that inspired the former was published as early as 1984, making it six years senior to Michael Crichton’s “Jurassic Park” novel. Despite some striking similarities, this novel predates the latter, offering a chilling prelude to the dinosaur-themed tales we later came to know and love. The movie adaptation of the Carnosaur novel might differ from what you remember of “Jurassic Park,” but the underlying concept remains the same: scientists reviving dinosaurs using DNA fragments found in fossils, with the sinister intention of unleashing them in regions they believed would foster their growth and ultimately lead to a third world war.

In my reading experience, I’ve noticed some striking resemblances between “Carnosaur” and the classic “Jurassic Park”. Both share common themes like the extraction of dinosaur DNA, the inevitable struggle of humans against these resurrected beasts, and the ambition to recreate prehistoric life. Yet, the methods and outcomes in “Carnosaur” are uniquely crafted, making it an engaging read for enthusiasts of this sci-fi genre who appreciate diverse storytelling.

Carnosaur Is A Reminder Of How Remarkable Jurassic Park Was

There Are Many Reasons Why Jurassic Park Has Been So Influential

The movie titled Carnosaur aimed to cash in on the success of Jurassic Park, planning to follow it in release, but this would have been detrimental to it and beneficial for Spielberg’s film instead. Unfortunately, Carnosaur faltered not only due to its plot (it could have fared better if it had adhered more closely to the novel), but primarily because of its poor visual effects. The dinosaurs in the movie were far from terrifying and appeared more like puppets, and the violence was excessive even for a story like that. In contrast, Jurassic Park excelled due to its outstanding visual effects.

In a nutshell, Jurassic Park’s groundbreaking use of Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) revolutionized visual effects in contemporary cinema and garnered numerous awards for its technical prowess. Compared to Carnosaur, the narrative in Jurassic Park is superior in terms of coherence, excitement, and overall quality, whereas Carnosaur fell short in these aspects. Despite earning a spot in film history, Carnosaur will forever play second fiddle to the grandeur of Jurassic Park.

2025-04-26 17:40