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 The Last Dinosaur
(1977) on IMDb

The Last Dinosaur (1977)

This is a poster for The Last Dinosaur. The poster art copyright is believed to belong to the distributor of the film, the publisher of the film or the graphic artist.
This is a poster for The Last Dinosaur. The poster art copyright is believed to belong to the distributor of the film, the publisher of the film or the graphic artist.

The Last Dinosaur is a 1977 science fiction film directed by Alexander Grasshoff and starring Richard Boone, Joan Van Ark, and Steve Franken. The film is set in the near future and follows a group of scientists who travel to the Arctic Circle in search of a lost tribe of prehistoric humans. Along the way, they encounter a number of dangerous obstacles, including a tribe of vicious cannibals and a giant, carnivorous dinosaur that has somehow managed to survive until the present day.

The film opens with a prologue set in the distant past, in which a group of prehistoric humans are shown hunting a giant, reptilian creature. The creature is eventually killed, but not before it manages to mortally wound one of the hunters. The wounded hunter is then shown being carried away by his comrades, his body wrapped in a shroud of furs.

Fast forward to the present day, and a group of scientists led by Dr. Carl Fields (Richard Boone) are making their way to the Arctic Circle in search of the lost tribe of prehistoric humans. Fields is a ruthless and ambitious scientist who is driven by his desire to make a name for himself and secure his place in the scientific community. Along with his colleagues, Dr. Lisa Cummings (Joan Van Ark) and Dr. Jerry Blackstone (Steve Franken), Fields sets out to find the lost tribe and uncover the secrets of their past.

As they journey further into the frozen wilderness, the scientists encounter a number of dangerous obstacles, including a tribe of vicious cannibals and a giant, carnivorous dinosaur that has somehow managed to survive until the present day. The dinosaur, a fearsome creature known as the “shakok” to the native peoples, has been terrorizing the region for centuries, and Fields becomes obsessed with capturing and studying it.

As the scientists struggle to survive in the hostile environment, they are forced to confront the harsh realities of their mission and the sacrifices they are willing to make in the pursuit of knowledge. In the end, they are faced with a series of moral dilemmas and must decide whether their pursuit of scientific discovery is worth the risk to themselves and those around them.

Overall, The Last Dinosaur is a somewhat disappointing science fiction film that fails to live up to its potential. While the film’s setting and premise are intriguing, the execution is somewhat lacklustre, with wooden performances and a plodding pace that fails to engage the viewer. The film’s special effects are also somewhat dated and unconvincing, with the giant, rubber-suited dinosaur being particularly unconvincing.

Despite these shortcomings, however, The Last Dinosaur does have some enjoyable moments, particularly for fans of vintage science fiction. The film’s cast is solid, with Boone turning in a particularly strong performance as the ruthless and ambitious Dr. Fields. The film’s setting is also appealing, with the stark beauty of the Arctic Circle providing a suitably desolate and otherworldly backdrop for the story.

Overall, The Last Dinosaur is a film that is likely to appeal primarily to fans of vintage science fiction and B-movies. While it is not a particularly good film, it does have a certain kitschy charm that may make it worth checking out for those in the mood for something a little different.

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