The Dinosaur Project

The 2012 British found footage sci-fi adventure *The Dinosaur Project* was directed by Sid Bennett, who co-wrote the screenplay with Jay Basu. The story centres on a British Cryptozoological Society expedition into the Congo hunting the cryptid Mokele-mbembe—thought to be an Elasmosaurus, a type of plesiosaur. The cast includes Richard Dillane, Peter Brooke, Matthew Kane, Natasha Loring, Stephen Jennings, Andre Weideman, Abena Ayivor, and Sivu Nobongoza.

Production took place in South Africa, with visual effects handled by Jellyfish Pictures. StudioCanal gave the film a UK theatrical release on 10 August 2012. Critics gave it mixed reviews, and it earned $2.4 million worldwide. StudioCanal put out DVD and Blu-ray versions on 27 February 2013.

The plot begins when expedition leader Jonathan discovers his son Luke has stowed away on the helicopter. A flock of Pteranodons causes the chopper to crash; everyone but the pilot escapes before it explodes. Stranded, the group finds their satellite phone broken. Local guide Amara suggests heading to a village they spotted from the air, but they arrive to find it destroyed and the villagers dead. Jonathan picks a hut for the night, and Luke sets up a night-vision camera outside.

That night, a swarm of bat-like Jeholopterus reptiles awakens them. The group tries to flee the infested village, but medic Liz is killed during the escape. They take two wooden boats, which an unseen force wrecks, forcing them onto a small island. Around the campfire, a small ornithopod with a neck frill appears—Jonathan identifies it as a Lesothosaurus. The creature bonds with Luke, who names it “Crypto” and attaches a camera to its neck. The broadcast cuts out as Crypto swims into a cave.

When the signal returns, Luke and Charlie see Crypto has entered an underground gateway, where the camera is dropped. Their boat separates from the others in whitewater. The group reunites in a river canyon and spots a magnificent Elasmosaurus, but a vicious Pliosaur (Liopleurodon or Pliosaurus) attacks, driving the Elasmosaurus away. Believing the others dead, Charlie and Luke search for the dinosaurs’ origin. Charlie learns Luke fixed the satellite phone, pushes him into the gateway, and tries to kill him.

On the other side, Luke speaks to the camera, trying to reach survivors. Amara leaves the others in a boat. Jonathan and Pete continue searching.