Forgotten Movie Reviews - Dog Soldiers (2002)
Vložit
- čas přidán 14. 08. 2018
- Today we're taking a look at a little known horror flick from 2002. Dog Soldiers pits a squad of British troopers against a pack of rabid warewolves. Who wins? Find out.
- Zábava
It’s so interesting going back and watching the drinker’s old reviews and comparing them to his more recent ones. The tone is so...different. Watching him slowly but surely evolve from a professional and almost proper reviewer to an angry and embittered ranter fueled by the awesome power of alcohol and his own cynical Scottish DNA is awe inspiring. Just look at the lack of profanity in this review. It floored me!
His reviews have somewhat gone downhill these days. I prefer this version of The Critical Drinker because he doesn't rant and rave about how a film is shit. I actually enjoyed Neil Marshalls Hellboy and the critical drinker clearly didn't.
His character has changed, a kind of "arc" if you will
And his voice is clearer in the older days lol
Yeahhhh he’s definitely found his own 😎 style, thass for damn sure.
ABSOLUTELY not. I suspect that when you compare what's on offer in 2022 compared to 2002 - no comparison. We are faced with a tidal-wave of Woke, incomprehensible, fascist garbage, that only seeks to destroy - and if the CD kicks back against that - give me liberty, or give me DOG SOLDIERS!!!
“I hope, I give you the shits.” Best line from the best character.
There is no spoon
"You fucking wimp" 🤣
Some of us in the U.S.A. know this badass movie well bro!
And we've bugged the hell out of all our friends until they watched it too.
@@TheDwoolensnider why are you buggin your friends?
God bless the Syfy channel!!!!
One of my favorite horror films! Great review.
EXACTLY!!!
I'm an American who was lucky enough to stumble on this masterpiece. I'll never forget the man who fought a werewolf, in hand to hand, with every piece of a kitchen you can grab, and then loudly proclaims, in one last viscous attack "I HOPE I GIVE YOU THE SHITS!"
Why this hasn't made Drinker's Last Stand list is beyond me!
Yeah, he's pretty cool. I remember meeting him once when he was in a film being shot near to my house, a very likeable sort of guy.
Another fortunate American to have seen this gem of a movie. My mother and I watched it a long time ago together and we've always loved it.
Yup used everything but the kitchen sink.
Spooon
I will never not laugh at that moment with Spoon and the hammer
Its fucking hilarious why do people hate these movies my dad and me love it my mum thinks its wank it's just British comedy at it's best
Spoon is definitely the best character in this movie. One fearless motherfucker
@tfhud
Its a movie well worth watching again and again, sooner or later you will catch the moment in all its glory :)
That and the 'flying' cow scene. This whole movie is a gem that will forever be in my movie library.
I love the scene with spoon and the frying pan.
The director wanted it to be a soldier movie with werewolves. My squad and I watched it in camp. All of us agreed that they nailed it.
Agreed. They got the banter pretty much spot on by capturing the squaddie humour.
A soldier willingly getting into a fist fight with a werewolf is exactly how I'd expect a British soldier to act in this scenario 😆 brilliant movie!!
Dog Soldiers is still my favorite werewolf film of all time, the characters are just amazing.
It's a shame the director went from this and The Descent to the uninteresting looking Hellboy reboot. As Heavy weapons guy says "Where did we go so wrong?"
hey at least he's getting paid for something. he'll probably end up doing another original project in time
Damn. That was him? That movie (The Descent) was so original.
The Descent is one of the best horror films of all time. The fact the cast is all female just adds to the intensity when they have to fight those creatures. Awesome film and Dog Soldiers is great also.
Doomsday was great for the first half but went to rat shit for the 2nd half.
Centurion is good film as well starring Michael Fassbender.
I think Neil Marshal needs to go back to low budget films.
He also directed two of the best GOT episodes. THe Wildfire one and the Battle of Castle Black.
The Descent is exactly the kind of decent all-female film that feminists conveniently ignore.
I was on set briefly during the filming of Centurion. A lot of prosthetic heads got chopped off during an hour long period of filming massive battles in a forest valley, all for about ten seconds of final footage. Making a film is an enormous undertaking that very few even have any idea of, let alone appreciate
The scene of them holding the farmhouse just waiting for the werewolves to show up is super tense, and I love the general sense of the action coming completely out of nowhere, much like real combat
when one of the lads drives into the barn and it's revealed that the soldier who was taken before hasn't died yet and is slowly being eaten alive is hands down the most disturbing thing I've ever seen, the way the monster is cradling him like a child as well is terrifying.
I love this movie - the dialogue is superb. The moment where the squaddie sees he is doomed, looks right in the werewolves eyes and says, "I hope I give you the shits." Absolutely priceless.
Megan's big reveal: "Sorry, boys, it's that time of the month."
One of the best werewolf films ever made!
I've never forgotten that film, one of my favourite werewolf films and I agree with Rhydian I will never not laugh at Spoon using that hammer.
My dad rented this movie for me when I was a kid and I loved it. So glad it still holds up.
“Everything about ‘Dog Soldiers’ is better than it has any right to be.” Is an absolutely perfect summary.
Fantastic film! Pertwee nailed the veteran sergeant so well, and you can easily see the greatness waiting in store from McKidd and Cunningham. Top-notch gore/effects and action. Witherspoon's Last Stand is one for the ages.
I hope I give you the shits you fucking whimp absolute classic line, they should have got oscars for this absolute clasic brit horror flick, for me the best weirwolf film ever made, in fact i'm going to re visit it tonight.
Witherspoon's Last Stand , that has a certain ring to it. One of the greatest last stands in cinema, along with Arthur Hunicutts explosive final fight in The Last Command and Warren Oates dance with death in The Wild Bunch.
Love this movie. I'm not sure you're aware of just how well this movie IS known in the U.S. I've had a copy on DVD for over a decade and among horror lovers, Dog Soldiers is often talked about. I see it on top 10 werewolf movie lists all the time. So cheer up, mate! It has plenty of appreciators over here :)
I think something is wrong with my headphones. You sound sober in this review.
Huge American fan of Dog Soldiers! I found it on accident and loved it!
I wish more movies were this well paced, written, and with the easy, genuine interplay of the cast.
I watched this movie on deployment. I can't remember which one.
One of the things I like most is that they get small things right. When the squad is dropped off they have blank adapters on their weapons. Just small details like that show how much they gave a shit about their movie
B.F.A. Blank Firing Attachment, we call them.
Yeah, the BFA's were a nice touch but the actual banter between the squaddies was 100% on point too
"Hard-boiled or fried, Sarge?" "...scrambled."
I actually worked on an action figure for this movie years ago. The president of the company I was working for was friends with the director of this movie and so we were able to make the toy. Unfortunately the company fell into financial troubles and the either the action figure only saw a limited release or wasn't released at all. I don't recall.
Limited i believe i had one of the wolves - Sota toys they cost like £300 now
@@Novasky2007 Woah! Wish I would've snagged one before I left. We had a few boxed samples just lying there at the time.
We did some Cthuhlu and Legend stuff too. But I never saw any of those come back packaged.
I hate going to the cinema on my lonesome, so I had to drag a buddy to go see it when I was at Uni. He thanked me after the movie finished. Great flick!
Irish here, love this film. For all the reasons you outlined.
"there was only supposed to be ONE"
“There is no Spoon” - best Matrix tie in I’ve seen. This was just a beautifully done film and is one of my favorite werewolf movies..
Watched the movie on your recommendation. Loved it. I'll watched it again.
By the way, using superglue to hold your skin on is a real thing. My uncle, who is a Marine and also introduced me to this movie, told me about that during the film.
Superglue was originally intended for that. Developed for battlefield surgery.
Its a favourite repair of the NHS' too
People had to be inventive before FLEX TAPE.
@@kokaomf i still use superglue as i have it in my toolbox. Dont judge me
@@littlesteve855 I won't. I asked a doctor once what the difference between Super Glue and Surgical Glue was. His answer? "A label and about $150 a tube."
Re-watched this film last night. I'd forgotten how much better practical effects are and those used in Dog Soldiers were genius. The werewolf costumes are so striking. Using dancers on stilts rather than stuntmen for the wolves was a masterstroke. Great film, highly recommended
Has the great great great great great great... great great grandson of Lucius Vorenus.
Many years ago a freind rented this from Blockbuster for movie night, it's been a favorite since.
See also "This Quiet Earth"
13!
The quiet earth, great kiwi movie!
Remember what was so cool about the original trailer was that around that time the British Army had these adverts that were low budget, shaky cam often shot in the dark during training exercises so that used to come on during the trailers so people thought that's what they were watching until...a werewolf appeared. It was brilliant! Great film.
Great to see 100s of comments praising the glorious Dog Soldiers! I thought I was the only person who knew it. Saw it way back when in the cinema and many times since on DVD. So many superior horror moments, Terry's demise in the barn is truly scary, Bruce's lonely rearguard, Joe's furious "feck you" fight against a monstrous foe in the Landrover armed only with a bayonet and Witherspoon's Last Stand, as epic as Warren Oates dance with death in The Wild Bunch.
Gotta watch “Brotherhood of the wolf,” great movie.
I remember getting a free copy of this when I was in high school (probably around 2003 or 2004) and laughing at how terrible it looked based on the DVD cover and being BLOWN AWAY by how good it was when I watched it - probably one of the best examples of "don't judge a book by its cover" of any movie I've ever watched
I live in Orlando, FL btw
Many thanks to the Drinker for recommending this flick; I'd not heard of it before I saw his review. This an outstanding horror/combat film. My family members who were in the military say that writer/director Neil Marshall captured the squad very well. And I'm a huge fan of Kevin McKidd: he was outstanding as Caesar's first spear in the HBO series "Rome"; and three years before "Dog Soldiers", he was very funny as the prissy Scottish tenor in Mike Leigh's "Topsy Turvy". One touch that I appreciated: while the Scots and working-class Brit accents are pronounced, everyone still speaks clearly enough that even my American ears can make out what they're saying (most of the time, anyway) - unlike a lot of Brit movies with working-class characters, where I have to turn on the subtitles to figure out what everyone is saying. Again, kudos to the Drinker for bring this flick to the attention of viewers on this side of the pond!
My favourite line from this film was when one of the soldiers has forgotten his watch. The sargeant gives him his, and was asked what he was going to do. "Well, I'll count, won't I?"
Best description I ever heard for this awesome films was
"It's not a werewolf movie with soldiers in it, it's a soldier movie with werewolves in it!"
Dog Soldiers and Deathwatch. Two great soldier horror movies in one year!
I love this movie, not just because it's great, but it brings back memories of when I used to rent movies when I was younger (which I did A LOT). There were the movies I'd purposely go out to rent because I'd seen them advertised on TV, but I'd normally pick up a couple I found while browsing. A lot of the time it was obvious why the obscure second or third movie I'd picked out was obscure, but every now and then I'd stumble across something amazing.
In all the years I spent renting films (from as far back as I can remember up until probably about my mid/late 20s), this is the best example of finding a "hidden gem" that I can think of. It's such a great feeling when you go in not expecting much to come out the other side thinking "That was bloody brilliant!".
I watched the hell out of this film back in the day but never realized Davros was in it. Dog Soldiers gas one of the Top Ten Cinematic Fight Scenes (They Live's alley way, A Clockwork Orange's theater, Kingsmen's church, etc.) of all time.
I hate how Ginger Snaps is often mentioned among the best werewolf movies, but Dog Soldiers almost always gets left out.
This movie was epic. Squaddies calling out werewolves for a scrap; "Come and av a go if you think you're 'ard enough!"
This is legit my favorite creature feature of all time if not favorite horror film. I was so happy to see you did a review on it. So fucking awesome man. Great job. Pure love for a brilliant film. And the practical effects with awesome werewolf suits is truly amazing. Own the special blu-ray 4k. Has some great special features. Also the director recently got back the rights to the film.
"What if we took Zulu, and replaced the Africans with Werewolves?"
You’d have Aliens
Illeagle
Rorke's Drift is mentioned in the film.
Sweet movie review bro, Dog Soldiers is with out a doubt my all time favourite horror flick. A true master class in how to make a kickass horror.
I've watched this movie so many times, always loved the bit with pertwee trying to whisper/shout to cooper "i'm in the kazzie!!" 😂😂😂 what a frantic scene! Great movie and an awesome review my dear fellow scot 👏👏👏👏👏👏
Such a great movie. Not just a horror flick, but a great Soldier Movie! The werewolves are there, but this a movie about soldiers, how they talk, fight, sacrifice, and keep trying to find a way to stay alive. Cannot recommend it enough.
The thing most people don’t get about this movie is the very accurate way in which the squaddies interact with each other, such as the switch from formal to informal, the banter and nicknames and incessant meaning while actually getting the job done ! Fucking love this film
This movie shoots well above its station and nails it. An underrated B-movie classic.
Sean Pertwee's monologue is out of this world
I live in Canada and years ago, (when video stores still existed) I rented this movie, based on the title and cover, to piss off my girlfriend because her pick was a romantic comedy. Turns out I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was, and yes my girlfriend liked it too.
But did you marry her?
That’s a better story than the movie
Best werewolf movie ever! The writer/director, Neal Marshall, also directed some of the better Game of Thrones episodes.
I was literally crying with laughter when the dog tried to drag out the Sergeants guts during one of the dramatic fight scenes. This is dark humour at it's best!
As an American, this movie scared the shit out of me as a kid. But eventually I outgrew my fear and ended up loving this film. It's my second favorite, right behind Carpenter's The Thing.
This was a fun movie. Very underrated!
I liked the part where someone frantically used a polaroid camera to flash/confuse the werewolf.
During the end credits, the stills in the background are the resulting images.
Some of us more discerning Yanks are well aware of this one. One of the very best werewolf films ever made. The pacing is relentless and the werewolves look fantastic.
I love this movie! I seriously thought I was the only one who saw it tho lol
Most squaddies have seen this
This is one of my favorite films. Best line "I expect nothing less than gratuitous violence from the lot of ya" Two of these actors made the big time. Sean Pertwee (Sarge) was in Gotham and Kevin McKidd (Cooper) was on one of those hospital tv shows
I am from The States, and me and my Dad used to rent "Dog Soldiers" all of the time and watch it, it is one of our favorite Werewolf movies, along with, "The Howling", of course.
The film is amazing but the dvd commentary is better where the cast get more drunk as the film goes on and Sean Pertwee does an acknowledgement to Stella Artois
Holy shit, it isn't just me then!
Its the only commentary I have watched more than once!
I have to agree its the best DVD commentary ever, properly funny.
I'm American and I remember seeing this movie about 10 years and liking it. I thought the werewolves actually looked pretty cool.
This is absolutely THE BEAST....of werewolf/horror indie flicks of all time!
SciFi channel in the US used to run this sometimes, and I still see it on TV now and then. I agree, the movie is great for what it is. It's hugely memorable.
I'm so glad this was a positive review, loved this movie for it's unreal realness.
I saw this movie, first, on the sci-fi channel a long time ago. Watched it twice. I bought it, recently on DVD and watching it again, I am still very impressed. Glad I own it now.
Finally got around to watching this. Fantastic film!
This is quite possibly the best werewolf movie ever made. Certainly ranks right up there with the original Howling for best-looking ones.
The best description I ever heard for "Dog soldiers" is that's it's not a werewolf film with soldiers in it, it's a soldier film with werewolves in it
This might be my favorite Werewolf movie ever. Its definitely the best one since American Werewolf in London.
Early Drinker - he sounds sober.
My favourite line was "come and have a go if you think you're hard enough", because it got a laugh from my dad, a former Royal Marine commando.
Miss you dad.
I saw this movie a few years ago. I have since bought it on DVD. It is my favorite werewolf movie. Before I saw this my favorite was the first Howling. This takes it. And somehow the make-up and masks of these werewolves make them seem much more real than all the CGI effects you have in the Underworld series.
"The Howling"? really, An American Werewolf in London never featured on your horizon?
@@onastick2411 I saw American Werewolf in London. And though I liked it. I still like the first Howling better than it. And I have yet to see a werewolf movie that I liked more than Dog Soldiers.
One of my top ten best movies of all time. I’m fortunate enough to own a copy on DVD, so I can watch it whenever I want without having to go on a digital scavenger hunt.
As a collector of vampire/werewolf/ and zombie movies, this is still one of my favorites!
I saw it in the used for sale at a Blockbuster in 2003 and had no idea, but it looked interesting so I took a chance. It became a permanent fixture in my collection and I immediately got my brother a copy for his birthday that year. Ever since, he always asks if I've found any more gems like this.
Dragged all my friends to the cinema to see this they were so reluctant till the first soldier got visibly disemboweld.
As Americans, My son and I love this movie. We've watched it numerous times and both consider it the best werewolf movie there is. We obtained a copy, at a pretty high price, but consider it money well spent. Great review as always C.D.
I saw this movie in the early 2000s (I’m in the USA) and absolutely loved it. Time for a re-watch
Loved this flick for years, you are bang on with your review.
If you can, watch it with the director & cast commentary. They get pissed on Stella (I reckon Drinker will definitely appreciate that part) and talk about making the film. It's obvious from the commentary that they really enjoyed making it. Includes such interesting facts as the guy who essentially choreographed the tactical withdrawal through the trees when they're bounding by pairs and end up meeting Megan was one of the on-set drivers, a former soldier.
Howl has some great scenes as well. The night shots in the woods with the werewolves in the trees is down right terrifying.
I watched Dog Soldiers for the first time ages ago. Still have my copy of the DVD and I've slowly been spreading the good word over the years. An absolutely brilliant film.
Great call back. Watched Dog Soldiers ages ago when cable tv was still worth while... One thing I miss most was the scifi channel when it still had charm. Came across so many hinder gems. Which reminds me, along with Dog Soldiers I need to go rewatch Universal Soldier.
Thanks for the nostalgia trip :)
I was worried you would trash a movie I loved. Best Werewolf movie ever. My faith in your opinion has been renewed!
It was refreshing that a film depicted military personnel positively.
28 Days Later was over the top negative about soldiers.
I didn't see 28 Days Later as anti-military, but rather what happens when the chain of command disappears. It is a staple of zombie/rage infected movies that the living are just as dangerous as the infected.
@@Tommykey07 in my opinion, it wasn’t really a breakdown of the chain of command, but rather a deification of those in charge. An officer taking charge with iron fist, surrounding himself with yes-men and stamping out any and all dissent.
The chain of command is still there, but it’s a very short chain indeed. And anyone that isn’t on top is nothing more than a peasant.
@@void870 I have to disagree. The officer in charge confesses to Cillian Murphy that he believes the only way he can keep his men under control is to get women to come to the compound. He's basically trying to appease an armed gang.
Spoon has to be one of my favorite characters ever, Darren Morfitt steals the show
I found this movie at a video store, when those were still a thing, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself watching it.
One of my all time favorite movies. I’m a sucker for soldiers vs shit that’s not supposed to exist stories.
Thanks for bringing it up Drinker
Good story + good characters + great action = good movie
One day Hollywood will use this formula.
Great film. I love the bit where Sergeant Wells has a stick and tells the werewolf to ‘fetch’....priceless.😂
I can think of only two comedy horror films (there must have been others?), An American Werewolf in London, and Dog Soldiers. Both succeed in being scary when they are scary, interspersed with knowing humour Brilliantly done.
This film is one of the many reasons that I'll watch anything if Sean Pertwee or Liam Cunningham are in it
I've seen it multiple times and love it. So glad you reviewed it seriously.
Great film. The Descent also has some great scenes when it focuses on the claustrophobia and the hopelessness of being lost in the caves rather than the monsters.
I'm from the US and i remember watching this on Sci-Fi back in the early 00s. I loved that movie
I was lucky to see this in a theatre here in San Francisco shortly after it came out, at a horror film festival. It is an absolutely kick-ass film, well worth the trouble of seeking out (not that that's very difficult these days). I'm really not much of a horror film fan, but as you said, this one's got a tight script and believable, likeable characters, so even though awful, ludicrous stuff is happening, I had a real investment in seeing the story through.
By the way, Drinker, it's a bit odd to hear you review a film sober and without any sarcasm!
One of my favorites! Thanks, Drinker!
Years ago I was a night worker and, on a single night off where getting out of the sleep pattern would've been a ball-ache, I was up all night watching Sky and playing video games. This film came on and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed it. Well worth a watch for anyone who hasn't.
you speak well of this movie, I will seek it out.
I saw this when I was 12 and I scared the shit out of me. But I keep coming back to it because its just a really good realistic horror movie with good actors. Definitely my favorite werewolf film.
Man, I love this movie! Can't even remember how I heard of it, just rented the DVD one time and was wildly surprised with how much I enjoyed it.