Dracano has B-movie ambition but C+ production values

When a volcanic eruption releases ancient dragon-like creatures on the unsuspecting state of Oregon, it’s up to scapegoated volcanologist Professor Simon Lowell (Corin Nemec, “Parker Lewis Can’t Lose”, “Stargate: SG-1”) to help the army prevent a chain reaction of volcanic eruptions heralding a global dragon apocalypse.

A classic case of high concept, low budget, “Dracano” is yet another ‘SyFy Original’-style movie which pushes the capabilities of cut-price CGI to its very limits. Unlike, say, the “Sharknado” movies, the central premise here is at least logical (that is to say, logical in a world where dragons exist and they slumber in cocoons in the mantle of the Earth). Unfortunately, its ambitions are severely curtailed by its budget and almost at every turn, you can see story, script and production decisions being dictated by the availability of funds rather than the other way around. Most of the money seems to have been spent on the dragons and, in that at least, the money has been well spent.

For the most part, Keith Shaw’s script does a decent job within its limits although towards the end there’s a scene where a new plan to defeat the oncoming dragon Armageddon is concocted with such ease that it makes the Starkiller Base attack planning scene from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” look like the intricate logistical masterwork of The Four Horsemen from “Now You See Me” and if nothing else, it provides a last gasp character survival which is even less plausible than the ‘nuke the fridge’ moment from “Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull”.

The cast are actually pretty good for this kind of fare, with Nemec’s “Stargate: SG-1” TV sci-fi experience paying off as he reacts to explosions and effects which will be added in later. He has good support from veteran character actor Troy Evans (“ER”) as General Hodges and Victoria Pratt (“Mutant-X”) as the love interest. There’s a less successful B-story involving journalists trying to expose the Government’s dragon cover-up but it’s mainly there to pad out the running time which still clocks in at a trim 91 minutes.

“Dracano” has B-Movie ambition brought to life by a C+ production. It’s not going to be the best movie you’ve ever seen but it’s far from the worst the cheap ‘n’ cheerful straight to DVD bargain bin has to offer.

Dracano Review
Score 4/10
logo

Related posts

Spaceballs (1987) Review

Spaceballs (1987) Review

The Schwartz is strong with this one. In all the fever pitch excitement of the countdown to “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” and its subsequent reception, the 30th anniversary of another space saga which took place once upon a timewarp in a galaxy very, very, very, very far away kind of...

The Jihad

The Jihad

Star Trek: The Animated Series S1E16 - The Jihad The Animated Series concludes its first season with The Jihad, an action-heavy and adventurous episode that feels like a mix of treasure hunt and morality play and is probably the most successful adaptation to the short animated format of...

The House With The Clock In Its Walls (2018) Review

The House With The Clock In Its Walls (2018) Review

The House With The Clock In Its Walls doesn't quite have enough time An unexpectedly family-friendly detour from gore-meister Eli Roth, the spookiest thing about “The House With A Clock In Its Walls” is that there’s a Jack Black-starring “Goosebumps” sequel coming out this year and this...

Blue Beetle (2023) Review

Blue Beetle (2023) Review

Family matters as Blue Beetle narrowly avoids being a barrio bust Is it the end of the old or the beginning of the new? It doesn’t really matter as BLUE BEETLE is so studiously agnostic that James Gunn, Peter Safran and David Zaslav can take their sweet time making that decision while...

Love Actually (2003) Review

Love Actually (2003) Review

Life is like a box of chocolates and so is Love Actually. Richard Curtis’ “Love Actually” is often misunderstood as an ensemble romantic comedy, intertwining numerous criss-crossing plots in the run up to Christmas. It is, in fact, an avante garde adaptation of a grand British Christmas...

Odd Thomas (2013) Review

Odd Thomas (2013) Review

I see Odd Thomas but then, by god, I write a review about it! Adapted from a novel by Dean Koontz, “Odd Thomas” is a breezy action horror movie that plays out like the kid from “The Sixth Sense” grew up and grew a spine. As the film’s tagline goes: ‘I see dead people, but then, by God, I...

The Matrix (1999) Review

The Matrix (1999) Review

Take the red pill and revisit The Matrix on its 20th Anniversary. So influential and so ingrained in movie legend now, it’s hard to remember there was a time before “The Matrix” was a pop culture touchstone. Itself a synthesis of 20th century sci-fi and anime tropes it blended...

Ghost Stories (2018) Review

Ghost Stories (2018) Review

That Brigadoon of movie bloggers, SweetieG, emerges from the mists to enjoy some Ghost Stories So cupcakes, I’ve finally returned, summoned back to the land of the living by Odeon’s Scream Unseen, thinking a fiver’s got to be worth the gamble. If you haven’t heard of the scheme...

1 Comment
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments