Dog Soldiers (2002)
Low Budget Werewolf Horror
Starring: Sean Pertwee, Kevin McKidd, Emma Cleasby, Liam Cunningham, Thomas Lockyer, Darren Morfitt, Chris Robson (I), Leslie Simpson, Tina Landini, Craig Conway, Vilrikke's Acer, Bryn Walters, Brian Claxton Payne, Ben Wright (II)
Director: Neil Marshall
Running Time: 105 minutes
US MPAA rating: N/AUK BBFC rating: 15
Action, Horror
On DVD As movie openings go, Dog Soldiers does itself no favours by having the worst opening sequence known to the history of horror films. An army unit is making camp in the Scottish Highlands and once settled, the done to death traditional banter begins. All the standard elements are there, the insults, the swearing, the camaraderie, the atrocious script. It's done to make you believe that this group of B actors are a close knit team, you know.
But if you're not really bothered about the feeble dialogue or the shoestring budget, Dog Soldiers isn't actually a bad film. The story is very simple indeed: Army unit on exercise find the remains of another team, Special Division. Something has killed some of the team and the rest have vanished. Our stoic army pals are then attacked by a mysterious creature and Sergeant Wells (Pertwee) is disembowelled, internal organs spewing everywhere (nice!). This new and scary threat grows until they are rescued by Megan (Cleasby) who drives them to a remote cottage. There the unit must defend themselves until morning, with a rapidly depleting supply of ammunition and fading chances of survival.
I was fairly impressed with Dog Soldiers. It contains all the elements of a B Movie without even trying. It's dark and wholly unoriginal, and had this come from the rich pockets of Hollywood, I would have rated it much lower, but as a British horror flick it has its own style and is well worth a look. Plus, it's a film about werewolves and you don't see many of them around these days.
DVD Extras: Surprisingly good set of extras including: Audio commentary by Director, Cast and Crew, Audio commentary by Producer David E. Allen, Deleted Scenes, Featurette: 'The Making of Dog Soldiers', Gag Reel, B-Roll footage, Storyboards, Photo gallery, Theatrical trailers.
It's Got: Pretty cool werewolves.
It Needs: An injection of style (and money). It trails behind classy horror flicks like The Ring.
Alternatives: The Sixth Sense
Summary: An above average horror movie and a good effort by British Horror producers.
Review Date: 5th January 2003
External Links
Dog Soldiers at the IMDB
Comments12 Comments |
| This is in my opinion a very good production. with no real marketing and lack of production costs it contained a good storyline and a humerous tone throughout!!! one of the best british movies i have seen for years!!! 8/10 |
| Comment by:- Stu | | 10 March 2004 | ip: logged |
| Don't listen to the main review of the film on this page; it doesn't even get the opening scene right! The opening scene was actually a couple camping in the Scottish Highlands. The dialogue was good, quick and seemed off-the-bat and natural rather than the stilted conversation of most 'B' horror movies. I wouldn't rate this a B, though it may seem that way twenty years down the line. Set to become a classic in the genre, Dog Soldiers has all the classic elements and does incredibly well on its low budget. |
| Comment by:- sar | | 03 April 2004 | ip: logged |
| Glad that Sar set it straight about the opening scene, which was short and to the point, and also introduced something which is only recalled in the final scene. My feeling was that the film deliberately sets out to be "B Movie"esque, with its multitude of references to classic horrors, and turned into a really enjoyable romp of a movie. Also I think the werewolves were cool - those of you who say they looked unconvincing please post what films you've seen where they were better... the last decent monster I saw was American Werewolf in London, even Underworld failed on that score for me. |
| Comment by:- Nath | | 13 April 2004 | ip: logged |
| This is one of the best horrer movies I have seen the person who did the typing at the top well letts just say there somthing wrong with him he didnt even explain the opening seen right. One of the greatest horrer movies of all time Dog soliders 2:Fresh meat is coming out soon. |
| Comment by:- Emalf Flame | | 22 August 2004 | ip: logged |
| I expected this movie to be cheesy (having first heard of it being on the sci-fi channel, i was afraid it was one of their "original" films, all ofo which are terrible). imagine my surprise the first time i actually saw it start to finish. It borrows the best movie devices from Aliens, and throws in a "traditional" monster with a new twist. I agree with the posts above that the main review isnt worth the paper it isnt printed on. I always find it interesting when critics refer to something as unoriginal...Like they have created anything original lately (or at all, ever). Aside from the before mentioned mistake in describing the opening scene... How the hell did the writer decide that "The Sixth Sense" was a suitable alternate? It is an action/horror, so i would say couple this with Aliens or Resident Evil. Maybe even Event Horizon (which also has Sgt Wells in it :)) keep your eyes peeled for hidden references. if you think you have heard or seen something somewhere else, you probably have. |
| Comment by:- Vodstok | scaredyet.net | 08 September 2004 | ip: logged |
| A very good reflection of Dog Soldiers is already set above. I think this is the best horror film i've ever watched: it inspires and makes you feel deeply involved. the starring, use of language and setting are just perfect! I'm obsessed with the idea of watching Dog Soldiers all the time!! |
| Comment by:- Zarah | www.yahoo.com | 21 September 2004 | ip: logged |
| This film was a funny horror film it was packed with action starting with out camping in the scottish highlands as a romantic weekend but turned into a murderous weekend i thought that this film would be corny but it was quality |
| Comment by:- Lewis | www.movie-gazette.com/cinerevi... | 30 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| I love the strong muscles on the men so sexy |
| Comment by:- chris ibbetson | www.Iamgay.com | 30 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| "With daybreak comes the next horrifying chapter in the DOG SOLDIERS saga. "In the misty morning, following his night of werewolf horror in the original DOG SOLDIERS, Pvt. Lawrence Cooper surveys the rubble of the Scottish farmhouse, battered and bruised from the battle. He has lost everything he knew to the werewolf family; his fellow soldiers, his father figure sergeant, his faith in women and his disbelief in the supernatural. Cooper and the only other survivor, Sam the dog, begin their long trek toward civilization, satisfied that the werewolf family was killed in the farmhouse explosion. "Meanwhile, on the other side of the forest, the U.S. Special Forces team that was originally sent to participate in a series of war games with Cooper's team waits impatiently. Col. Benjamin Parker sends two of his men off to see if there is any sign of the British team. They return with Cooper, who tells them an unbelievable tale about the night he and his platoon were besieged by a family of werewolves. "Just as Parker is about to write off Cooper as a mass murderer, a second wounded British soldier is brought into the U.S. camp. He introduces himself as British Special OPS Pvt. Kevin Erickson, lone survivor of the werewolf attack on Sgt. Ryan's platoon in the original film. Erickson reports the werewolf attack on his platoon to the soldiers. He escaped with a few other soldiers to a cave near a stream. During the night, Erickson watched as one by one his platoon died, only to be resurrected, transformed into werewolves: Dog Soldiers! "Parker has had enough of the werewolf tales, puts both men under arrest and banishes them to a secured tent until they can all be picked up by a rendezvous ship in the morning. When Cooper reveals his photographic evidence from the farmhouse, Parker sends out three of his men to the shattered farmhouse to corroborate Cooper's story. The U.S. soldiers arrive at the farmhouse…just at moonrise. They are greeted by a bone-chilling howl that shatters the still of the night. "What follows is a night of ultimate horror as the U.S. forces, armed to the teeth with modern warfare technology, are about to take on their greatest foe, savage supernatural beasts who think and act like soldiers. The battle for humanity will be fought on this night…Man vs. Beast…Soldier vs. Dog Soldier!" |
| Comment by:- Sorin | | 16 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| The information in the above artical comes from the URL: www.thezreview.co.uk/comingsoon/d/dogsoldiers2.shtm loved the first film looking forward to the next one. |
| Comment by:- Sorin | | 16 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| i thought this was a well set hooror movie for a british production |
| Comment by:- matt30 | | 30 May 2005 | ip: logged |
| nice movie veeeeeery English :) |
| Comment by:- M.S. | | 24 August 2005 | ip: logged |
