Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Raptor Ranch’

Written by Scott Edwards

There is nothing wrong with wanting to keep to yourself when you live in a small community, but it does come at a price. You get to hear what everyone in town thinks you are doing, when nobody has the faintest idea, which can be good, but if you need someone to take over what you are really doing, well, it may be difficult to find that person. The recluse type of lifestyle is not for everyone, as I tried it once and while I enjoyed it for a short time, it did not do anything to help with maintaining my friendships. Figuring out what is best for you is the only way you will know what it takes to make yourself happy, just make sure to weigh out all of your options before getting set on one.
​
Fossil Ridge has started to run into a little bit of a problem over the past couple of weeks. With three people going missing, cattle being eaten and pets going missing as well, there is something strange happening. Getting a call from Agent Atwood to come and check out a body, Agents Logan and O’Reilly are a bit curious about what kind of creature could have done such a thing. Heading back to the town to get some rest and food, Logan gets a call saying that the DNA testing that has been done is showing that the creature responsible was a Raptor, that went extinct over 65-million years ago. Knowing that there must be a mix up, the testing continues, and the two agents try to get adjusted to small town living.

Being late for work, Abbi gets a call from her boss demanding that she wear the skimpy outfit that he has purchased her. With little to say on the subject since she still owes the old man money for the beat-up truck that she got from him, she makes her way down. The small town likes to hoot and holler at the young woman and with little she can do about it, she just puts it out of her mind. With a plan to get out of town at some point, she has no idea what the driving force will be when it comes to that until later on that evening.  

---

​Wanting to go skiing, Lucas has pressured his friend Sheldon to come along for the weekend. Not being able to say no to Lucas, Sheldon is forced to pick up the tab on everything once again and with their friend Man Beast along for the ride, it might get a little expensive. As Lucas turns over the driving duties to Sheldon, they see that the car has run out of gas and are forced to push the car to the next station. Winding up outside of the only gas station at Fossil Ridge, the three men are shocked to hear that the station is out of gas. With only one option to possibly get out of the town that night, Sheldon is able to ask Abbi to help out so they can speak with Dr. Cane, who is the only man in town that has any fuel, but little does he know what the good doctor is doing that night, or any other night in the small town.
​
Arriving at Raptor Ranch and seeing that Dr. Cane is in trouble, Abbi tries to help her old friend. Getting him into the house while her three strangers in tow try to fix the power issue going on, she is shocked to hear screeches coming from outside. As the electric fences fail at the ranch, Raptors are released and they are looking for food, dead or alive. Not knowing what they can do, the group makes their way back to town, but that is not good for anyone as they are being tracked by the fiercest hunters the world has ever known. Needing to come up with a plan to rid themselves of the beasts, the group quickly finds out that they are not the only ones who are having a power struggle, as the dinosaurs are going after each other as well. But quickly finding out that watching and waiting for them to kill each other off is not an option, they must find another way to make it to safety, along with killing the Raptors before anyone else becomes their victims.

Who does not like a fun dinosaur movie where the ancient beasts cannot be stopped? Well, I know I do.  Not really knowing what I was getting into when turning this movie on, I was pleasantly surprised by the group that was assembled for the movie and how they each played into their own role. You seem to know from the get-go who is going to fall victim to the Raptors, and it actually makes it pretty fun when you wonder who is going to go next. I really liked the slasher type kills that took place in this movie, since I have not seen them in a monster movie yet, and that made this film just that much more enjoyable. With plenty of blood, a band of Raptors, a struggling singer, a mad doctor and a town that is ill equipped to take care of the situation on its own, this flick really is a good time. I will say, it made me think about the folks I know who try to be recluses, I might want to ask if they are working on anything that is world altering and if there is a backup plan for when they are gone. Stay Scared. 

---