Dog Soldiers

I originally rented this movie because I had a free rental coupon. My comment to the guy working in the video store as I left was I know I'm going to regret this, but its free.
After watching the movie I went nuts trying to find a copy that I could own. I had never heard of the movie before seeing it, and instantly loved it.
If you can get at chance to watch this movie, do it.

There are great classics related to werewolves, The Howling, Wolfen, and the superior American Werewolf in London. After watching "Dog Soldiers" it can easily be part of this pack. I fine this movie to be very exciting and pleasant B movie. This was recommended to me by Caesar M. Warrington, who is also a great reviewer, during the month of Halloween. Werewolves fascinate me more then Vampires so I couldn't wait till next Halloween to watch this. You will not a fine a major city, silly people or unneeded love story involved in this film. Just a couple of cool soldiers who are willing to do anything to survive. In here we have a group of six British Soldiers spend time on the Scottish highlands to do a special training but one Soldier is whining about missing a soccer game between England versus Germany, a little like the tension you get when America versus Canada or something! Apparently Story goes that where the soldiers are standing, they hear about gruesome "true" tales of people go missing but savage and gory murder scenes are simultaneously found as potential evidence. A leader, Captain Ryan happens to be the sole survivor of another team that becomes a 'dog's breakfast'! Is he hiding a secret that the remaining team should know about? Who knows?

That is when Luna-loving furry doggies with rabies come into view, and they look like muscular, mutant gerbils in mink coats, with Freddy Claws. The Team have to drop their blank bullets for real ones as a locally rural girl, Megan, comes in as GI Jane to save them by escaping out of the woods by a Jeep, taking the remaining Soldiers with her, and sheltered into a remote Country Farm House. Trouble starts brewing because the Soldiers are running out of Ammunition, Howlings are drawing nearer, and how long will sunlight come before people die like flies?

"Dog Soldiers" does start slow and is a bit predictable but the humor is wicked. I also give credit to the gory scenes where the Sergeant's guts were exposed and the sheep dog was toying with it; thinking they were sausages. There are flaws with the film, but it is still fun and entertaining. Influences from other movies stand out here, but they still don't take away from 'Dog Soldiers', I feel that they've just used an idea and modified it to produce something new. Much better than the current Hollywood mentality of making a horror - take a half-good idea and drive it into the ground with continuous knock-off after knock-off. The best part is when the Sergeant shares a chilling camp fire story about "Eddie Oswald"; a private he once knew in Kuwait 1991, and then raised a toast for him!! One Private tells a joke about a man and his dog, suddenly on that 'cue' a dead stuffed Cow drops from the sky to join them, literally!

For a low-budget movie this is quite a gem. Fans of the movies I mentioned previously should check it out, it's not strictly horror. I believe the director said that it was a soldier film with werewolves, not the other way round, so it could also be classed as an action film. Either way, that is really of no relevance. If you like Movies with a hardcore script, Dark Humor, and action then give it a try.

A modern werewolf movie with great looking old school effects!! Gore is minimal and perfect! Convincing enough to make you think twice that werewolves are only located in one locale, but could be found anywhere with woods!! I like the approach of the story line and the rest falls into place. I dont find this one to be disappointing but a good werewolf flick that could be watched from time to time.