683 reviews
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.
- CharltonBoy
- Dec 10, 2002
- Permalink
- gregsrants
- Dec 5, 2003
- Permalink
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
- FiendishDramaturgy
- Feb 4, 2004
- Permalink
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.
- johnspringer-95440
- Feb 23, 2023
- Permalink
...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.
- gregory-rebelo
- Jun 7, 2004
- Permalink
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.
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!
- joker1actual
- Jan 10, 2005
- Permalink
- Big Movie Fan
- Jan 3, 2003
- Permalink
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
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.
- Red-Barracuda
- Sep 30, 2009
- Permalink
- ivo-cobra8
- Oct 15, 2016
- Permalink
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 .
- em89072002
- Jan 8, 2008
- Permalink
It's easy to make a bad horror film, and, sadly, not too many people have the drive or imagination to make a decent one. I heard about Dog Soldiers through Fangoria, and though they've been wrong before I thought it was worth a go. In a word, it was fantastic!! I was willing to overlook the slightly convoluted plot (especially when people turned into werewolves at any old time, as opposed to the beginning of the full moon...) for the action and tension. I rather liked the werewolf costumes, because even though their range of motion was limited they made for some divinely creepy silhouettes. I even got interested in and attached to the soldiers, action-film archetypes though they were. If you're not willing to follow the movie where it takes you, then I wouldn't recommend it. But if you're ready for a deliciously gory bit of fun, I doubt you'll be disappointed. 8/10
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.
- flingebunt
- Jun 13, 2005
- Permalink
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."
- gdunagin-1
- Jan 30, 2005
- Permalink
Well, if I'm asked to write an assessment of this film, it's difficult to be objective, so I'll just pour water for a long time. This review really does not look like the real thing. But no seriously, how is it possible to assessment a movie with werewolves, it is a masterpiece in any way, this is of course my first review, so I don't think I can really say something that fascinates me in this film especially, if we don't take into account that everything fascinates me. You know, you can repeat a thousand times that this is really the film you need to see, but I think this is exactly where you should start and where you should end. This is a movie with werewolves and that says it all, why do something more than it can be. I am more than grateful for the fact that this film exists, so the rating of 10 here is without a doubt.
- bobik-79125
- Nov 15, 2023
- Permalink
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
I will admit to being somewhat sceptical when I sat down to watch this, but within about twenty minutes the auditorium was chuckling to the witty banter of Sean Pertwee and his squad of soldiers who find themselves stuck on an exercise in a remote Scottish forest when they'd sooner be in the wardroom sinking a few beers while watching Germany beat England at football. When their fireside banter is ruined by a missile shaped like a dead cow; things start to liven up and what ensues is a race against time for their very survival - there are more dangerous creatures in the forest than red squirrels! Kevin McKidd keeps the troop focussed at they face their foes with grim determination and their black humour prevails pretty much throughout their ordeal. The special effects are a little bit "Dr. Who" but Neil Marshall ensures the lighting and sound folks do their level best to keep the suspense going for a long as possible and at no stage does it hang about: it's end to end action with a tinge - a soupçon - of horror as the story builds to an enjoyable denouement! On the big screen again now in late 2020 - not sure why - but if you get chance, and you like your horror unsophisticated and funny, then this is definitely for you.
- CinemaSerf
- Sep 2, 2023
- Permalink
- jonahstewartvaughan
- Mar 7, 2023
- Permalink
I'm a fan of B (sometimes C) movies, you can get some memorable moments and some classic tales amongst the expected duds.
I didn't have a lot of hope for this being a masterpiece but was happily surprised about how entertaining this movie actual was.
Keep it simple grab a beer (maybe multiple beers) dim the lights and boost the volume.
Watch OUT!
I didn't have a lot of hope for this being a masterpiece but was happily surprised about how entertaining this movie actual was.
Keep it simple grab a beer (maybe multiple beers) dim the lights and boost the volume.
Watch OUT!
- damianphelps
- Sep 4, 2020
- Permalink
- KelticKarma
- Oct 23, 2002
- Permalink