If you are like me and are completly sick to death of the teen/college slasher horrors that hollywood seem to produce by the week then Dog Soldiers is then film for you. this film has everything for the true horror fan, a great story , good acting , lots of blood , tons of action and most importantly it's bloody scary. The film is about a group of soldiers on routine patrol in Scotland come across what seems to be a group of man eating beasts that turn out to be warewolf's and do their best to fight of the constant attack by the flesh eating beasts. What i like about the movie that while it has a good blend of horror and action it is also very amusing in parts to and unlike most hollywood horrors it it funny when the director means it to be! A classy way above average horror that you cant fail to enjoy. 8 out of 10.
667 Reviews
A good mix of horror and old time story telling
gregsrants6 December 2003
Warning: Spoilers
I can't explain why I picked up the DVD, Dog Soldiers off the video store shelf. The box art consisted of poorly drawn wolves and there was a tag line that read `From the producers of Hellraiser'. Normally this combination would have me wiping down the cover in an attempt to remove any evidence that my fingerprints were interested in pursuing the rental. But, somehow, Dog Soldiers worked its way into the Saturday night rental pile and once all other options were exhausted, there I was, reluctantly putting the DVD into the player and hoping that there would be enough of anything to entertain me until bedtime.
Dog Soldiers opens in Scotland, where two love struck campers are attacked by some creature in the middle of the night. Cut ahead a few weeks and we are introduced to a group of army trainees that are left in the woods as part of an exercise against a team of Special Forces. Lead by Sergeant Wells (Sean Pertwee) and motivated by Private Cooper (Kevin McKidd), the squad is surprised upon their first nightfall in the wild by a mutilated cow that is thrust into their campsite. Following the bloody trail of the animal, they are soon led to the massacred remains of the elite Special Forces team that was stationed in the same region. Evidence of a struggle was everywhere, but no bodies were immediately evident, except for the ramblings of the sole survivor, Captain Ryan (played by Liam Cunningham) who was severely injured during the night.
Within moments, the group is besieged by wolf-like creatures and run for their lives towards the tree line, where they are fortunate enough to cross paths with a young woman that takes the remaining soldiers to a remote farm house. As night progresses, onslaught upon onslaught is countered by the soldiers as they fight to keep the werewolves out of their new fortress, but some, one by one, they fall victims to the creatures hunger.
Dog Soldiers is one of those rare horror movies that actually works. The creature effects are better than most bigger budgeted werewolf movies States side, and there are a few genuine good scares and tension as mounted by writer/director Neil Marshall. What I also appreciated from the film was its sense of humour, or rather; it's lack of it. In today's horror genre, we are subjected to countless Freddyisms' or inside jokes that make the Scream series such a box-office bonanza. However, Dog Soldiers checks its humour at the door and focuses on the characters and claustrophobic feel of being trapped in a surrounded country house. Actually, the only chuckle you will get in this film will is mixed with extreme horror and gore. It occurs in a scene where the family dog pulls on the intestines of the living Sergeant Wells and he fights with the dog for his innards while the troops fight off a wave of attacks by the wolves at the front door. You'll find yourself smiling and then grotesquely repulsed by the same scene that put a smile in your cheeks.
I am not saying that Dog Soldiers is perfect. Not by any means. But horror films have never really gotten any better over the years, as Hollywood still tries to recapture such terror as identified in The Exorcist or Alien. However, Dog Soldiers will entertain and isn't that all we are looking for?
Dog Soldiers opens in Scotland, where two love struck campers are attacked by some creature in the middle of the night. Cut ahead a few weeks and we are introduced to a group of army trainees that are left in the woods as part of an exercise against a team of Special Forces. Lead by Sergeant Wells (Sean Pertwee) and motivated by Private Cooper (Kevin McKidd), the squad is surprised upon their first nightfall in the wild by a mutilated cow that is thrust into their campsite. Following the bloody trail of the animal, they are soon led to the massacred remains of the elite Special Forces team that was stationed in the same region. Evidence of a struggle was everywhere, but no bodies were immediately evident, except for the ramblings of the sole survivor, Captain Ryan (played by Liam Cunningham) who was severely injured during the night.
Within moments, the group is besieged by wolf-like creatures and run for their lives towards the tree line, where they are fortunate enough to cross paths with a young woman that takes the remaining soldiers to a remote farm house. As night progresses, onslaught upon onslaught is countered by the soldiers as they fight to keep the werewolves out of their new fortress, but some, one by one, they fall victims to the creatures hunger.
Dog Soldiers is one of those rare horror movies that actually works. The creature effects are better than most bigger budgeted werewolf movies States side, and there are a few genuine good scares and tension as mounted by writer/director Neil Marshall. What I also appreciated from the film was its sense of humour, or rather; it's lack of it. In today's horror genre, we are subjected to countless Freddyisms' or inside jokes that make the Scream series such a box-office bonanza. However, Dog Soldiers checks its humour at the door and focuses on the characters and claustrophobic feel of being trapped in a surrounded country house. Actually, the only chuckle you will get in this film will is mixed with extreme horror and gore. It occurs in a scene where the family dog pulls on the intestines of the living Sergeant Wells and he fights with the dog for his innards while the troops fight off a wave of attacks by the wolves at the front door. You'll find yourself smiling and then grotesquely repulsed by the same scene that put a smile in your cheeks.
I am not saying that Dog Soldiers is perfect. Not by any means. But horror films have never really gotten any better over the years, as Hollywood still tries to recapture such terror as identified in The Exorcist or Alien. However, Dog Soldiers will entertain and isn't that all we are looking for?
Worth while
stamper4 September 2004
This one is the best werewolf film I've ever seen. I must admit that it hasn't got the greatest special effects or the biggest names in the acting business attached to it, but the film succeeds in doing what needs to be done: it keeps you on the edge of your seat for the whole ride and it doesn't let you go for one minute. Other than that, the actors are pretty good and there are also some good comedic moments. If you want a nice night of entertainment, suspense and scares give this one a try, because despite not being the most original or inventive film out there, it does not only promise to deliver IT DOES SO!!! I just know that I especially (and two others) highly enjoyed this low budget horror flick.
8 out of 10
8 out of 10
A Simple Werewolf Movie Done Right
johnspringer-9544024 February 2023
It's proof that a simple concept can be very entertaining when done well. A routine army training exercise in the remote Scottish highlands becomes a desperate fight for survival when the soldiers run across some werewolves. The plot's about as basic as it gets but the film benefits from good performances (the cast is particularly adept at conveying the grizzled camaraderie of the protagonists), intelligent use of practical effects, moments of understated humor and well-staged action. With the exception of one unearned and undercooked twist the script is tight and coherent.
Routinely and deservedly ranked among the best werewolf films, it's must-see for genre enthusiasts and should entertain general audiences too.
Routinely and deservedly ranked among the best werewolf films, it's must-see for genre enthusiasts and should entertain general audiences too.
Surprisingly atmospheric indy.
FiendishDramaturgy5 February 2004
Warning: Spoilers
For a "B" movie, this attempt really RAWKED. If you're into the Werewolf legends, and a fair share of gore, this is gonna be a must-see for you. The suspense is wonderful, and the musical score is far better than anything you'd expect from a production such as this. The story and dialog are extraordinarily realistic lending an almost desperate believability to this attempt.
The performances were realistically done by all. I was most impressed with the quality of energy these guys gave to this work. Quite honestly, I figured, "Yeah, yeah; another crappy little nothing movie everybody loves and I'll detest." I'm glad to report that I was wrong. This movie was a delightful surprise, filled with suspense, atmosphere, action and wolves. Lotso' werewolves. Just excellent work all around. Even the werewolves look good, along with the blood effects. I was honestly impressed.
Some critics have labeled this work as "ridiculous." That almost put me off giving this one a chance. I am glad I did not listen. To those who have lost the ability to believe, then it may be ridiculous. But for those of us who still have an imagination, movies like this can be entertaining ventures into the myth that once was legend.
You never notice the lack of budget. At least, I didn't. Not once.
On My "B" scale, this rates an 8.8/10.
On My "A" scale, it rates a 6.2/10 from...
the Fiend :.
The performances were realistically done by all. I was most impressed with the quality of energy these guys gave to this work. Quite honestly, I figured, "Yeah, yeah; another crappy little nothing movie everybody loves and I'll detest." I'm glad to report that I was wrong. This movie was a delightful surprise, filled with suspense, atmosphere, action and wolves. Lotso' werewolves. Just excellent work all around. Even the werewolves look good, along with the blood effects. I was honestly impressed.
Some critics have labeled this work as "ridiculous." That almost put me off giving this one a chance. I am glad I did not listen. To those who have lost the ability to believe, then it may be ridiculous. But for those of us who still have an imagination, movies like this can be entertaining ventures into the myth that once was legend.
You never notice the lack of budget. At least, I didn't. Not once.
On My "B" scale, this rates an 8.8/10.
On My "A" scale, it rates a 6.2/10 from...
the Fiend :.
This movie is just...
gregory-rebelo8 June 2004
...brillant.
I must admit that I was pretty skeptical when i picked it up from the rack at my DVD retailer. A werewolf movie? Aren't they generally so bad no one wants to watch them/buy them? The fact that it was on sale didn't help, but I braced myself and got it figuring that if it was bad, I'd bury it in some deep deep cave and never let it out. But the movie got me out of my seat with excitement and enjoyment at the action and the thrills. I remember checking the time on the DVD player and wincing at the fact I had only half an hour of film left to enjoy. True, I have seen better special effects. And true some things aren't very realistic (and the producers acknowledge those things). But for a studio I have never heard of with a budget far inferior to those of Hollywood super productions, I found those effects very well done.
A very good movie that gave me thrills I hadn't had since the first Predator.
I must admit that I was pretty skeptical when i picked it up from the rack at my DVD retailer. A werewolf movie? Aren't they generally so bad no one wants to watch them/buy them? The fact that it was on sale didn't help, but I braced myself and got it figuring that if it was bad, I'd bury it in some deep deep cave and never let it out. But the movie got me out of my seat with excitement and enjoyment at the action and the thrills. I remember checking the time on the DVD player and wincing at the fact I had only half an hour of film left to enjoy. True, I have seen better special effects. And true some things aren't very realistic (and the producers acknowledge those things). But for a studio I have never heard of with a budget far inferior to those of Hollywood super productions, I found those effects very well done.
A very good movie that gave me thrills I hadn't had since the first Predator.
Best Werewolf Film Since An American Werewolf In London
Big Movie Fan4 January 2003
Warning: Spoilers
With all due respect to other nations, we British make some fantastic werewolf movies. There was the brilliant An American Werewolf In London made in 1981 and in 2002, this superior feature.
Dog Soldiers is a simple story about an Army platoon on exercise in Scotland who find themselves pitched against intelligent werewolves. The script is excellent, the characters believable and the werewolves are scary.
Dog Soldiers is one of those horror movies that gradually builds up the tension. For the first half, you don't actually see the werewolves but you know they are there. Then, you get glimpses of them and in the final half you get to see them in all their gruesome glory. The main part of the film finds the platoon holed up in a cottage with the werewolves gathering outside-Night Of The Living Dead was obviously an inspiration. This is where the film really delivers. The soldiers are in a predicament. Are they safe inside or would they be safer outside? It's hard to figure out. The scenes are really tense, especially certain scenes where certain soldiers attempt to brave it outside. Do they make it? Watch the film and find out.
I have to mention the werewolves. They are very original looking, a far cry from Lon Chaney's Wolfman. They are big mean looking suckers who just exude fear at the slightest glimpse.
Dog Soldiers should be included in any Top Ten Werewolf Movie list. I have no problem in recommending it to anyone.
Dog Soldiers is a simple story about an Army platoon on exercise in Scotland who find themselves pitched against intelligent werewolves. The script is excellent, the characters believable and the werewolves are scary.
Dog Soldiers is one of those horror movies that gradually builds up the tension. For the first half, you don't actually see the werewolves but you know they are there. Then, you get glimpses of them and in the final half you get to see them in all their gruesome glory. The main part of the film finds the platoon holed up in a cottage with the werewolves gathering outside-Night Of The Living Dead was obviously an inspiration. This is where the film really delivers. The soldiers are in a predicament. Are they safe inside or would they be safer outside? It's hard to figure out. The scenes are really tense, especially certain scenes where certain soldiers attempt to brave it outside. Do they make it? Watch the film and find out.
I have to mention the werewolves. They are very original looking, a far cry from Lon Chaney's Wolfman. They are big mean looking suckers who just exude fear at the slightest glimpse.
Dog Soldiers should be included in any Top Ten Werewolf Movie list. I have no problem in recommending it to anyone.
Thrilling movie full of amazing makeup work , noisy action and kinetic energy
ma-cortes28 February 2011
This exciting movie is packed with noisy action, unbelievable stunts, tension, thrills, chills, and lots of blood and gore, including throating-slit ,beheading, impaling and slashing . A squad of English soldiers (Sean Pertwee , Kevin McKidd , among others) on training in the lonesome Scottish wilderness ,during manoeuvres in the dark , deep forests of Scotland region , find a wounded Special Forces captain (Liam Cunningham )and the carnage remains of his band . As they encounter zoologist named Megan (Emma Cleasby), it results out that werewolves are active in the country. After getting away the find shelter in a country house but the group encounters a pack of carnivorous, crawling creatures are waiting for them . They find themselves caught , hunted, and waiting for the long night to reach its ending . They have to prepare for some action , hope running thin and chances slipping away, as the there will be a full moon tonight with time running out .Some of them undergo a dental and hirsute transformation at the night and going on a murderous rampage every time the moon is full .
The motion picture displays action,suspense,terror with claustrophobic touches and is quite entertaining . This is a gripping, exciting , high-octane nightmare of the worse scenario with terrible werewolves stalking a soldiers team . The screenwriter provided a well-knit plot with mystery and horror, giving full rein to Neil Marshall natural talent for the terror and action genre . The theme of people being stranded in a hostile, perilous environment with attackers creatures is justly reminiscent of former films and subsequently to be made another story in similar style titled ¨The descent¨ . Stirring musical score fitting to action by Mark Thomas and appropriate cinematography Sam McCurdy . The motion picture is decently directed by Neil Marshall with splendid visual style but with no originally because he has copied previous films. Neal is expert in making brutally violent horror movies (Doomsday, The descent). Rating: Good, better than average, the film is classified PG-13 for lots of guts, gore and violence. This remarkable action film appeal to terror genre buffs .
The motion picture displays action,suspense,terror with claustrophobic touches and is quite entertaining . This is a gripping, exciting , high-octane nightmare of the worse scenario with terrible werewolves stalking a soldiers team . The screenwriter provided a well-knit plot with mystery and horror, giving full rein to Neil Marshall natural talent for the terror and action genre . The theme of people being stranded in a hostile, perilous environment with attackers creatures is justly reminiscent of former films and subsequently to be made another story in similar style titled ¨The descent¨ . Stirring musical score fitting to action by Mark Thomas and appropriate cinematography Sam McCurdy . The motion picture is decently directed by Neil Marshall with splendid visual style but with no originally because he has copied previous films. Neal is expert in making brutally violent horror movies (Doomsday, The descent). Rating: Good, better than average, the film is classified PG-13 for lots of guts, gore and violence. This remarkable action film appeal to terror genre buffs .
Loads of bloody fun! A must for werewolf freaks!
joker1actual11 January 2005
When I got this movie I was expecting cheesy American B movie about soldiers against people in rubber wolf masks. How much more wrong could I have been? This movie was brilliant and a refreshing change from all the Hollywood junk about killer dolls and such. By the middle of the movie you actually care whether the characters get out or not. The scenes in this film were well filmed and the location was absolutely breath taking. Stick around for the credits on this one boys and girls. You'll definitely find it interesting. The last time I was this impressed with a werewolf movie was Silver Bullet. I would even put this film with An American Werewolf in London. It has some excellent acting, character development and if you see this keep your eye on Pvt. Spooner! You'll remember him come the end of the movie! I would give this flick four stars for sure!
Sausages.....!!
flingebunt14 June 2005
There is a little sub genre of horror that involves people with guns vs. monsters. The most famous are of course Aliens, but there are few others (28 days later is another example).
Soldiers are the people of our society to whom we give the latest technology for killing, train them in this art to basically make monsters out of men and then their job is defend civilization against the monsters (where it is Osoma Bin Ladin or Werewolves, it doesn't matter).
Having said or that, this low budget, but well made horror flick has a squad of soldiers wandering around Scotland on a routine training mission, only to find out they are really there as bait for werewolves.
Lots of guns, guts (sausages) and gory glory. Heaps of pop culture references, fine acting, some scares, but lots of action. The werewolves are cool, the military action is authentic enough, and the analogy of the pack of werewolves and the squad of soldiers is a good one. It never had theatrical release in America, but did very well for itself in the UK.
Overall a good movie, with some flaws such as plot twists either being obvious (but then I tend to get most of them right away) or just silly and much of the time they are playing the movie for laughs when the audience is more into the tension and is there for the scare.
You won't see many horror films like this, so if you like soldier movies, horror movies, low budget movies or just want something a little different, see it.
Soldiers are the people of our society to whom we give the latest technology for killing, train them in this art to basically make monsters out of men and then their job is defend civilization against the monsters (where it is Osoma Bin Ladin or Werewolves, it doesn't matter).
Having said or that, this low budget, but well made horror flick has a squad of soldiers wandering around Scotland on a routine training mission, only to find out they are really there as bait for werewolves.
Lots of guns, guts (sausages) and gory glory. Heaps of pop culture references, fine acting, some scares, but lots of action. The werewolves are cool, the military action is authentic enough, and the analogy of the pack of werewolves and the squad of soldiers is a good one. It never had theatrical release in America, but did very well for itself in the UK.
Overall a good movie, with some flaws such as plot twists either being obvious (but then I tend to get most of them right away) or just silly and much of the time they are playing the movie for laughs when the audience is more into the tension and is there for the scare.
You won't see many horror films like this, so if you like soldier movies, horror movies, low budget movies or just want something a little different, see it.
Reasonable werewolf flick
Red-Barracuda1 October 2009
This is a fairly run-of-the-mill people trapped-in-a-building-while-homicidal-enemies-try-to-get-in movie. In this case a group of soldiers out on training manoeuvres in the Scottish Highlands wind up trapped in a remote cottage while a group of hungry werewolves try to get in and eat them. There's not a great deal more to the story than that and the set up has been done many other times, the only real difference is it's a bunch of lycanthropes who are the baddies. Other than that this, it follows the same premise that many films such as Night of the Living Dead and Assault on Precinct 13 trod many years previously. It's a decent enough effort, just completely unremarkable; there is very little in the way of surprises here. The werewolves themselves are quite impressive. They aren't often shown in too much detail but when we do see them they are quite well presented. The soldiers themselves are fairly sympathetic but not all that interesting or memorable. Although I did find the Special Forces guy to be a somewhat one-dimensional villain and I couldn't really be bothered with him. Possibly the main fault in the film is that it's just not that scary. There isn't really much of an atmosphere; the focus is mainly on shoot-outs and violent attacks. I think the werewolf presence could've been introduced in a more sinister way, instead we quickly find ourselves in a siege situation, and it does get a little limited and boring after a while.
This is an OK horror film that is worth a watch if you like werewolf movies. Nothing too special though.
This is an OK horror film that is worth a watch if you like werewolf movies. Nothing too special though.
My number 1 the best werewolf horror film of all time a true classic masterpiece
ivo-cobra816 October 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Dog Soldiers (2002) is my number 1 favorite best werewolf film of all time, a true horror classic! I love this film to death and it is my favorite action horror werewolf film in the horror genre! It is number 1 because it is simple, it is soldiers and werewolf's and they fight! Well directed and written by Neil Marshall who directed The Descent and Doomsday, I still have to watch Doomsday. I never saw before The Descent and I am not planning too. Dog Soldiers is my all time favorite werewolf movie because it reminds a bit on Aliens, instead of Aliens is werewolf's. It is practical I didn't noticed any CGI in it, I like the werewolf's they are tall and giant monsters.
I like the cast you have Kevin McKidd as lead, you have Sean Pertwee as his commander the name of the character is Sergeant Harry G. Wells. Kevin McKidd is Private Lawrence Cooper. Liam Cunningham is Captain Ryan the human bad guy in this, he is the guy we don't trust. I also like this guy Darren Morfitt who plays Private Phil "Spoon" Witherspoon. Thomas Lockyer is Corporal Bruce Campbell the name and the last name from the actor Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead trilogy). This THE BEST WEREWOLF movie of all time! It won in 2002 the Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Film's Golden Raven, so you get an idea.
"Do you think it's all over? It is now."
Plot: A British Squad is sent on a training mission in the Highlands of Scotland against Special Operations squad. Ignoring the childish "campfire" stories heard about the area, they continue with their mission and come across the bloody remains of the Special Ops Squad, and a fierce howling is pitching the night sky... With two mortally wounded men, they make an escape, running into a zoologist by the name of Megan - who knows exactly what hunts them. What began as what they thought was a training mission turns into a battle for their lives against the most unlikely enemies they would have expected - werewolves.
This is actually British film it is not an American film, but I absolutely love it to death! THIS is how you do action horror movie with gore, suspense and most of all action. 100% fun and one of the movies that never gets boring. I specially liked the ending and I mean at the part where Wells sacrifices himself and blows up the house killing entire werewolf family excellent bad - ass scene ever!!! Neil Marshalls best film hands down. This film is so much fun and the werewolves look so bad ass. Love the fight scene at the end. A classic movie and a perfect example to every movie maker out there on how you can make a fantastic film on a low budget! It would have been awesome to see Statham take on these werewolves. But I liked the lead actors, great action, environment. I enjoy Dog Soldiers! Jason Statham as the main lead would be a bad ass seeing him kicking werewolf's ass!
There is a lot of this movie that I like: it is a true horror film, you see people get's slashed and ripped off, you see a lot of blood and so on. I love the line when Cooper (Kevin McKidd) says a line Do you think it's all over? It is now and bum he blows to pieces Ryan/werewolf (Liam Cunningham) with a shot gun. I love that there is one sole survivor in this movie, entire squad get's eaten by werewolf's. You have a lot of gun fire power, soldiers are using a machine gun Heckler & Koch MP5A2 which is awesome. I love practical digital visual effects for werewolf's the animatronics by the company image FX were fantastic and the best one I ever saw! The physical-effects supervisor and stunt coordinator Harry Wiessenhaan was great and brilliant he knew how to make a werewolf for making this movie. Neil Marshall written and directed this movie so well and he really did made an excellent job making a horror film.
Dog Soldiers is a 2002 British action horror film written and directed by Neil Marshall, and starring Kevin McKidd, Sean Pertwee and Liam Cunningham. A British production, set in the highlands of Scotland, it was filmed almost entirely in Luxembourg.
Overall: Splitting the difference, we get an 10/10 -- an outstanding score, I absolutely love this movie to death, it is original and it is brilliant horror action film my number 1 favorite werewolf movie!
I like the cast you have Kevin McKidd as lead, you have Sean Pertwee as his commander the name of the character is Sergeant Harry G. Wells. Kevin McKidd is Private Lawrence Cooper. Liam Cunningham is Captain Ryan the human bad guy in this, he is the guy we don't trust. I also like this guy Darren Morfitt who plays Private Phil "Spoon" Witherspoon. Thomas Lockyer is Corporal Bruce Campbell the name and the last name from the actor Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead trilogy). This THE BEST WEREWOLF movie of all time! It won in 2002 the Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Film's Golden Raven, so you get an idea.
"Do you think it's all over? It is now."
Plot: A British Squad is sent on a training mission in the Highlands of Scotland against Special Operations squad. Ignoring the childish "campfire" stories heard about the area, they continue with their mission and come across the bloody remains of the Special Ops Squad, and a fierce howling is pitching the night sky... With two mortally wounded men, they make an escape, running into a zoologist by the name of Megan - who knows exactly what hunts them. What began as what they thought was a training mission turns into a battle for their lives against the most unlikely enemies they would have expected - werewolves.
This is actually British film it is not an American film, but I absolutely love it to death! THIS is how you do action horror movie with gore, suspense and most of all action. 100% fun and one of the movies that never gets boring. I specially liked the ending and I mean at the part where Wells sacrifices himself and blows up the house killing entire werewolf family excellent bad - ass scene ever!!! Neil Marshalls best film hands down. This film is so much fun and the werewolves look so bad ass. Love the fight scene at the end. A classic movie and a perfect example to every movie maker out there on how you can make a fantastic film on a low budget! It would have been awesome to see Statham take on these werewolves. But I liked the lead actors, great action, environment. I enjoy Dog Soldiers! Jason Statham as the main lead would be a bad ass seeing him kicking werewolf's ass!
There is a lot of this movie that I like: it is a true horror film, you see people get's slashed and ripped off, you see a lot of blood and so on. I love the line when Cooper (Kevin McKidd) says a line Do you think it's all over? It is now and bum he blows to pieces Ryan/werewolf (Liam Cunningham) with a shot gun. I love that there is one sole survivor in this movie, entire squad get's eaten by werewolf's. You have a lot of gun fire power, soldiers are using a machine gun Heckler & Koch MP5A2 which is awesome. I love practical digital visual effects for werewolf's the animatronics by the company image FX were fantastic and the best one I ever saw! The physical-effects supervisor and stunt coordinator Harry Wiessenhaan was great and brilliant he knew how to make a werewolf for making this movie. Neil Marshall written and directed this movie so well and he really did made an excellent job making a horror film.
Dog Soldiers is a 2002 British action horror film written and directed by Neil Marshall, and starring Kevin McKidd, Sean Pertwee and Liam Cunningham. A British production, set in the highlands of Scotland, it was filmed almost entirely in Luxembourg.
Overall: Splitting the difference, we get an 10/10 -- an outstanding score, I absolutely love this movie to death, it is original and it is brilliant horror action film my number 1 favorite werewolf movie!
Werewolves of Scotland
billcr1218 February 2023
A group of soldiers are sent on a training mission when they encounter werewolves. The furry creatures are not very friendly and the military men have their hands full.
The only woman in the cast takes them to a remote house in the middle of nowhere and the film turns into an updated version of George Romero's 1968 classic "Night of the Living Dead." Instead of the black and white gore of that film, we get all the blood and guts in living color.
I had subtitles in order to understand the accents which can be tricky for this American to understand. Some of the slang is funny and the cast is a good one.
A fine entry in the werewolf field.
The only woman in the cast takes them to a remote house in the middle of nowhere and the film turns into an updated version of George Romero's 1968 classic "Night of the Living Dead." Instead of the black and white gore of that film, we get all the blood and guts in living color.
I had subtitles in order to understand the accents which can be tricky for this American to understand. Some of the slang is funny and the cast is a good one.
A fine entry in the werewolf field.
Army Pants
KelticKarma24 October 2002
Warning: Spoilers
MINOR SPOILERS
This film is a very good example of why a lot of British films are not taken seriously outside the UK.
What we have here is a mish-mash of "American Werewolf in London", "Predator", "Alien", "Blair Witch", and "Way out West". And it just doesn't work, sorry.
A team of RADA (Posh English Acting School) rejects are dropped into the Highlands of Scotland (pretending) to be soldiers on an exercise. These (pretend) soldiers have no radio or medic (!), are apparently equipped with no live ammo (as is standard on a Trainer), and they have no night-sights. Big mistake - the director's that is, not theirs.
Now things get interesting. We leave the nice aerial shots of the real Scottish Highlands behind, to be replaced by what is obviously an English Woodland Park. The director has to save money, you shout ! Well, fair enough, but aren't we paying him ?
Then things get really scary. No, not the plot, which is as predictable as rain on Friday. At their first camp, a dead cow is slung at them. Private Hardman takes a look at it and says "those aren't entry wounds, they're claw marks". You would expect some perturbation at this stage from the poor RADA squaddies, but no; instead they decide to bed down for the night, with no further examination of just WHY a dead cow has been thrown on their campfire. No guards posted, no search of the area. This level of reality is relentlessly pursued throughout
You may now say to me, well, this is billed as a thriller, and also a "black comedy" - wasn't this scene meant to be comedic ? NO. The words "black comedy" are overused in British film. They are employed to fight off criticism of this type, which says "This film is no good", by impliedly responding "well, it was meant to be funny". Think of pulling the chair away as your Granny sits down to her birthday lunch - you get the idea. There was nothing intentionally funny about this disaster.
And the film just goes from bad to worse.
No-one thinks to ask just what manner of beings the attacking creatures are, none of the RADA misfits seems to be in the least surprised to be under attack from other RADA misfit "werewolves" (in the worst costumes you've seen since the Muppets); there is no surprise when they are rescued by a bonny lassie (with a nice English RADA accent) and taken to a ........ wait for it.... deserted farmhouse.
Need I say more ? I hope not. I think we all grasped the plot within three seconds.
What really annoyed me about this film is this; I didn't expect to see a Schmoozeberg movie, with high production values, good acting, believable interaction between the "actors" etc, but what I DID expect to see was a good comedy take on the films I mentioned above. This is how the film was advertised, and advertised very strongly, I might add.
There is not one intentional comedy moment within this sad film. However, there are many unintentional laughs, to be derived from:
(i) the acting: just watch it, you'll know what I mean (ii) the direction: even worse than Guy Ritchie -no suspense whatsoever (iii) the plot: ??? (iv) the people conned into investing in this howler.
So inspired was I by this film, that I have arranged that my mates and I are going to do a remake. We have bought some sheepskin rugs, red felt-tip pens, and old army surplus gear.
Bet we make a better film !!
British cinema deserves better than this.
1/10
This film is a very good example of why a lot of British films are not taken seriously outside the UK.
What we have here is a mish-mash of "American Werewolf in London", "Predator", "Alien", "Blair Witch", and "Way out West". And it just doesn't work, sorry.
A team of RADA (Posh English Acting School) rejects are dropped into the Highlands of Scotland (pretending) to be soldiers on an exercise. These (pretend) soldiers have no radio or medic (!), are apparently equipped with no live ammo (as is standard on a Trainer), and they have no night-sights. Big mistake - the director's that is, not theirs.
Now things get interesting. We leave the nice aerial shots of the real Scottish Highlands behind, to be replaced by what is obviously an English Woodland Park. The director has to save money, you shout ! Well, fair enough, but aren't we paying him ?
Then things get really scary. No, not the plot, which is as predictable as rain on Friday. At their first camp, a dead cow is slung at them. Private Hardman takes a look at it and says "those aren't entry wounds, they're claw marks". You would expect some perturbation at this stage from the poor RADA squaddies, but no; instead they decide to bed down for the night, with no further examination of just WHY a dead cow has been thrown on their campfire. No guards posted, no search of the area. This level of reality is relentlessly pursued throughout
You may now say to me, well, this is billed as a thriller, and also a "black comedy" - wasn't this scene meant to be comedic ? NO. The words "black comedy" are overused in British film. They are employed to fight off criticism of this type, which says "This film is no good", by impliedly responding "well, it was meant to be funny". Think of pulling the chair away as your Granny sits down to her birthday lunch - you get the idea. There was nothing intentionally funny about this disaster.
And the film just goes from bad to worse.
No-one thinks to ask just what manner of beings the attacking creatures are, none of the RADA misfits seems to be in the least surprised to be under attack from other RADA misfit "werewolves" (in the worst costumes you've seen since the Muppets); there is no surprise when they are rescued by a bonny lassie (with a nice English RADA accent) and taken to a ........ wait for it.... deserted farmhouse.
Need I say more ? I hope not. I think we all grasped the plot within three seconds.
What really annoyed me about this film is this; I didn't expect to see a Schmoozeberg movie, with high production values, good acting, believable interaction between the "actors" etc, but what I DID expect to see was a good comedy take on the films I mentioned above. This is how the film was advertised, and advertised very strongly, I might add.
There is not one intentional comedy moment within this sad film. However, there are many unintentional laughs, to be derived from:
(i) the acting: just watch it, you'll know what I mean (ii) the direction: even worse than Guy Ritchie -no suspense whatsoever (iii) the plot: ??? (iv) the people conned into investing in this howler.
So inspired was I by this film, that I have arranged that my mates and I are going to do a remake. We have bought some sheepskin rugs, red felt-tip pens, and old army surplus gear.
Bet we make a better film !!
British cinema deserves better than this.
1/10
Basic, flawed but fun and does much better than the budget would have suggested was possible
bob the moo17 July 2005
A group of squaddies are sent out into woods in the Scottish highlands to take part in a small practice operation against a group of special force soldiers. However when Sgt Wells' men locate the other unit they find that Captain Ryan is the only survivor and, appears to be mad, gibbering about "things". When the group are attacked by something else, they take Ryan and his array of weapons and flee. They find local girl Megan in a landrover and she takes them to the nearest shelter to attend to the wounded an empty farmhouse. As Megan tells them of werewolves in the woods, and Ryan sits silent as to what his team were actually up to, the "things" start to gather and strike the house.
With comparatively no budget to speak of, it is no surprise that among the references, this film pays homage to the Evil Dead by calling one of its characters Corporal Bruce Campbell. Certainly with a group of people in farmhouse (cabin) in the woods fighting off an unstoppable supernatural evil is almost homage enough in itself although, for me, this didn't get anywhere near to the horror of that film. However it does still manage to produce quite an enjoyable film even if it isn't really scary in a true sense. The plot is simple and it is a good thing because the action bits are best, while the dialogue bits are less so. The film does pretty well to keep the tension up but I did think it could have been tighter and more suspenseful than it was at times. That said, the attacks are good and, as long as you aren't too demanding, it will do enough to keep you entertained. I must admit that the "Britishness" of it and the fact that it was such a low-budget affair may me more willing to forgive it such things although some of the dialogue was so clunky and unconvincing that it was occasionally hard to get past although I did get a big laugh out of the Matrix reference "there is no spoon".
The cast do pretty well, shouting and running around convincingly enough. I would have liked a bit liked a bit more humanity but in fairness the characters were pretty accurate for many squaddy types I know. Pertwee is fun and for probably the first and last time is the big name of the film. McKidd is OK but he has to carry a lot of the talking and it means his limits show up more than the others. Cleasby is pretty poor and she is lumbered with a poor character to boot. Cunningham was fairly obvious but I was constantly distracted by just how much he came across like George Galloway (minus the moustache of course). Lockyer, Robson, Simpson and others are pretty one dimensional but Morfitt had energy and manage to stand out with a bit of character. The direction is good and wisely keeps the camera fluid and the monsters hidden although I personally though the costumes were good for the money they cost.
Overall this is an enjoyable film. It appears to homage other films as much as it borrows from them, but it does it well enough. It could have been tenser, more exciting and it certainly could have been scarier but it still works as an action/horror of sorts. Apparently a sequel is planned and I hope the bigger budget can improve it a bit but for now this is an enjoyable low-budget horror that is basic but fun and worth seeing.
With comparatively no budget to speak of, it is no surprise that among the references, this film pays homage to the Evil Dead by calling one of its characters Corporal Bruce Campbell. Certainly with a group of people in farmhouse (cabin) in the woods fighting off an unstoppable supernatural evil is almost homage enough in itself although, for me, this didn't get anywhere near to the horror of that film. However it does still manage to produce quite an enjoyable film even if it isn't really scary in a true sense. The plot is simple and it is a good thing because the action bits are best, while the dialogue bits are less so. The film does pretty well to keep the tension up but I did think it could have been tighter and more suspenseful than it was at times. That said, the attacks are good and, as long as you aren't too demanding, it will do enough to keep you entertained. I must admit that the "Britishness" of it and the fact that it was such a low-budget affair may me more willing to forgive it such things although some of the dialogue was so clunky and unconvincing that it was occasionally hard to get past although I did get a big laugh out of the Matrix reference "there is no spoon".
The cast do pretty well, shouting and running around convincingly enough. I would have liked a bit liked a bit more humanity but in fairness the characters were pretty accurate for many squaddy types I know. Pertwee is fun and for probably the first and last time is the big name of the film. McKidd is OK but he has to carry a lot of the talking and it means his limits show up more than the others. Cleasby is pretty poor and she is lumbered with a poor character to boot. Cunningham was fairly obvious but I was constantly distracted by just how much he came across like George Galloway (minus the moustache of course). Lockyer, Robson, Simpson and others are pretty one dimensional but Morfitt had energy and manage to stand out with a bit of character. The direction is good and wisely keeps the camera fluid and the monsters hidden although I personally though the costumes were good for the money they cost.
Overall this is an enjoyable film. It appears to homage other films as much as it borrows from them, but it does it well enough. It could have been tenser, more exciting and it certainly could have been scarier but it still works as an action/horror of sorts. Apparently a sequel is planned and I hope the bigger budget can improve it a bit but for now this is an enjoyable low-budget horror that is basic but fun and worth seeing.
In the company of werewolves
petra_ste24 May 2007
Warning: Spoilers
A squad of British soldiers led by Sergeant Wells (Sean Pertwee) faces a pack of werewolves in the Scottish Highlands; along with a local woman and a shady special ops captain (Liam Cunningham) with a grudge against a private (Kevin McKidd), they barricade themselves in an isolated house to fend off the creatures.
Dog Soldiers is an above-average horror flick with solid performances and genuine respect for the genre. The monsters' increasingly dangerous attacks are tense and fun; the script features a nice amount of humour. Pity editing in action scenes is way too frantic.
The werewolves' appearance (practical effects) works well, as CGI beasts wouldn't fit this kind of visceral horror, where creatures need some physicality. When the towering monsters break in, all claws and fur and dripping jaws, one gets a thrill of the Rick Baker/Stan Winston/Rob Bottin old-school variety.
A few years later, the already promising Marshall would show further growth with the masterful The Descent.
7/10
Dog Soldiers is an above-average horror flick with solid performances and genuine respect for the genre. The monsters' increasingly dangerous attacks are tense and fun; the script features a nice amount of humour. Pity editing in action scenes is way too frantic.
The werewolves' appearance (practical effects) works well, as CGI beasts wouldn't fit this kind of visceral horror, where creatures need some physicality. When the towering monsters break in, all claws and fur and dripping jaws, one gets a thrill of the Rick Baker/Stan Winston/Rob Bottin old-school variety.
A few years later, the already promising Marshall would show further growth with the masterful The Descent.
7/10
Excellent and am looking for the next one.
gdunagin-131 January 2005
I have been unable to write reviews for some time so I thought I'd better get back into it.
I saw DS for the first time this past weekend and thought it was great! No CGI!! Yea!! Real actors and real acting. Good drama, character development and easy to follow. Yes, our British family has done an outstanding job on this one, for sure. I also loved the "Zipper scene." excellent transition. People should learn from this picture; one does not need mega bucks and CG to make a great movie. I am looking forward to DS 2: Fresh Meat.
Greetings to all :-) My quote, which I wrote "You can count your true friends on one hand, with fingers left over."
I saw DS for the first time this past weekend and thought it was great! No CGI!! Yea!! Real actors and real acting. Good drama, character development and easy to follow. Yes, our British family has done an outstanding job on this one, for sure. I also loved the "Zipper scene." excellent transition. People should learn from this picture; one does not need mega bucks and CG to make a great movie. I am looking forward to DS 2: Fresh Meat.
Greetings to all :-) My quote, which I wrote "You can count your true friends on one hand, with fingers left over."
Just Another Werewolf Flick? Think again!
mjw230515 March 2004
American Werewolf in London, was always my favourite werewolf movie. well, this is better!
The cast are not widely known, familiar faces, but no star names, yet they all give first class performances. The dialogue is slick and realistic and the plot and characters build very well.
The gore is truly realistic and looks painful at times, similar to some of the scenes at the start of Private Ryan.
Most of the characters are rock hard nutter's, and they spout off cheesy lines like 'Come and ave a go if you think your hard enough!' and 'I Hope i give you the Sh*t's, you F*ck*n Wimp!' said just after a great fist fight with a werewolf and just before he is about to be eaten.
At no point does this movie try to take itself seriously, and that's why its so good. It really is very funny and at the same time pretty realistic (for a werewolf film). If you like the genre you simply have too see this film, if you don't your missing a treat.
9/10 Great fun
The cast are not widely known, familiar faces, but no star names, yet they all give first class performances. The dialogue is slick and realistic and the plot and characters build very well.
The gore is truly realistic and looks painful at times, similar to some of the scenes at the start of Private Ryan.
Most of the characters are rock hard nutter's, and they spout off cheesy lines like 'Come and ave a go if you think your hard enough!' and 'I Hope i give you the Sh*t's, you F*ck*n Wimp!' said just after a great fist fight with a werewolf and just before he is about to be eaten.
At no point does this movie try to take itself seriously, and that's why its so good. It really is very funny and at the same time pretty realistic (for a werewolf film). If you like the genre you simply have too see this film, if you don't your missing a treat.
9/10 Great fun
Proud to be British...
d-madar13 May 2007
OK this film is cheap, with limited effects and a relatively unknown cast. It just proves that you don't need allowed of money or Hollywood to entertain somebody for a couple of hours. I was sceptical before viewing this movie but i must say it was surprisingly enjoyable and original.
Some guys are doing an army exercise in the woods of Scotland, when they are stalked and chased by werewolves. They manage to escape the woods and reach the only house nearby, where they end up desperately fighting for their lives against some savage beasts.
This is by no means a straight out horror movie. There is a lot of action and even some moments of comedy. There is also a clever twist towards the end and the audience is kept guessing who will survive and who won't. The men act like true heroes in the fighting and I genuinely felt for them - unlike in so many horror films.
Another thing I particularly loved about Dog Soldiers is that it's so British. I'm tired of so many good American horror movies! The setting in Scotland, the dialogue and the men are very British. Although its not completely original many elements of this film are. Admittedly the effects aren't great and although a bit jumpy at times I didn't find this one scary (though that isn't its main aim).
A refreshing and entertaining film; OK its not a classic but i still recommend it. If you liked this check out the Descent (by the same director) with a bit more cash
Some guys are doing an army exercise in the woods of Scotland, when they are stalked and chased by werewolves. They manage to escape the woods and reach the only house nearby, where they end up desperately fighting for their lives against some savage beasts.
This is by no means a straight out horror movie. There is a lot of action and even some moments of comedy. There is also a clever twist towards the end and the audience is kept guessing who will survive and who won't. The men act like true heroes in the fighting and I genuinely felt for them - unlike in so many horror films.
Another thing I particularly loved about Dog Soldiers is that it's so British. I'm tired of so many good American horror movies! The setting in Scotland, the dialogue and the men are very British. Although its not completely original many elements of this film are. Admittedly the effects aren't great and although a bit jumpy at times I didn't find this one scary (though that isn't its main aim).
A refreshing and entertaining film; OK its not a classic but i still recommend it. If you liked this check out the Descent (by the same director) with a bit more cash
Excellent movie, great script, dialogue and acting with superb DVD coverage
PyrolyticCarbon18 March 2005
When the trailer first came out for this movie I was dead excited, it was a British film with a different slant on a well visited horror genre. It had also received some interesting quotes at it's festival showing, all giving you the impression that it was a good movie.
Then time took over and quotes and reviews dropped it down, then I just never got round to watching it. So when my first copy of the DVD was poor and I stopped watching half way through I was gutted, and had to wait a few days to get a replacement.
The movie is great fun and mixes two genres really well, that of real soldiers mixed up with a bizarre horror premise of Werewolves in Scotland. As they say in the making of, it's a story of Soldiers and Werewolves, not the other way around. So it is that the story starts out looking very realistic and feeling pretty normal, and it's slowly ramped up and pulled slightly sideways scene by scene until it's pretty much madness.
Saying that, the reactions and lines from the characters are all pretty much realistic. There aren't many Hollywood one liners, instead there are quips, swearing and straight denial that you get in real life when people are faced with difficult situations. It all feels like these are real people in a real situation.
The script is excellent for this very fact, but the actors lend a tremendous effort too. Sean Pertwee is a sadly under used talent, and he shows his colours here flying through scenes with the greatest of authority, and he's very well followed through by the rest of the soldier cast who all just seem so natural in their roles. All except for the female of the story who feels very much out of place and awkward, her lines all too unnatural.
The action and editing keeps going, and there are quite a few refreshing moments when traditional horror films would throw something that the characters, but here it doesn't happen. For that it's quite unpredictable and enjoyable. The action just keeps on coming with very few breaks, the Werewolves are unstoppable.
Not only are the unstoppable, they also look great. Big, hairy, scary, there's nothing that looks fake about them and they really do look menacing.
Overall it's a great fun film and the experience on DVD is so much better than so many others I've seen. Plus it's British, quite original, full of movie references and with some great actors.
I have never enjoyed an audio commentary as much as I have with Dog Soldiers. It's hilarious and the guys involved sound like they had such a laugh doing the movie, never mind the commentary.
I've just watched the second audio commentary by the US Producers, and I was surprised again that I've learnt so much more about the movie again. There are so many more hidden references and character\story connections that I'd missed. This truly is the first DVD that I've watched where the audio commentaries are so strong.
Then time took over and quotes and reviews dropped it down, then I just never got round to watching it. So when my first copy of the DVD was poor and I stopped watching half way through I was gutted, and had to wait a few days to get a replacement.
The movie is great fun and mixes two genres really well, that of real soldiers mixed up with a bizarre horror premise of Werewolves in Scotland. As they say in the making of, it's a story of Soldiers and Werewolves, not the other way around. So it is that the story starts out looking very realistic and feeling pretty normal, and it's slowly ramped up and pulled slightly sideways scene by scene until it's pretty much madness.
Saying that, the reactions and lines from the characters are all pretty much realistic. There aren't many Hollywood one liners, instead there are quips, swearing and straight denial that you get in real life when people are faced with difficult situations. It all feels like these are real people in a real situation.
The script is excellent for this very fact, but the actors lend a tremendous effort too. Sean Pertwee is a sadly under used talent, and he shows his colours here flying through scenes with the greatest of authority, and he's very well followed through by the rest of the soldier cast who all just seem so natural in their roles. All except for the female of the story who feels very much out of place and awkward, her lines all too unnatural.
The action and editing keeps going, and there are quite a few refreshing moments when traditional horror films would throw something that the characters, but here it doesn't happen. For that it's quite unpredictable and enjoyable. The action just keeps on coming with very few breaks, the Werewolves are unstoppable.
Not only are the unstoppable, they also look great. Big, hairy, scary, there's nothing that looks fake about them and they really do look menacing.
Overall it's a great fun film and the experience on DVD is so much better than so many others I've seen. Plus it's British, quite original, full of movie references and with some great actors.
I have never enjoyed an audio commentary as much as I have with Dog Soldiers. It's hilarious and the guys involved sound like they had such a laugh doing the movie, never mind the commentary.
I've just watched the second audio commentary by the US Producers, and I was surprised again that I've learnt so much more about the movie again. There are so many more hidden references and character\story connections that I'd missed. This truly is the first DVD that I've watched where the audio commentaries are so strong.
Brave new horror!
Coventry2 February 2005
Warning: Spoilers
I must admit that I didn't really care for "Dog Soldiers" when I first got around watching it back in 2002, right after its release. I thought the concept of a lost patrol fighting a troop of werewolves was overly hectic and the monsters themselves didn't look half as frightening as the elderly ones from "American Werewolf in London" or "The Howling". Maybe it's because I've seen so many crap horror since then or maybe I just didn't pay enough attention the first time but my second opinion is much more positive. Neil Marshall wrote and directed an enthusiast gore story about a squadron of soldiers on a routine training exercise in the Scottish forests and all of a sudden their lives are in danger because of ravenous werewolves lurking around the area. They also encounter a captain from another platoon (who's acting very mysteriously
) and a young environmental researcher who eventually rescues them and shelters the group in a nearby farmhouse. Completely isolated and low on ammunition, the group has to survive the night as the aggressive creatures won't go away as long as the moon is full. The lines and dialogues in "Dog Soldiers" are well-written and often blackly humorous, while Marshall allows his cast to overact in several sequences. Tension is successfully reached thanks to the hopeless surrounding of the farmhouse. This film will especially be remembered by horror freaks because of the explicit gore and violent action scenes. I particularly appreciated the fact that many of the special effects were developed in the 'old-fashioned' way, without using dreadful CGI. The werewolves clearly are tall men in suits but I easily prefer them over the artificially constructed things in "Underworld" or "Van Helsing". I suspect that this film will become an "underdog" in the modern horror genre and, in time, it'll develop quite a large fan base (if it hasn't already). Personally, I still like the "Ginger Snaps" films better when it comes to post-2000 werewolf-flicks, but this "Dog Soldiers" is a worthy second. Recommended!
Truly dreadful
ploader19 September 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Truly dreadful movie concerning group of soldiers pitting their wits against werewolves. What makes the film so awful is the terrible, terrible 'gung ho', "do it soldier" style dialogue accompanied by the worst sort of macho sentimentality and posturing. This is a film for young boys who want to be soldiers. If only the whole bunch of them would get eaten by Werewolves (thankfully most of them do.)
The film is devoid of any attempt to explore character or human relationships in anything but the most perfunctory way. People are just there to embody qualities such as ruggedness, loyalty, determination etc Sub themes include some ridiculous 'man's best friend' stuff about dogs (the hero of the film at one point refuses to shoot a dog and is later rewarded by a dog coming to his aid) and some crap about football - one of the soldiers is a football obsessive (cue lots of remarks like 'I should be watching the match'.) Tellingly the villain of the movie doesn't like football or dogs - a sure sign he is not to be trusted. The worst scene involves the hero killing the last werewolf whilst spouting the line "You think it's all over - it is now"
It's sooooooooooo bad..
The film is devoid of any attempt to explore character or human relationships in anything but the most perfunctory way. People are just there to embody qualities such as ruggedness, loyalty, determination etc Sub themes include some ridiculous 'man's best friend' stuff about dogs (the hero of the film at one point refuses to shoot a dog and is later rewarded by a dog coming to his aid) and some crap about football - one of the soldiers is a football obsessive (cue lots of remarks like 'I should be watching the match'.) Tellingly the villain of the movie doesn't like football or dogs - a sure sign he is not to be trusted. The worst scene involves the hero killing the last werewolf whilst spouting the line "You think it's all over - it is now"
It's sooooooooooo bad..
On careful consideration - pretty much the best werewolf film ever.
Billius4412 September 2004
Why is Aliens the best action SF film ever? One of the reasons is because James Cameron took the time to build up the characters in the squad to the point where you actually cared when the grunts started to get shredded.
Dog Soldiers does exactly the same, and features some great Brit dialogue to boot.
The region 2 DVD features an extra commentary not found on the Region 1 DVD - basically this consists of the director, the co-producer, Kevin McKidd, Sean Pertwee and Liam Cunningham getting hammered on Stella Artois and producing a brilliantly funny commentary which sounds like a bunch of mates getting drunk while watching the movie. Which was exactly what it was, except that this particular bunch of mates actually made the movie. Genius!!! Liam Cunningham - spectacularly stiff upper-lipped and evil in the film - turns out to be a very droll Irishman with the gift of the gab. "The Uamhunn.... The Uamhunn....."
One of the film's strengths is its gritty portrayal of British infantry in action, both in word and deed. I particularly enjoyed the cast commenting on how much they relished dumping those "crappy plastic guns" (the SA-80s the squad carries at the start) and getting a chance to charge about with MP5s. As Kevin McKidd put it: "So, you want me to run about the woods with a machine-gun, firing it all over the place. And I get PAID for this?!!"
Dog Soldiers does exactly the same, and features some great Brit dialogue to boot.
The region 2 DVD features an extra commentary not found on the Region 1 DVD - basically this consists of the director, the co-producer, Kevin McKidd, Sean Pertwee and Liam Cunningham getting hammered on Stella Artois and producing a brilliantly funny commentary which sounds like a bunch of mates getting drunk while watching the movie. Which was exactly what it was, except that this particular bunch of mates actually made the movie. Genius!!! Liam Cunningham - spectacularly stiff upper-lipped and evil in the film - turns out to be a very droll Irishman with the gift of the gab. "The Uamhunn.... The Uamhunn....."
One of the film's strengths is its gritty portrayal of British infantry in action, both in word and deed. I particularly enjoyed the cast commenting on how much they relished dumping those "crappy plastic guns" (the SA-80s the squad carries at the start) and getting a chance to charge about with MP5s. As Kevin McKidd put it: "So, you want me to run about the woods with a machine-gun, firing it all over the place. And I get PAID for this?!!"
One of the best horror movies since The Evil Dead
imperfect_soul26 April 2003
Chances are most people will come across this movie like I did. Walking through your local video store looking at shelves for something to rent. Dog Soldiers caught my eye, and I picked it up, looked at it, and laughed. When I found nothing else in the store, I walked back to it and decided 'what the hell' and decided to rent it. When I got home and watched this movie, I was surprised to find out I had rented one of the best horror movies since The Evil Dead.
The premise of the movie is about a squad of troops that enduring survival training in the middle of nowhere (never a good sign), when they come across a rival squad that has been decimated, except for the leader who is badly hurt. Now throw in the typical chase/shooting/lets go in that house scene and you've got yourself a horror movie!
Some of the violence may be over the top (like when Cooper has his stomach sliced open), but the acting is suprisingly solid with some sassy british wit thrown in. Add that with some great scenes and decent werewolf design, and you've got what a horror movie should be, chilling, not special effects.
8/10
The premise of the movie is about a squad of troops that enduring survival training in the middle of nowhere (never a good sign), when they come across a rival squad that has been decimated, except for the leader who is badly hurt. Now throw in the typical chase/shooting/lets go in that house scene and you've got yourself a horror movie!
Some of the violence may be over the top (like when Cooper has his stomach sliced open), but the acting is suprisingly solid with some sassy british wit thrown in. Add that with some great scenes and decent werewolf design, and you've got what a horror movie should be, chilling, not special effects.
8/10
Cringeworthy.
gayfbiagentsmecker7 February 2003
If you have more than two brain cells to rub together then heed my advice and stay well clear of this pile of crap.God awful acting.Terrible effects(Sean Pertwee lying on the ground with a string of sausages lying on top of him),cheesiest script and most uninvolving action sequences ive ever had the misfortune of seeing.The worrying thing is that so many people seem to soak up turkeys like this.
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