“Where is the thump-thump?” A more pressing question might be: where is the key that unlocks the chest holding that thump-thump — the still-beating heart of Davy Jones.

At Isla Cruces, both the chest and its key become the focal points of chaos. Within the overgrown ruins of an old Spanish church and its adjacent mill, three rival parties collide in a frantic, often comical battle. As swords clash and alliances shift, the pursuit for the heart intensifies. Commodore Norrington charges after Turner, who is hot on Jack Sparrow’s heels — each driven by motives of redemption, loyalty, or self-interest.

All the while, the cursed crew of Davy Jones is fast approaching, drawn by the scent of betrayal and the promise of reclaiming what was stolen. The abandoned grounds of Isla Cruces, once a place of quiet reverence, erupt into a frenzy of blades, broken beams, and rolling barrels, becoming a legendary battleground in the race for power over the sea.

This sequence has always stood out to me as one of the most memorable in the Pirates of the Caribbean series, largely due to how the entire church structure is used as an active stage for the swordfight — from the sanctuary interior to the rafters, bell tower, and ultimately transitioning into the jungle and mill sequence. It’s a dynamic, layered setting that blends architecture, choreography, and environment, making it a perfect subject to capture in LEGO.

My design process began by studying the scale and layout of the church. After several rewatches of the scene, I was able to determine the number of distinct levels inside the structure and focused first on modeling the more prominent bell tower. From there, I mapped out the path of the action — starting from the sanctuary, moving across wooden beams and through the deteriorating roof, and culminating in the runaway water mill barreling into the jungle.

The church itself is a decayed Spanish colonial building, marked by crumbling stonework, collapsed archways, and remnants of once-detailed masonry. I wanted to maintain its recognizable silhouette while embracing the chaos of its ruined state. Starting from the interior action layout helped me define the core proportions and then branch outward, layering in debris, broken tiles, and ornamental details now eroded by time and the jungle’s return.

When revisiting the build later, I incorporated newer foliage elements, including updated fern pieces and custom-built palm trees. These additions helped enrich the setting, emphasizing the lush, tropical jungle pressing in beyond the church’s ruined stone fences — creating a strong visual contrast between the structured decay of the church and the wild vitality of the surrounding environment.