Jurassic Park is a timeless science-fiction film that has enthralled audiences for years. The movie, based on Michael Crichton’s book of the same name, shows the story of a tycoon who establishes a theme park with cloned dinosaurs. The security system for the park malfunctions, allowing the dinosaurs to escape and cause chaos and damage. Is Jurassic Park a horror film, though?
Although Jurassic Park isn’t a classic horror film, it does have several horror-related characteristics, like atmosphere, setting, violence, and gore. Jurassic Park is largely a science-fiction adventure picture, but it also has some aspects of horror that make it an exhilarating and terrifying watch.
This article will examine Jurassic Park’s terror components and assess whether it can be classified as a horror movie.
Plot Overview
Let’s take a closer look at the movie’s plot before discussing whether Jurassic Park is a horror movie. John Hammond, a successful businessman who built a theme park on a lonely island off the coast of Costa Rica, is the novel’s main character.
Cloned dinosaurs have been recreated in the park using DNA from ancient insects preserved in amber. Paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant, paleobotanist Dr.Ellie Sattler, and chaos theorist Dr. Ian Malcolm are among the scientists Hammond invites to the park to give it their approval.
However, when a dishonest employee disables the park’s security system and the dinosaurs are able to escape from their confinements, things quickly go wrong. The extinct animals chase the park’s visitors and staff, causing chaos that builds to a suspenseful and dramatic conclusion.
Horror Elements In Jurassic Park
Let’s look at the horror components in Jurassic Park now that we have a basic overview of the story:
-
Atmosphere and Setting
The environment and location of Jurassic Park are two of the key components of horror. The setting of the movie, a desolate island far from civilization, adds to the feeling of loneliness and peril.
Due to the claustrophobic atmosphere that the dense jungle and trees create, the characters find it difficult to escape from the dinosaurs. Additionally, the gloomy and menacing weather that is present throughout the movie contributes to the mood.
-
Dinosaurs
The dinosaurs themselves are a significant component of Jurassic Park’s horror theme. Even though they are amazing and interesting creatures, the fact that they are saved from extinction gives the movie an air of danger and unpredictability.
Horror films frequently feature dinosaurs attacking and devouring humans. The notion that the dinosaurs are smart and can outwit humans also adds a further element of fear to the movie.
Watch this video to check out some amazing horrors from Jurassic World:
What HORRORS Were Kept in Paddock 10 in Jurassic World?
-
Gore and Violence
Although Jurassic Park is not a traditionally bloody or violent film, there are nevertheless gory and violent scenes that add to the film’s frightening themes. A man gets bit in half by a T-Rex in one especially gory scene, for instance, in which dinosaurs repeatedly attack and kill characters. Although the violence is not excessive, there is still enough of it to unnerve the audience.
-
Tension and Suspense
The suspense and anxiety that develop throughout Jurassic Park make it one of the best horror movies ever made. The crowd is on edge from the moment the dinosaurs escape, waiting for the next assault.
The movie employs a number of strategies, including jump scares and foreshadowing, to create tension and keep viewers interested. The tense music and sound effects also contribute to the uneasy atmosphere.
Is Jurassic Park a Horror Movie?
Can Jurassic Park be considered a horror movie, given the presence of all these scary elements? The answer is not a simple yes or no. Despite having several horror-related aspects, the movie is largely a science-fiction adventure.
Instead of instilling a sense of panic and anxiety, the movie concentrates on the breathtaking spectacle of the dinosaurs. The movie is also not especially violent, with only a few deaths. Jurassic Park can still be appreciated as a horror movie, even though it is not a classic in the genre.
It is a thrilling and interesting movie to watch because of the growing tension and suspense throughout, as well as the gore and violent themes. The movie is made much more terrifying by the depiction of the dinosaurs as dangerous, sentient beings.
The Legacy of Jurassic Park
The influence of Jurassic Park on culture cannot be overemphasized. The movie established a new benchmark for special effects and revolutionized the use of computer-generated imagery (CGI) in motion pictures.
The movie’s success led to a series of sequels and spin-offs that were released over the years. The movie has renewed interest in and fascination with dinosaurs, leading to an increase in interest in paleontology among many individuals.
The Influence of Jurassic Park On the Horror Genre
Despite not being a conventional horror film, Jurassic Park had a big impact on the horror genre. Since the film’s release, other horror films have copied its use of tension, suspense, and jump scares.
In addition, numerous horror films, such as The Fly and Spice, have addressed the idea of using science to bring extinct creatures back to life. The popularity of Jurassic Park also paved the way for other science fiction horror films that feature force, violence, and tension, such as Alien and The Thing.
With filmmakers stretching the bounds of what is possible with visual effects, the use of CGI in movies has also contributed to the use of special effects in horror films.
Conclusion
Jurassic Park has a lot of horror aspects; despite being essentially a science-fiction adventure film, the environment and atmosphere, the dinosaurs themselves, the blood and gore, the tension and suspense, and all of these other elements play a part in the general uneasiness and anxiety that the movie evokes. Even though it may not be a classic horror film, Jurassic Park is a thrilling and exciting movie that both horror and non-horror lovers may enjoy.
