The Eden Formula | |
---|---|
Written by | John Carl Buechler |
Directed by | John Carl Buechler |
Starring | Jeff Fahey Dee Wallace Tony Todd |
Music by | Andy Garfield |
Country of origin | United States |
Production | |
Producers | Peter Davy Debbie Chen |
Cinematography | James Legoy |
Editor | Norman Apstein |
Running time | 92 minutes |
Release | |
Original release | September 1, 2006 |
The Eden Formula, also known as Tyrannosaurus Wrecks, is a 2006 American science fiction horror film written and directed by John Carl Buechler. It stars Jeff Fahey, Dee Wallace, and Tony Todd. The film includes recycled footage from the Carnosaur films, for which Buechler had provided dinosaur effects.
Dr. Harrison Parker (Jeff Fahey) is a scientist working at Calgorin Industries who developed the Eden Formula, a chemical that can reproduce organisms and cure various diseases. However, unknown to Parker, deep underground the general area of his industrial district, other Calgorin Industries scientists have created a Tyrannosaurus rex from Parker's formula and keep it locked away in a subterranean location in order to impress stockholders. Soon enough, industry spies enter a laboratory at Calgorin Industries so they can steal the formula and pass it off as their own, making millions of dollars.
The spies, led by James Radcliffe (Tony Todd), accidentally set loose the bloodthirsty tyrannosaur, which breaks its way out of the lab and rampages into the streets of Los Angeles. Parker and his colleague Rhonda Shapton (Dee Wallace) are in the building when the spies attack and now have to secure the formula while trying to evade Radcliffe and his team, all while the T. rex continues adding to its body count.
The film was originally released on DVD in Australia under the name Tyrannosaurus Wrecks. It was written and directed by John Carl Buechler, who also did the dinosaur effects for the Carnosaur films. Dinosaur footage from the Carnosaur films was re-used in Buechler's film. [1] [2] [3] In the U.S., it was released on DVD on March 27, 2007, under the name The Eden Formula. [4] [5]
Scott Weinberg of DVD Talk called the plot "stupidly simple" and described the film as "an amazingly chintzy retread of Aliens mixed with a little Die Hard ". Weinberg wrote that with some more humor, the film "might be mistaken for a parody of monster movies, but it seems pretty clear that the flick is meant to be taken somewhat seriously. And that's just hilarious". [5] Tom Weaver of Starlog described it as a "ripoff" of Die Hard and Jurassic Park . [6]
Fangoria was also critical of the film, including its directing, writing, acting, and dinosaur effects. [7] Jon Condit of Dread Central was amused by the film, writing that it was "not a good movie in any way, shape or form", and that he "couldn't help but be in some way marveled by how unapologetically bad this entire production was". [2] The "Eden Formula" title was also criticized. [1] [2] [7]
Tyrannosaurus is a genus of large theropod dinosaur. The species Tyrannosaurus rex, often called T. rex or colloquially T-Rex, is one of the best represented theropods. It lived throughout what is now western North America, on what was then an island continent known as Laramidia. Tyrannosaurus had a much wider range than other tyrannosaurids. Fossils are found in a variety of rock formations dating to the Maastrichtian age of the Upper Cretaceous period, 68 to 66 million years ago. It was the last known member of the tyrannosaurids and among the last non-avian dinosaurs to exist before the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event.
Fangoria is an internationally distributed American horror film fan magazine, in publication since 1979. It is published four times a year by Fangoria Publishing, LLC and is edited by Phil Nobile Jr.
Tyrannosaurus rex is unique among dinosaurs in its place in modern culture; paleontologist Robert Bakker has called it "the most popular dinosaur among people of all ages, all cultures, and all nationalities". Paleontologists Mark Norell and Lowell Dingus have likewise called it "the most famous dinosaur of all times." Paleoartist Gregory S. Paul has called it "the theropod. [...] This is the public's favorite dinosaur [...] Even the formations it is found in have fantastic names like Hell Creek and Lance." Other paleontologists agree with that and note that whenever a museum erects a new skeleton or bring in an animatronic model, visitor numbers go up. "Jurassic Park and King Kong would not have been the same without it." In the public mind, T. rex sets the standard of what a dinosaur should be. Science writer Riley Black similarly states, "In all of prehistory, there is no animal that commands our attention quite like Tyrannosaurus rex, the tyrant lizard king. Since the time this dinosaur was officially named in 1905, the enormous carnivore has stood as the ultimate dinosaur."
Carnosaur is a 1993 American science fiction horror film written and directed by Adam Simon. The film stars Diane Ladd, Raphael Sbarge, Jennifer Runyon, and Harrison Page. Loosely based on the 1984 John Brosnan novel of the same name, it follows characters Doc Smith and Ann Thrush in their efforts to thwart Dr. Jane Tiptree's plan to exterminate the human race with a lethal virus and replace them with her own genetically created dinosaurs.
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The Carnosaur film series consists of B-movies produced by Roger Corman that feature genetically engineered dinosaurs running amok in various scenarios. The series started with the first Carnosaur film, released in 1993, that was loosely based on the 1984 novel Carnosaur by John Brosnan. Two sequels were released direct-to-video: Carnosaur 2 in 1995, and Carnosaur 3: Primal Species in 1996.
Carnosaur 2 is a 1995 action horror film, and the sequel to the 1993 film Carnosaur. It is the second of the Carnosaur film series. It stars John Savage, Cliff DeYoung, Rick Dean, Ryan Thomas Johnson, Arabella Holzbog and Don Stroud. The film is about a team of technicians who go to the Yucca Mountain nuclear mining facility to investigate problems concerning power and communications. They discover that the facility has been overrun by cloned dinosaurs. The film's plot shares many similarities with the 1986 film Aliens.
Unrest is an independent horror film directed by Jason Todd Ipson and starring Corri English, Scot Davis, Joshua Alba, Jay Jablonski, Marisa Petroro and Derrick O'Connor. It was shown at the horror film festival 8 Films To Die For during the 2006 fall season.
The Land Unknown is a 1957 science fiction CinemaScope adventure film about a naval expedition trapped in an Antarctic jungle. The story was allegedly inspired by the discovery of unusually warm water in Antarctica in 1947. It stars Jock Mahoney and Shirley Patterson and was directed by Virgil W. Vogel. The film's low-budget special effects include men in dinosaur suits, puppets and monitor lizards standing in for dinosaurs.
Carnosaur 3: Primal Species is a 1996 direct-to-video science fiction horror film. It is the sequel to the 1995 film Carnosaur 2, and is currently the final installment of the Carnosaur series. It stars Scott Valentine, Janet Gunn, Rick Dean, Rodger Halston and Anthony Peck. The film follows a military team as they try to capture several genetically reconstructed dinosaurs. It received negative reviews.
Sue is the nickname given to FMNH PR 2081, which is one of the largest, most extensive, and best preserved Tyrannosaurus rex specimens ever found, at over 90 percent recovered by bulk. FMNH PR 2081 was discovered on August 12, 1990, by American explorer and fossil collector Sue Hendrickson, and was named after her.
Tyrannosaurus rex is one of the most iconic dinosaurs and is known from numerous specimens, some of which have individually acquired notability due to their scientific significance and media coverage.
Raptor is a 2001 American direct-to-video horror film directed by Jim Wynorski, produced by Roger Corman, and starring Eric Roberts, Melissa Brasselle, and Corbin Bernsen. It re-uses dinosaur footage from the Corman-produced Carnosaur film series, edited together with original footage shot by Wynorski. Raptor was produced by Corman's company New Concorde, which had worked on the Carnosaur films.
Beneath Still Waters is a 2005 horror film directed by Brian Yuzna. It stars Michael McKell, Raquel Meroño and Charlotte Salt. It was based on a novel by Matthew Costello.
Decadent Evil is a 2005 vampire film, produced and directed by Charles Band under his Wizard Entertainment banner, released on June 25. The film was shot in and around Los Angeles, California.
Deep Freeze is a 2001 horror film directed by John Carl Buechler. Written by Robert Boris, Dennis A. Pratt, and Matthew Jason Walsh, the film was shot in Germany in 2001. The film was retitled Ice Crawlers for United States release.
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A five-minute prologue to the 2022 film Jurassic World Dominion was released in 2021, initially as an IMAX-exclusive preview and later as an online short film. It is the second live-action short film in the Jurassic Park franchise, following Battle at Big Rock (2019). The prologue includes a prehistoric segment set during the Cretaceous, depicting various dinosaurs in their natural habitats. The sequence was shot on the island of Socotra, part of Yemen. The prologue also includes a modern-day sequence – filmed in England and set in California – in which a Tyrannosaurus rex terrorizes a drive-in theater while evading capture.
Not to be denied a chance to wring out every last penny from his $850,000 Carnosaur, Corman later allowed footage from the movie to be reused in 2001's Raptor and 2006's The Eden Formula – or Tyrannosaurus Wrecks.