Top 5: Jurassic Kills
List by Aaron Haughton
Call us sick and twisted, but the recent release of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom has left our prehistoric bloodlust unfulfilled. So, we thought we'd count down our five favorite death scenes from the Jurassic Park franchise to quench our thirst — and everybody who may also be feeling prehistorically unfulfilled. Without further adieu, these are our favorite choice-cut scenes of dinosaur-driven murder for your enjoyment!
- 5: T-Rex gets its neck snapped by the Spinosaurus in Jurassic Park III.
The only kill from Jurassic Park III and the only dinosaur v.s. dinosaur showdown to grace our list, the battle of crushing brutality between the T-Rex and the Spinosaurus (AKA one of the largest carnivorous dinos of all time) is easily the most memorable part of the third film, which doesn't have much to offer outside of this moment. Previously in the film, we are introduced to the Spinosaurus in a silly scene of carnage before crossing paths with the T-Rex, whom we've been exposed to for the following two films. As a chase sequence with the humans and the T-Rex plays out, the humans find themselves sandwiched in between the Spinosaur and the T-Rex. As the two beasts duke it out, it seems like the T-Rex will once again be Dr. Grant's prehistoric savior, until the tables turn on a dime and the Spinosaurus savagely breaks its neck.
- 4: Zara Young gets nabbed by a Pterosaur and then gobbled by a Mosasaurus in Jurassic World.
Similar to our #5 pick, this dino death scene is the only one from the Jurassic World franchise to make our list, and it's far and away the most creative aspect of this film. In this scene, Claire's assistant, Zara Young, meets a very unfortunate, yet highly entertaining demise. As all hell is breaking loose in the theme park, Zara is carried off by a pack of Pterosaurs, who then drop her from a great distance into the park's massive Sea-World-esque pool. As Zara is again plucked by the claws of a hungry Pterosaur who is gunning for the sky, a gigantic Mosasaurus emerges from the water, catching both the Pterosaur and Zara in its massive grip.
- 3: Dennis Nedry gets spit on and then chomped on by a Dilophosaurus in Jurassic Park.
The second most iconic death in the original Jurassic Park, the embryo-selling saboteur, Denis Nedry, meets his demise in comically terrifying fashion. When the lost and scared Nedry comes across the Dilophosaurus he tries to dismiss the situation before attempting to play a game of jurassic fetch. The scene keeps playing out, which effectively heightens the tension and keeps us wondering when the axe is gonna fall on the conniving Nedry. Having not seen this dinosaur yet since it was not to be seen during the Jurassic Park tour our scientists took earlier, we are just as surprised as Nedry when the Dilophosaurus' expands the vibrant frill of its neck and shoots sticky black venom (both fictional elements of this particular species of dino) all over Nedry's flabbergasted expression before ripping him to shreds in the jeep cruiser.
- 2: Eddie Carr gets torn apart by two T-Rex in The Lost World.
If there's anyone on our list who doesn't deserve the fate they've been dealt, it's equipment specialist and engineer Eddie Car from 1997's The Lost World. Eddie arrives shortly after the T-Rex mother and father have ravaged the fortified trailer and pushed it over the edge of a nearby cliff as penance for some of the scientists taking (or rescuing) their baby. Eddie is only there to help, and he springs into action and attempts to pull the trailer back over the edge with his SUV. However, the T-Rex have different plans. Pinned between two T-Rex, Eddie is plucked from the car by one, tossed in the air like a rag doll, caught in the teeth by the other , and ripped apart, sending the trailer and Eddie's SUV hurling down off the cliff.
- 1: Donald Gennaro, the bloodsucking lawyer, meets his end on the toilet in Jurassic Park.
No jurassic death is more iconic than that of the bloodsucking lawyer, Donald Gennaro, from the first Jurassic Park. Similar to Nedry's demise, Gennaro meets his end with the same stroke of comedic terror. Moments previous to his death, he hightails it to a conveniently placed outhouse (perhaps a nod to Close Encounters when a scientist runs to the toilet after the massive alien ship docks), where he takes refuge from the impending T-Rex attack. Little does Gennaro know, the outhouse is Three-Little-Pigs feeble and the T-Rex destroys it, sending all four walls falling. In a moment of hilarity, the T-Rex cocks its head to the side, taking in the humiliating sight of the cowering Gennaro before definitively devouring him for dinner (that goat was clearly not enough — I mean, the raptors get a whole cow) and shaking him viciously like everyone wronged by a lawyer would like to, which is why it's our favorite jurassic kill of all time.
Honorable Mention:
- Peter Ludlow as the first kill for the baby T-Rex in Lost World
- Soldier gets trampled by T-Rex and is stuck to his foot in The Lost World.
Well, that outta satisfy everyone's prehistoric urges, right?
What do you think? Did we leave your favorite jurassic death off our list? We want to know. Share your thoughts and feelings in the comments section below, and as always, remember to viddy well!