THE INVISIBLE RAPTOR (2023)

4 stars

The Movie Partnership. Digital. 8th September

The opening titles use the familiar Jurassic Park font – so you know this is some kind of homage to Spielberg.

In a secret lab they have developed a velociraptor with a difference – it’s invisible. Because… why not! It also has been taught certain things, so it has some level of intelligence. Not so great for poor old Willie (Sean Astin in an extended cameo), who is in control of the research, as it manages to escape and he ends up splatted to death and his eyeball ripped out. Which the clever creature uses to get out of the facility via the security cameras iris ident.

Hitching a ride on a car it ends up at the somewhat convenient theme park down the round called Dinoworld – there Dr Grant Walker (Mike Capes, who also co-wrote with Johnny Wickham) is about to humiliate himself with a presentation which also involves the long suffering Denny (David Shackleford) – the park’s security guard, who is currently dressed up in a dinosaur suit.

Walker was once famous – a big time expert that discovered the world’s first preserved dino ‘butthole’ it seems – and got screwed over by his partner, who just happens to run the research lab from where the titular monster escaped.

To add further embarrassment, the show is watched by Grant’s former girlfriend Amber (Caitlin McHugh), who, luckily for him, he later learns is divorced. She will prove useful later.

When youngster Elliott (Luke Speakman), a regular visitor to the theme park, is reported missing, Grant and Denny begin to realise something is going on – especially as there is a huge pile of dinosaur poo in the boy’s bedroom. Of course the police don’t believe them when they tell them there is killer creature on the loose that you can’t see, so they decide to investigate on their own.

Having a threat that is invisible is a clever way of keeping the budget low and this uses fun and simple effects to show the beastie interacting with its surroundings and leaving a trail of destruction. The humour is often quite silly, but the cast play it with a straight face, despite the absurdity. There are some knowing movie references thrown in along the way. Capes works well as Walker and has enjoyable interplay with David Shackleford as Denny – who is especially amusing. Things get progressively gory as the attacks increase. Much blood is splattered. If I have one criticism, it is a touch overlong.

Steve Kirkham