Jurassic World Rebirth: Distortus rex
| Medium | Permanent Marker, Pastel, and Pastel Pencil on Toned Paper |
|---|---|
| Size | 8 x 6in |
| Date | May 2025 |
Drawing of the Distortus rex from the upcoming film Jurassic World Rebirth, created with Sharpie permanent marker, Prismacolor Nupastels, and Faber-Castell pastel pencils on 8 x 6in Strathmore toned tan paper.
Honestly, I am not sure which is more disappointing: that Universal Pictures could not resist inserting another hybrid/mutant into the latest Jurassic World film; or that they named it "Distortus rex."
There are approximately 300 genera and 700 species of non-avian dinosaurs currently recognized by paleontologists, an extinct clade representing some of the most fascinating lifeforms that ever existed. And so far, only a small percentage of these animals have appeared in the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World films. With so many incredible dinosaurs yet to be shown, and such a large audience who would love nothing more than to see their favorite prehistoric animals brought to life on the big screen, why does this film franchise insist on giving us fictional monsters instead of real dinosaurs?
The original Jurassic Park film is a captivating cinematic experience from beginning to end. Dinosaurs that we had previously only seen illustrated in books or animated in stop-motion scenes are brought to life on the big screen using realistic visual effects and supported by a compelling and engaging science fiction story.
On the surface, Jurassic Park is a dinosaur adventure story that illustrates both the grandeur and danger of prehistoric animals being brought back from extinction and interacting directly with humans. And it beautifully portrays them, not as nightmarish monsters, but as complex living animals. This was particularly revolutionary at the time because the idea that dinosaurs may have been active, intelligent, and social creatures was still not largely accepted by the general public. With the partial exception of the Velociraptors, both the novel and the film achieve this with great success by representing dinosaurs as animals acting out of natural instinct rather than behaving as senseless villains.
Beneath the surface, Jurassic Park is a treatise on the dangers of pursuing scientific advancement without sufficient respect for the barriers that it will inevitably, and perhaps irreparably, cross. A warning so beautifully captured by the iconic line, "Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should." It is a theme that is maintained consistently throughout both the novel and the film. But at no point in either does this critique of scientific ethics ever conflict with or detract from the combined wonder and terror of seeing real dinosaurs interacting with real humans. Rather, it serves to emphasize the experience.
Yes, it is entirely plausible that some of Ingen's early cloning experiments may have failed, producing genetic abominations. Just as it is entirely plausible that John Hammond sat through hours and hours of tedious patent applications and investor presentations before opening the park. And it is entirely appropriate for the story to include these elements to some extent. But when they become the focal point of the films, they only detract from, rather than adding to, the pure, unmitigated spectacle of seeing real dinosaurs on the big screen.
This is the basic reality that so many of the sequels seem to miss; dinosaur fans want dinosaurs. Contrived hybrids/mutants that serve only as anthropomorphized villains like the Indominous rex, the Indoraptor, the Scorpios rex, and the Distortus rex do not draw from that deep well of dinosaur fascination that extends, for so many of us, all the way back to early childhood.
Simply stated, when the main antagonist of a film becomes a contrived monster, it stops being a dinosaur movie. At best, it becomes a monster movie with dinosaurs in it. Don't get me wrong; I love monster movies. But that's not what Jurassic Park is. And that's not what Jurassic World should be.
Let Alien, Cloverfield, and Tremors be monster movies. And let Jurassic Park and Jurassic World be dinosaur movies.
Of course, if that is really asking too much, can the contrived species at least be named something other than "rex" for once?
Despite my reservations, I am still excited to see Jurassic World Rebirth in theaters. All I can say is...
Please be good! Please be good! Please be good!