This is a horror movie with a title that once earned the quote ‘well that looks like a pile of shit’. I will explain more about that quote after telling you the actual film title being ‘Dog Soldiers’. Many werewolf fans love this movie but as for other critics being somewhat lower with IMDb giving this movie a 6.8 out of 10 and even Rotten Tomatoes only gave this one a score of 77%. I was at a gig and was in the men’s toilet when the random bloke stood next to me saw the poster for Dog Soldiers and said the note mentioned earlier. Released in 2002, produced by Christopher Figg, Tom Reeve, and David E.Allen. Both written and directed by Neil Marshall distributed by Pathe and filmed predominantly in Luxembourg. The film technically eked out a profit from a budget of $3.6m it went on to return $7.9m. I am sure the cost figure doesn’t include the marketing and promotion costs for the project, so it is hard to pass judgement. The film has a small cast including Sean Pertwee, Kevin McKidd, Emma Cleasby, Darren Morfitt, Liam Cunningham, Chris Robson, Leslie Simpson, Thomas Lockyer, and brief appearances from Craig Conway and Tina Landini. The film was originally planned to be filmed in the UK but was more cost effective to move the project to Luxembourg but then had issues with snow effecting the shooting time. They got through it and produced a great quirky and amusing horror movie. So, shall we get to the plot before I explain all this movie raises its hat to some classics.
The film begins with the deaths of campers in the highlands of Scotland. It moves to a training programme in Wales where Cooper is attempting to join the Special Forces and despite a great effort of evading them for a long time is kicked off the course for refusing to kill an innocent dog when captured. He returns to his troop who are sent on a training exercise in the highlands of Scotland some weeks later. They must travel to the rescue point which is guarded by Special Air Services unit. They are helicoptered in and must make their way to the point with weapons firing blanks they expect to travel for two days through thick woodlands to be collection point. Just avoid the SAS, simple. Their night camp is interrupted by a falling cow that lands on the fire before the next day they stumble on the SAS camp which has been rampaged finding the whole unit dead and carrying live ammo and weaponry they ditch their own blanks and treat the situation as very hostile. Radio is not working so is no help but there is a single survivor namely Captain Ryan who told Cooper to shoot the dog. He is taken prisoner and the troop head out into the wilderness without a clue what had killed their “make-believe” enemy. When attacked they take shelter in a farmhouse in the middle of nowhere surrounded by their attackers how are they going to survive? I don’t know you’ll just have to watch it won’t you.
The list of characters includes Sergeant Harry.G. Wells, Captain Richard Ryan, Privates - Lawrence Cooper, Phil Witherspoon (Spoons), Joe Kirkley, Terry Milburn, and Bruce Campbell along with Megan. Which I think highlights at least some of the homages paid to An American Werewolf in London, HG Wells, The Evil Dead, Zulu, Aliens, The Matrix, Bruce Campbell, and Star Trek (the Wrath of Khan). They are held up in the cottage when Spoons (who is a great character) turns and tells Bruce (I think) that it feels like Rorke’s Drift with all the enemy surrounding them and then trapped. The film moves at a pace that you feel compelled to follow on the coat tails of as it romps from the early scenes jumping from Scotland and Wales before the actual story begins with the troop being dropped in the forest of Scotland. Then it’s just a brief lull before the storm as they travel through the woods before their first encounter and then its action from here on as the troop try and escape to a house then attempt to find a way out from there to help their wounded Sergeant. This movie is just simply a fast-paced horror romp with comedy and jokes throughout the characters are instantly likeable and each one is unique its clearly each has their own identity and are also part of a troop that will support each other and keep everyone going. Particularly when lives are on the line which rapidly becomes apparent. If you haven’t seen this movie then please do, it may have an instant effect on your opinion with the name or the rough view of the plot but what this movie does is bring you kindly by the hand sits you down and then takes you on a roller coaster ride of story that spits you out and the end knowing that you know its was just a ride to be enjoyed. It does pay homage to some classics but if you don’t know them it does not stop you from enjoying this ripsnorter of a movie. OK the actual villains of the piece are not that animated but what the director does is play to its strengths whilst not hiding but focusing away from its negative points. Like the lack of animation in the werewolves faces. The fact they are humanoid in structure with a wolf shoulder and face standing over 7ft tall they are mean mothers, and they are relentless in their attacks makes this movie fantastic. Seriously it might be low budget compared to the film following on this list, but it stands at number 20 on its own merits. It is such an enjoyable movie that you should go an enjoy it…
Next up as just hinted at is another epic fantasy movie of ham and pickle…
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