Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is the fifth installment in the legendary Jurassic Park franchise and the second film in the Jurassic World trilogy. Directed by J.A. Bayona, this entry leans more into gothic horror and suspense, bringing a darker, more claustrophobic tone to the franchise compared to the wide-open safari feel of earlier films. With dinosaurs facing extinction once again, the stakes are higher than ever—but this time, the danger comes not just from nature, but from humans.

Detailed Summary

The Volcano Crisis on Isla Nublar

The story picks up three years after the catastrophic events of Jurassic World (2015). The dinosaurs are living freely on Isla Nublar, but an active volcano is now threatening to wipe them out. The world is divided on whether to save them or let nature correct itself. Meanwhile, former Jurassic World operations manager Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) has started the Dinosaur Protection Group, lobbying for their rescue.

Claire is contacted by Benjamin Lockwood (James Cromwell), a former partner of John Hammond (the original founder of Jurassic Park), who wishes to relocate the surviving dinosaurs to a safe sanctuary island. Claire is told that Blue, the last known Velociraptor, is key to saving the species, so she recruits Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) to join the mission and track her.

The Betrayal and Dinosaur Capture

Once on Isla Nublar, it becomes clear that the rescue mission is a lie. Ken Wheatley (Ted Levine), a mercenary hired by Lockwood’s associate Eli Mills (Rafe Spall), is there not to protect the dinosaurs, but to capture them and sell them on the black market. Blue is shot and injured in the process, and the volcano erupts in a dramatic, apocalyptic sequence. Claire and Owen barely escape with their lives, stowing away on the ship transporting the captured dinosaurs back to the mainland.

Lockwood Estate and the Indoraptor

The second half of the film shifts to a very different setting: Lockwood’s gothic mansion in Northern California. Here, Eli Mills unveils his true intentions—auctioning the dinosaurs to wealthy bidders from around the world. But the real threat is a genetically-engineered hybrid dinosaur: the Indoraptor, a creature combining the traits of the Indominus Rex and a Velociraptor. Designed to be a perfect weapon, the Indoraptor is dangerously intelligent and entirely unstable.

Claire and Owen, along with Lockwood’s young granddaughter Maisie (who’s hiding a secret of her own), must stop the auction and prevent the Indoraptor from escaping into the world. Things go sideways fast: the Indoraptor escapes, chaos erupts in the mansion, and a horror-film-style cat-and-mouse game begins through dark hallways and glass rooftops.

Maisie’s Secret

In a major twist, it’s revealed that Maisie is not Lockwood’s biological granddaughter—she is actually a human clone of his deceased daughter. This revelation adds a deeper ethical layer to the debate about cloning, tying it to the central theme of playing god.

Movie Ending

The climax of Fallen Kingdom occurs inside Lockwood’s lab and underground dinosaur facility. Claire is faced with a heartbreaking decision: the surviving dinosaurs are trapped in a lab filling with poisonous gas. Letting them out would save them but unleash them into the wild. Initially, Claire chooses not to open the doors.

However, Maisie, feeling a kinship with the dinosaurs as a fellow clone, defies Claire and opens the gate. The dinosaurs escape into the surrounding forest and beyond, officially beginning a new era: dinosaurs now roam the Earth freely among humans.

The final scenes show:

• The Mosasaurus attacking surfers off a beach.
• The T. rex roaring in front of a lion at a zoo.
• Owen, Claire, and Maisie driving away together, setting up the next chapter.
• Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) declaring in a Senate hearing: “Welcome to Jurassic World.”

This dramatic and unsettling conclusion marks the point of no return: humanity and dinosaurs are now forced to coexist in the same ecosystem.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

Yes, there is a post-credits scene. It’s brief but important: we see a small group of Pteranodons flying around the Eiffel Tower replica in Las Vegas, teasing that dinosaurs have already started invading urban spaces. This sets the stage for Jurassic World: Dominion (2022), where the full implications of human-dinosaur coexistence are explored.

Type of Movie

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is a sci-fi action-adventure thriller with strong elements of horror and gothic mystery. It mixes natural disaster themes with suspenseful creature-feature tropes, setting it apart stylistically from earlier entries in the franchise.

Cast

• Chris Pratt as Owen Grady
• Bryce Dallas Howard as Claire Dearing
• Rafe Spall as Eli Mills
• Justice Smith as Franklin Webb
• Daniella Pineda as Zia Rodriguez
• James Cromwell as Benjamin Lockwood
• Isabella Sermon as Maisie Lockwood
• BD Wong as Dr. Henry Wu
• Jeff Goldblum as Dr. Ian Malcolm (cameo)
• Ted Levine as Ken Wheatley

Film Music and Composer

The music is composed by Michael Giacchino, who returns from Jurassic World (2015). His score pays homage to John Williams’ iconic themes, while also incorporating darker and more suspenseful melodies to match the film’s tone.

Filming Locations

• Hawaii (Oahu and Kualoa Ranch): Used to portray Isla Nublar, particularly during the volcano eruption scenes.
• United Kingdom (Pinewood Studios & Langley Park): Interior mansion and lab scenes were filmed here, especially the Lockwood estate.
• Brecon Beacons, Wales: Some forest scenes were shot here to represent the surrounding areas where dinosaurs escape.

These locations provide a dramatic contrast—from tropical volcanic chaos to gothic mansion horror.

Awards and Nominations

• Teen Choice Awards: Nominated for Choice Summer Movie.
• Saturn Awards: Nominated for Best Science Fiction Film.
• Visual Effects Society Awards: Nominated for Outstanding Effects Simulations.

While not a major awards contender, it was recognized for its impressive visual effects and audience appeal.

Behind the Scenes Insights

• Director J.A. Bayona was specifically chosen for his horror background (The Orphanage) to give the film a darker tone.
• The Indoraptor’s stalking scenes were heavily inspired by classic monster movies.
• Chris Pratt did many of his own stunts, including action scenes during the volcano eruption.
• The animatronic dinosaurs used in the Lockwood mansion added a more realistic feel, a deliberate callback to the original Jurassic Park.
• The volcanic eruption scene took months to plan and involved a mix of practical effects, green screen, and extensive CGI.

Inspirations and References

• The film draws inspiration from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, particularly with the themes of cloning and unnatural creation.
• The gothic mansion setting is a nod to classic Universal monster films.
• The scene where the Brachiosaurus dies in volcanic ash visually mirrors the first dinosaur ever seen in Jurassic Park (1993), creating a tragic sense of closure.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

• One deleted scene features Blue interacting more deeply with Owen, showing a stronger emotional bond.
• Another scrapped ending would have shown multiple dinosaurs in suburban settings, creating a more dramatic post-credits vibe.
• An alternate version of the ending originally had the dinosaurs sold to military buyers, hinting at weaponized dino warfare more explicitly.

Book Adaptations and Differences

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is not directly based on a book, but it continues themes introduced in Michael Crichton’s original novels, particularly the dangers of genetic manipulation and corporate greed. However, the idea of cloning humans (Maisie) is a new addition not found in Crichton’s books.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• The eruption of Mount Sibo and the race to the ship.
• Blue undergoing surgery in a truck cargo hold.
• The Indoraptor stalking Maisie through the mansion.
• Owen and Claire sneaking through the dino auction.

Iconic Quotes

• Dr. Malcolm: “Genetic power has now been unleashed. You can’t put it back in the box.”
• Maisie: “They’re alive. Like me.”
• Owen: “Do you remember me?”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• The dying Brachiosaurus echoes the first dinosaur seen in Jurassic Park (1993)—same species, same dock.
• One of the auction attendees is played by Toby Jones, who resembles a sleazy version of Hammond.
• Henry Wu’s obsession with perfecting the Indoraptor sets up Jurassic World: Dominion.

Trivia

• The film’s working title was “Ancient Futures.”
• It features more animatronic dinosaurs than any Jurassic film since the original.
• The Indoraptor was portrayed using motion capture to give it more lifelike expressions.
• This is the first Jurassic film where the T. rex does not kill a human on-screen.

Why Watch?

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is worth watching if you’re into suspenseful dinosaur mayhem with a side of bioethics and mad science. It’s more horror-leaning than its predecessors and offers a darker, more claustrophobic thrill ride that changes the course of the franchise dramatically. It also sets up an intriguing final chapter with dinosaurs fully unleashed upon the modern world.

Director’s Other Movies

• The Orphanage (2007)
• The Impossible (2012)
• A Monster Calls (2016)

Recommended Films for Fans

• Jurassic Park (1993)
• The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
• King Kong (2005)
• Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)
• Rampage (2018)
• The Meg (2018)