Dog Soldiers (2002)
Starring: Sean Pertwee, Kevin McKidd, Emma Cleasby
Written and Directed By: Neil Marshall
I had to backtrack online to find the Sci-Fi Channel (well before they went with the SYFY hipster moniker) premiere of Dog Soldiers, which was back in June of 2002 here in the states. I remember having nothing to do, flipping through stations and came across this Neil Marshall gem, and after reading the Bright House description, decided to give it a watch. I figured, hell, if anything, it will be a fun smoke n' joke flick, like so many other films dubbed “A Sci-Fi Channel Original Picture”. I didn't really feel it would be bothersome having missed the first half hour... WRONG! 10 minutes into the film, my ass was knocked off the futon with the realization that I was watching an incredible low-budget action based lycanthrope film, one that I would stay up till 1a.m. to re-watch from the beginning, since it was being aired twice.
It was pretty surprising at how much bloodletting Sci-Fi was showing with Dog Soldiers, too! We're not talking Toe Tag pictures material or anything, but there is a fair amount of gore involved, such as entrails hanging out and ooey-gooey blood puddles that at one point, were people. It was impressive, as was Sci-Fi's premiere of Beyond Re-Animator; though, Dog Soldiers is more solid of a film.
The story follows a group of British soldiers on a training mission in the Scottish highlands. During their operation, they come across a special forces camp littered with body parts and gore from the squad that gathered there. The captain is found alive, and with sunset on a swift approach, the soldiers set out to find some shelter. While traveling through the fog covered forests, they realized that they are being pursued by something fierce, and not human. Eventually, they make it to a road, where they are picked up by a female scientist that takes them to safety in a nearby house. Once inside, she drops a massive shit-bomb by telling them they are being hunted by a pack of local werewolves.
Neil Marshall plays well with an obviously low-budget, by hiding the werewolves in the darkness for a good half of the film. In some movies this act is a nuisance, in Dog Soldiers it adds brilliant mystery to the vicious beasts. Once the monsters are pulled out of the shadows, it is an equal amount of awesome, as they look amazing! The FX crew manage to cook up a practical make-up FX lover's wet dream, serving a plate of Rob Bottin-esque werewolves from the original Howling. They are tall and lanky with hell in their eyes, towering over the soldiers that are plugging out their ammo to no avail.
Marshall also excels in the writing department, releasing a hefty amount of witty, breakneck dialogue (enhanced by hyper camera editing) that is every bit entertaining as the action sequences. It's also helpful that every actor on board seem to not be playing these characters, but ARE them. Sean Pertwee (Event Horizon, Doomsday) is an absolute beast in his role of Sgt. Harry G. Wells, an obvious nod to Marshall's favorite writer, H.G. Wells. There is a scene in which the character's stomach has to be super-glued together and he asks to be knocked out to escape the pain. Pertwee was reportedly drunk in this sequence and didn't even feel the actual (though, accidental) punch that actor Kevin McKidd gives him. Speaking of McKidd, he is the absolute perfect idea of a hero to cling on to, as Pvt. Cooper. He has to take over during Sgt. Wells fucked condition, after having his guts stuffed back in his stomach due to a previous lycanthrope attack.
If I had to nitpick anything, it would be a single musical ditty that gets played repetitively throughout the whole picture. Now, I am a big fan of the First Blood theme, no lie, and this song bares strong resemblance to that, but I don't need to hear it every five minutes. I dunno if this was due to budget restraints or what, but it would've certainly been nice to hear more of a mix-up.
If you haven't seen Dog Soldiers, are a fan of werewolves, and don't feel like you have enough quality ones in your movie viewing life, you need not wait any longer. This gem of a film can be found rather cheap on DVD, as well as Bluray, and it's a great starter point for Neil Marshall fans, as well. Recommended.
