Dog Soldiers film review

certificate_15

DOG SOLDIERS

Shot on a miniscule budget, Neil Marshall's werewolf horror flick splices gore and lashings of blood, with a sick and twisted sense of humour.

A squad of British Army officers, led by gung-ho Sergeant Wells (Pertwee), takes part in a routine military exercise on the Scottish Highlands. Rifleman Lawrence Cooper (McKidd), Corporal Bruce Campbell (Lockyer), Joe Kirkley (Robson), Terry Milburn (Simpson) and Phil Witherspoon (Morfitt) are dismissive of the exercise. They would rather be at home, sitting in front of the television to watch the vital World Cup football match between England and Germany.

Midway through the operation, the men stumble on a pile of human remains, and injured Captain Ryan (Cunningham), who appears to have been attack by an animal. Sure enough Wells and his men soon find themselves under attack from giant, wolf-like creatures.

The squad seeks refuge in a rickety farmhouse, where a plucky zoologist (Emma Cleasby) reveals the horrifying truth about the beasts, which patrol the surrounding wilderness.

Dog Soldiers is a triumph of invention over slick special effects, and puts to shame some of Hollywood's more recent efforts.

Writer-director Marshall moulds his film on Aliens and Jaws, trapping his players within the claustrophobic confines of the farmhouse, from which there is no escape. He keeps the werewolves hidden for the first half of the picture, and then employs clever lighting when the beasts finally attack.

Pertwee hams it up with obvious glee, and has all of the best lines. The scene where he looks down at the intestines spilling from his stomach, and utters "sausages!" is a showstopper.

Action sequences are briskly shot and edited, and make intelligent use of the limited locations. The limited budget really shows during the final showdown, but that's all part of Dog Soldiers' charm.

A rollicking ride for late night multiplex crowds. Though you may want to give the hot dogs a miss...