Movie Loner

Shocktober comes to a rousing conclusion with my favorite horror sub-genre. The werewolf movie. Nothing like menacing lycanthropes to brighten your day. Whether it’s Lon Chaney, Jr. in The Wolf Man or Michael J. Fox in Teen Wolf, I’ve always had a soft spot for half-man, half-wolf creatures of the night. Until now, Wolfen and The Howling resided at the top of my list. Not anymore. The new top-dog is Dog Soldiers, a kick ass flick that’s a cross between classic actioners Aliens and Predator. Turn down the lights and lock the doors for this one. It will definitely raise the ol’ heart-rate.

A six-man British Army squad is dropped in the Scottish highlands to perform a routine training exercise. The tight-knit team traverses a dark forest heading for its objective point. Watching from afar is a ruthless Special Forces Captain named Ryan. Unbeknownst to the squad, Ryan is using them as bait to spring a trap. Before Ryan can complete his artifice he and his men are viciously attacked by something. The Army team discovers their camp with a wounded Ryan the sole survivor. The six men arm themselves to the hilt as Ryan warns of an unstoppable enemy. As the squad retreats giant wolf-like beasts advance from the shadows.

Heading for a nearby road the team flags down an approaching vehicle driven by a local zoologist named Megan. She takes them to a remote cottage deep in the forest where they hold up to rest and regroup. It doesn’t take long to discover the werewolves have followed and surround the farmhouse. With their sergeant badly wounded, Pvt. Cooper takes charge of the men. He directs his soldiers to stay alert and prepare to make a stand. With a full moon shining high in the night sky, the creatures converge on the cottage. A back-and-forth bloody melee between man and beast lasts well into the late hours. Can the squad survive until morning or will the werewolves lay siege on their makeshift fortress?

Damn, this was a good movie. I remember when it was released back in ‘02 but it seemed somewhat budget at the time. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Writer/Director Neil Marshall hits the gas and surges a sharp action-packed plot to a booming conclusion. Quick dialogue and excellent character development separate Dog Soldiers from its many cousins in the genre. The werewolves are the best I’ve ever seen on film; an accurate and frightening depiction of man/beast hybrids. A fine cast is led by Kevin McKidd (Rome) as the fearless Pvt. Cooper. Adding credible support are Liam Cunningham as Capt. Ryan and Sean Pertwee as the dedicated Sgt. Wells. Dog Soldiers is not only an incredible horror film, it’s a legit movie period. Not to be missed.

The trailer for Dog Soldiers:

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