An explosion is coming: a devastating blast against Darwinism in the form of a dynamite new film from Illustra Media: Darwin’s Dilemma: The Mystery of the Cambrian Fossil Record. The Cambrian explosion, which Darwin admitted was the greatest challenge to his theory, has not been solved in the 150 years since The Origin. In fact, it has gotten much worse. This film does more than demolish a defunct idea. It offers the only alternative that does explain the sudden appearance of all the animal phyla: intelligent design.
The content and delivery are both outstanding–the interviews with Paul Nelson, Jonathan Wells, Steve Meyer, Doug Axe, Paul Chien and Richard Sternberg all deliver an irrefutable case for ID. Cambrian experts Simon Conway Morris and James Valentine are treated respectfully. The case builds and accelerates toward the end with so many independent arguments, poor Darwin is just left mumbling at the end, “I can give no satisfactory answer.” (This is not exactly the party he wanted on his 200th birthday, but history and the facts of science have more important work to do. )
The film is also visually beautiful (watch the trailer). Majestic scenes of the Canadian Rockies alternate with vivid new animations of Cambrian animals. This film has more original animations than any previous Illustra project, all detailed and credible. The entire production is edited with Illustra’s trademark finesse, and powerfully enhanced by another original score by Mark Lewis, one of the most creative musicians in film. It’s a work of art as much as a documentary.
The film is due for release on Sept. 15 (see order page). Once in distribution, it completes a very powerful trilogy by Illustra on the case for intelligent design and the demise of Darwinism, coming from three independent directions. Unlocking the Mystery of Life delivered the left hook from biology. The Privileged Planet delivered the right punch from astronomy. And now, Darwin’s Dilemma is the pile driver from paleontology, leaving Darwin’s legacy buried in the rocks, where it will fossilize for the museums of a more enlightened age.