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.

Two subsequent films use footage from the Carnosaur films: Raptor (2001) and The Eden Formula (2006).

Films Film U.S. release date Director(s) Screenwriter(s) Producer(s) Carnosaur Adam Simon Mike Elliott and Roger Corman Carnosaur 2 Louis Morneau Michael Palmer Mike Elliott and Roger Corman Carnosaur 3: Primal Species Jonathan Winfrey Scott Sandin Roger Corman Raptor Jim Wynorski Frances Doel, Michael B. Druxman and Jim Wynorski Roger Corman The Eden Formula John Carl Buechler Peter Davy

Carnosaur (1993)

Carnosaur was written and directed by Adam Simon, and was released to theaters on May 14, 1993. The film is loosely based on the 1984 novel Carnosaur by John Brosnan. In the film, Dr. Jane Tiptree (Diane Ladd), a mad scientist specializing in agricultural genetic engineering, uses chickens from the plant she works at to breed dinosaurs. She also creates a virus containing dinosaur DNA that will impregnate women with dinosaurs and kill them after birth, so the animals can wreak havoc and exterminate humanity, which she believes needs to be destroyed so that the dinosaurs can rule the planet once again. An alcoholic security guard and an environmental activist attempt to stop her and the dinosaurs, and the military is later sent in to kill the town residents and quarantine the virus. The film was a modest box-office success, reportedly grossing $1,753,979, despite a limited theatrical release.

Carnosaur 2 (1995)

Directed by Louis Morneau and written by Michael Palmer, Carnosaur 2 was released direct-to-video in February 1995. Starring John Savage and Cliff DeYoung, the film features a group of technicians called in to investigate the power shortage at a top-secret mining facility, only to discover it is actually a remote nuclear dump site where the government transported the dinosaurs from the first film. The dinosaurs have overrun the facility, and now the technicians must try to survive while avoiding a radiation leak and trying to keep the dinosaurs from escaping the facility.

Carnosaur 3: Primal Species (1996)

Released direct-to-video in November 1996, Carnosaur 3: Primal Species was directed by Jonathan Winfrey and starred Scott Valentine and Janet Gunn. The film involves a group of terrorists who attempt to steal a large shipment of uranium, but instead realize that they have seized a truckload of cloned dinosaurs, which escape. A military team is then sent to contain the creatures.

Raptor (2001)

Raptor was directed by Jim Wynorski and was released direct-to-video on November 6, 2001. It re-uses dinosaur footage from the three Carnosaur films and cuts them together with new footage shot by Wynorski. The film was created through Roger Corman's company New Concorde, which had worked on the Carnosaur films. The film focuses on a small town sheriff (Eric Roberts) and an animal control officer (Melissa Brasselle) investigating a series of deaths by genetically engineered dinosaurs that escape from a nearby laboratory (mainly Velociraptors), while also dealing with their creator Dr. Hyde (Corbin Bernsen).

The Eden Formula (2006)

The Eden Formula was written and directed by John Carl Buechler, who worked on the dinosaur effects for the Carnosaur trilogy. The film includes recycled footage from the trilogy combined with new footage. The film was originally released on DVD in Australia, before getting a U.S. DVD release in 2007. Starring Jeff Fahey, Tony Todd and Dee Wallace, the plot revolves around a group of spies who accidentally release a cloned Tyrannosaurus onto the streets of Los Angeles.

Cast and crew Cast Character Carnosaur Trilogy Other Films Carnosaur Carnosaur 2 Primal Species Raptor The Eden Formula Dr Jane Tiptree Diane Ladd "Doc" Smith Raphael Sbarge Ann Thrush Jennifer Runyon Sheriff Fowler Harrison Page Fallon Ned Bellamy "Slim" Friar Clint Howard Jesse Paloma Frank Novak Dr. Raven Ed Williams Jack Reed John Savage Tom McQuade Cliff DeYoung Ben Kahane Don Stroud "Monk" Brody Rick Dean Jesse Turner Ryan Thomas Johnson Sarah Rawlins Arabella Holzbog Ed Moses Miguel A. Núñez Jr. Joanne Galloway Neith Hunter Joe Walker Guy Boyd Evac Helicopter Pilot Michael James MacDonald Colonel Rance Higgins Scott Valentine Dr Hodges Janet Gunn Polchek Rick Dean Sanders Rodger Halston General Pete Mercer Anthony Peck B.T. Coolidge Terri J. Vaughn Lieutenant Furguson Billy Burnette Proudfoot Justina Vail Dolan Cyril O'Reilly Officer Wilson Michael James MacDonald Sheriff Jim Tanner Eric Roberts Barbara Phillips Melissa Brasselle Dr. Frank Hyde Corbin Bernsen Lola Tanner Lorissa McComas Deputy Harrison Page Lyle Shell Frank Novak Dr. Harrison Parker Jeff Fahey Rhonda Shapton Dee Wallace James Radcliffe Tony Todd Connie Elina Madison

Crew Crew Film Carnosaur Carnosaur 2 Primal Species Raptor The Eden Formula Director Adam Simon Louis Morneau Jonathan Winfrey Jim Wynorski John Carl Buechler Producer(s) Mike Elliott and Roger Corman Mike Elliott and Roger Corman Roger Corman Roger Corman Peter Davy Screenwriter(s) Adam Simon Michael Palmer Scott Sandin Frances Doel, Michael B. Druxman and Jim Wynorski John Carl Buechler Composer Nigel Holton Ed Tomney Kevin Kiner James Horner Andy Garfield Cinematographer Keith Holland John Aronson Andrea V. Rossotto James Legoy Editor Richard Gentner Roderick Davis Louis Cioffi Max K. Atkins Norman Apstein Production company New Horizons Picture Corp New Horizons Picture Corp New Horizons Picture Corp New Concorde Motion Picture Corporation (MPC)Fantastical Cinema LLCImageries Entertainment

References