When you think of thetheatrical summer behemoththat isJurassic Park, the very last thing you think of is its script byDavid Koepp. The Steven Spielberg-led film about dinosaurs brought back to life with horrific consequences was a massive hit for Universal Pictures.
The film cleverly blended adventure and action with horror and sci-fi in an unstoppable vehicle that completely changed the way we saw movies in 1993. Special effects were no longer a beautiful experiment. They were part of the magic.
And again, the script behindJurassic Parkis often the least thing people remember about it, which is very unfortunate. The screenplay, based on Michael Crichton’s novel of the same name, was helmed by David Koepp, a fascinating case of a writer capable of writing blockbuster films who seldom gets mentioned when films become successful.
Jurassic Park
In terms of box-office returns, Koepp is one of the most important screenwriters of all time. And naturally, he’s a go-to for Spielberg and his proteges, who seek fortune and glory the same way Spielberg does.
But what most people aren’t aware of is that Koepp’s work isn’t only based on screenwriting. A UCLA film school graduate, Koepp also has directing skills he’s been able to prove constantly in Hollywood, with lesser films that often get mislooked but deserve appraisal as well.
To celebrate the fact that he’s coming back to the franchise to writethe next chapter in theJurassic Worldera(it’s still untitled, but let’s call itJurassic World 4), here’s why David Koepp is also an underrated director and the films that prove he’s extremely underrated.
The Trigger Effect (1996)
InThe Trigger Effect, Koepp’s directorial debut of 1996, Matthew and Annie are a couple living with their daughter in a seemingly safe small town. However, a power outage leaves the entire town without access to technology. Not even medicine or groceries can be purchased, proving humanity’s dependence on technology.
When Joe, Annie’s best friend, enters the picture, the family will be forced to make a run for another town, where perhaps things are more stable. The problem is that safety has become relative in a powerless America.
A Different Kind of Indie Thriller
The Trigger Effectis not your average apocalyptic movie. Koepp’s script and direction focus on the realism of such an important hypothesis, and things take off from there. The heat, the subjectivity, and the drive to save your own become key points in the progression of the film, which people criticized because it dared to have a happy and promising ending.
It’s an auteur’s work to have some respect for, and yes, although it could also have worked by making things more grim in the end,The Trigger Effectis a solid thriller that’s culturally relevant to our current times because of how attached we have become to technology.you may rentThe Trigger Effecton Apple TV.
Stir of Echoes (1999)
Tom Witzky is having a rough time. With his wife and son, he has moved to a working-class neighborhood, and he’s not exactly an ideal husband. He’s attached to his memories of being a rock star, a dream he left behind to become a phone lineman.
During a party, Tom goes through hypnosis, and the experience leaves him… open. He has just acquired the ability to see beyond, and very quickly he finds out his new home is the residence of one angry ghost seeking payback.
A Near-Perfect Ghost Movie
Stir of Echoes
Starring Kevin Bacon in his best performance ever,Stir of Echoesis a very underrated film that had to endure the confrontation of being released the same year asThe Sixth Sense, another quite prominent ghost film. However, Koepp’s 1999 film is an underrated horror film that checks every item in the list of what a horror film should have.
It’s probably the best script on this list, and it was based on Richard Matheson’s novelA Stir of Echoes, only Koepp readapted the film to be set in modern times. Trust us when we say you remember this one more than you think.You can streamStir of Echoeson Tubi.
Secret Window (2004)
InSecret Window, an author by the name of Mort Rainey is having a rough time. He caught his wife in bed with his best friend, and he has decided to isolate himself in a cabin in the middle of nowhere to write his next book.
The problem is that he’s suffering from writer’s block, and out of spite, he can’t sign the divorce papers. But those aren’t his only problems. Someone knocks on his door, and a man called John Shooter stands outside. He accuses Rainey of stealing his work. When he checks, he realizes Shooter may be right. When he investigates more, Rainey realizes he may have more in common with Shooter than he thinks.
An Underrated Stephen King Film
Secret Window
Based on theFour Past Midnightnovella by Stephen King,Secret Window, Secret Garden, the film stars Johnny Depp as the title character in a very underrated performance that’s not often mentioned as one of his best. Once again, Koepp himself adapts the film from the King novella, bringing life to a film that many critics accuse of being predictable, possibly due to the repetition of the same storyline.
Nevertheless, Koepp’s ability to direct a horror film that only confirms it’s a horror film in the end is unquestionable. John Turturro’s performance as John Shooter is one of thebest in the Stephen King cinematic universe.
Premium Rush (2012)
Premium Rushtells the story of Wilee, a New Yorker law student who doesn’t really want to become a lawyer. Instead, he rides his bicycle and works as a messenger in the traffic-ridden city, where he faces the risks of angry drivers, huge metallic machines that could stomp him to death, and not delivering on time.
However, none of these are more important than his latest gig: He gets his hands on an envelope that draws the attention of a corrupt cop who won’t stop until capturing Wilee, who, by the way, doesn’t use brakes on his bike.
The Solid Modern Action Film You’ve Still to See
Premium Rush
The film stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt inone of his best performances, but sadly, it didn’t make an extreme amount of money at the box office, and the film felt underseen. However, it’s one of the best chase movies you will ever see, with Koepp being vocal about trying to convey what other films of the subgenre tried: getting the audience in the middle of the action.
Premium Rushis an unstoppable ride, and its 92-minute running time is enough to indulge in some of the best action sequences we’ve seen in modern cinema. It’s Koepp’s closest approach to the genre, and it shows his drive to pay homage to the greats.
Related:The Jurassic Franchise: Where Another Trilogy Could Go
David Koepp’s Screenwriting Work in Jurassic Park Is Very Underrated
In Steven Spielberg’s 1993 movieJurassic Park, a very ambitious man by the name of John Hammond came up with a great idea for a theme park. He was able to invest a ton of money in technology, and after the scientific mumbo-jumbo with too many plot holes, his team brought dinosaurs back to life.
He invites scientists as well as his grandchildren for an evaluation of the park, but the problem is that, the very same day, greedy employee Dennis Nedry cuts the power in the park in order to steal dino embryos. Of course, things go really bad when the prehistoric creatures begin escaping their cages.
All this takes place in a film that lasts 127 minutes and actually hides the dinosaurs for the first 50. Spielberg’s understanding of how to manage thrills, expectations, and horror always feels natural. From the first terrifying scene, you know something bad will happen. But to follow the humanity-based greed aspect of the film, Koepp’s script makes Jurassic Park actually sound like a good idea in the first chunk of the film.
The writer basesthe commentaries of the expertson risks, not exactly on dangers. This subtle division is recognizable mostly in the film and not in the book (which has a different beginning), and it provides the answers we need to get everyone on board.
However, when it’s time to jump to horror, Koepp does his best at following a linear descent into chaos that Spielberg knows how to perfectly handle in the director’s chair, as seen in films likeJaws,War of the Worlds, andRaiders of the Lost Ark.
Koepp’s screenwriting gig inJurassic Parkis one of his most notable works because he seems to perfectly handle the difficulty of the genre mashup Spielberg is always going for. The film never feels boring, and its tone is conserved throughout its entire running time. Action is plenty, but it never feels uncontrolled in a film with so many characters and storylines that need to flow into one final third act that’s perfectly edited.
Related:10 Mistakes You Notice When You Rewatch Jurassic Park
Naturally, the film’s technical achievements would overwhelm the work of other departments, like Koepp’s. But the man seems to have learned quite a bit on the set, as three years later he would debut in the director’s chair with an indie thriller, and one year after that he would come back to the Jurassic-verse to work as a second unit director inThe Lost World: Jurassic Park.
Sure, his work as a writer is extremely important, but the following films stand the test of time and will make you believe in Koepp’s ability to direct.
Other movies written by Koepp include:
Jurassic World 4: Here’s What We Know, So Far
Jurassic World 4is set to be released in 2025. David Leitch (ofDeadpool 2andThe Fall Guyfame) had been confirmed to be the director until he had to step down from the job, which ultimatelywent to Gareth Edwards, the dude behindThe CreatorandRogue One.
Edwards will work with screenwriter Koepp in trying to bring thenew franchise back to lifeafter films likeJurassic World: Fallen KingdomandJurassic World Dominionfailed to meet the expectations of viewers and producers.
The casting is still in process, but so far, Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo have been confirmed to lead the film. Little is known about formerJurassic Worldstars coming back. In any case, changes seem necessary after Dominion took the nostalgia route, and made a mess out of including legacy characters that didn’t look very good reprising their roles.
The script by Emily Carmichael and Colin Trevorrow didn’t help, and producer Frank Marshall finally seems to have noticed this as he made a full turn and went for a legacy writer like Koepp to helmthe franchise’s new direction.
Yes, it’s a risky take, and Koepp will face the challenge of complying with the franchise rules while also trying to satisfy millions of viewers who have fallen out of love with the Jurassic-verse. However, his resume is strong enough to make audiences excited about what’s coming next.
If his participation in the franchise is valid as a point, then we will surely evidence the resurgence of a new direction in the world created by Spielberg 30 years ago. Let’s just hope they get rid of all the “befriending raptors” things. Yes, they are “clever girls,” but it’s banal to downgrade them this way.
