I feel like I need to sit down and talk with the folks over at Visual Vengeance, because I need to know the secret of their magic. This company is bringing film after film to new audiences; movies that time literally forgot, and giving them new life while preserving the DIY essence.
The past month has seen quite a few releases from them (which I’ll be covering), but the one that has stuck out the most for me is Mark Polonia’s 1994 horror sci-fi flick, Saurians. It’s one of those micro-budget films that aims to be a mega-budget blockbuster, but falls terribly short. That being said, that same mentality is what makes it so endearing and a fun watch.
When a routine construction blast rattles a quiet town, it unleashes something far older and more dangerous than anyone expects. Deep within the surrounding woods, two prehistoric creatures are awakened from mega-annums-long slumber, emerging with a primal hunger and no regard for the modern world around them. What begins as a strange disturbance quickly escalates into full-blown chaos, as the dinosaurs carve a path of destruction through the forest and beyond. As panic spreads and disbelief turns to terror, the townspeople are forced to confront an impossible threat brought violently back to life.
Super 8 cameras were originally offered as a silent format. There were quite a few Super 8 films that were not shot with synch audio, and this may be one of them. There are a lot of awkward deliveries because of this. I don’t see that as detrimental, though; it’s a quirk that makes Saurians fun.
Related: ‘Jurassic Park’: How Steven Spielberg Made a Horror Movie with Dinosaurs
The dinosaurs were created using a combination of stop-motion and puppets, so you get exactly what you would expect. The stop-motion is actually extremely impressive, and the acting is solid (despite the dubbing). The story is simple and does what it needs to do. Honestly, I actually had more fun with Saurians than I had with most of the Jurassic Park films. It’s just really enjoyable, and the spirit of DIY filmmaking is strong with this one.
Once again, the bonus features on this set will keep you busy for days after. You get commentary with Mark Polonia and the Visual Vengeance crew, a making-of feature, location visits, interviews, stop-motion outtakes, Super 8 raw footage, an alternate Rae Don Video version, and a different commentary track with Polonia is also included on that version.
You also get the bonus film The Dinosaur Chronicles (2004), which has its own making-of segment, trailers, poster, alternate, and more. Saurians is full of passionate filmmaking and proves that’s the key ingredient to making a successful film.
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