The Invisible Raptor

In pure sci-fi horror send-up mode, the film opens with a couple of scientists tampering with things that should well be left well alone, creating the titular creature, and paying dearly for it. From there its bonkers trip through Spielburgh Town.

Which naturally takes the audience to Dino World where palaeontologist Dr Grant Walker (Mike Capes) is slumming it with presentations to children and dances with security guards dressed as green fluffy dinosaurs.

The now escaped invisible raptor sets about shredding the people and the town. This killer instinct is matched by its sex drive when it tries to mate with a large plastic chicken used by Henrietta (Sandy Martin) in her chicken ads.

Lob in some love interest with Grant’s ex, Gloria (Grace Demarco), add in persistent pressure from the local dignitaries to keep the place open in the face of conclusive evidence there is an invisible raptor on the rampage ripping people apart, and it all starts to become very clear what is going on.

No hiding the inspiration The Invisible Raptor is clever, at times puerile, but never smug. Director Mike Hermosa, and writers Mike Capes and Johnny Wickham know their stuff. Down to the music that. The Simpsons wise, provides more than a hint of the original though different enough to avoid lawsuits and royalties. And there are plenty of other bits and pieces that will keep the audience nodding sagely in recognition though not overwhelming the overall story.

It is a lot of fun and while it is a bit up and down in places the film’s cement mixer blending of director homage, horror, and comedy, has enough to just about justify its near two hour running time.

The Invisible Raptor received its UK premiere at Glasgow FrightFest 2024.