Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for Jurassic World Rebirth.The human characters left much to be desired inJurassic World Rebirth. Despite big-name actors and thrilling set pieces, the characters felt surface-level throughout the film, and their interpersonal chemistry was disappointingly lacking. However, there was a moment that looked like the film might give us some kind of emotional gut punch towards the finale. During the climactic escape from the island and the Distortus-rex,Duncan Kincaid (Mahershala Ali) grabs one of the flares and lures the beast away, allowing the rest of his crew to escape.The D-rex follows him, and the flare dies out, implying Kincaid has met his end, only for another flare to appear minutes later and Kincaid emerges safe and sound. There were many moments inJurassic World Rebirththat felt emotionally lacking, but this was by far the worst. Not only did it prevent us from seeing a somewhat satisfying character arc and derail the stakes of the film by showing no consequences, but itjust made no sense, taking the audience out of the movie.
Kincaid Could Have Been a Sacrificial Hero in ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’
As previously mentioned, few, if any, of the characters inJurassic World Rebirthhave satisfying arcs where we see them grow in ways that move beyond their initial issue. While Xavier (David Iacono) does learn about responsibility and Zora (Scarlett Johansson) grows a conscience, neither of these changes affects the narrative itself. In contrast,Kincaid would have shown his development by sacrificing himself, proving how he had changed from a smuggler who cares about material things such as money and holds a deep shame over the death of his child, to someone ending their life for something bigger than themselves.
In the originalJurassic Park, whenAlan (Sam Neill)and the rest are on the helicopter back, there is a huge sense of relief because numerous characters, who felt important to the plot, died in both sacrificial and savage ways, such as Muldoon (Bob Peck) being mauled by the raptors. However, inRebirth, the fact that no character you really care about dies and they all make it out pretty easily renders the stakes of the entire film meaningless. Yes,Rupert Friend’s billionaire character got a deserved end, and a few characters died, but because they lacked sympathy or significance, they feel easily forgotten instead of mourned.Rather than a tense and satisfying ending where you’re constantly on edge as to who will make it out alive, like inJurassic Park, the finale ofRebirthis far too easy.
The Decision to Let Kincaid Live Was a Studio Note That Made Little Sense in ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’
What isn’t necessarily surprising but still frustrating to hear is that this was not the original ending for Kincaid’s character. AsGareth EdwardstoldVanity Fairduring an interview, “In the first draft I read, he [Kincaid] died.” Even when the script was given to Mahershala Ali, the actor asked the director if they could “kill [Kincaid]” at the end. However, the studio told Edwards that they didn’t have “time to do a pickup shoot or any reshoots,” and therefore needed both versions to be filmed. Aftertest screening audiences preferred the version where Kincaid lived, and the choice was confirmed.
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It is surprising that Edwards felt this was the right choice after a premiere screening gave an overwhelmingly positive reaction with “massive applause” to Kincaid’s survival, even going as far as to say, “Hats off to the studio.” However, perhaps this is Edwards knowing what side his bread is buttered, because when watching the film, this survival feels anything but applause-worthy. Simply put, Kincaid’s survival makes no sense, and it felt rushed. Seriously,he leads theD-rexaway with a flare, and are we supposed to believe the D-rex chased him and then simply… walked away?
I know they established that the creature is attracted to light, but it didn’t need much light to bite a helicopter out of the air in a cloud of smoke. It makes the D-rex seem less threatening, and Kincaid’s previous heroism means less, squashing the stakes of the film. Perhaps there is a desire for Ali to come back for a sequel. However, given how unexplored his character was (like the entire cast), itfeels unlikely we’ll be delving much further into this specific narrative, and therefore, a sacrificial death would have had far more of an impact.
Jurassic World Rebirthis in theaters now.
Jurassic World Rebirth
Jurassic World Rebirth explores the revival of dinosaur attractions with advanced genetic engineering and immersive experiences. As scientists and park staff grapple with ethical dilemmas and unexpected challenges, the balance between human ambition and nature’s unpredictability is tested, leading to unforeseen consequences that impact both the prehistoric creatures and their creators.
