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Post by lostinlimbo on Apr 7, 2017 7:41:59 GMT
I remember when I first encountered the striking movie poster in a magazine (and it had an eye-catching comment "… aliens and predator with a werewolf twist"). There was no question, I'll be seeing this one when it hit the cinema. So when it was released, I was there (along with a friend) and to no surprise there was only one other person in the cinema. I really enjoyed it and was lucky, because after a week it was no longer showing. I've seen it a couple times since and it still remains excitingly explosive in what is far from a gradual stroll through the woods. British director Neil Marshall's (who after this debut feature hit it big with his follow up 2005 film 'The Descent') low-budget home-grown feature superbly mixes a perfect (if rough) blend of gruesome horror and dark humor in what you can call a relentless werewolf shooting parlor in tightening quarters. It was efficiently executed, considering its minor-budget. Biting, cheese-smacked dialogues stream from a naturally committed cast led by Kevin McKidd, Sean Pertwee, Liam Cunningham and Emma Cleasby. The chemistry between them really adds to the film’s high-stakes energy. The violence is kept bloody and the towering, menacing werewolf designs (with similarities to those from 'The Howling') look simple, but stood-out due largely to disguising them amongst the kinetic camera-work and shadowy lighting. Those looking for any sort of transformation, don't get your hopes up as it occurs off-screen… be it one slight, basic glimpse. The woodland setting gets atmospheric and the cottage where it mostly takes place holds tight drilling in some exciting passages of siege suspense. The action is jolting, graphic FX (as these werewolves would virtually tear you apart!) is chucked about (look out for sausages) and from that it gathers some intentional laughs. The straight-forward story (soldiers coming up against something unnatural) is concise with the evident clichés being pulled off, despite some contrived developments. Nonetheless it’s not enough to destroy the overall fun. I'm curious to what ever happened to the supposedly rumoured sequel Dog Soldiers; Fresh Meat.
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Post by Chalice_Of_Evil on Apr 7, 2017 8:35:40 GMT
I saw this quite some time ago on the TV and have only very vague memories of it, but I think I thought at the time that it was quite well done (I seem to remember reading somewhere that cardboard cutouts were used for the werewolf silhouettes that were shown from a distance - which I thought was rather nifty, as they didn't particularly stand out to me as 'obviously fake' when watching. I even liked the werewolf suit design).
I recognised Kevin McKidd, Sean Pertwee and Liam Cunningham from other things I'd seen with them, but didn't know of Emma Cleasby till this movie (I was somewhat surprised by what happened towards the end regarding her character).
The woodland setting gets atmospheric
I really liked this^ aspect.
(look out for sausages)
I definitely remember that part. I also recall the character of Spoon - he was pretty awesome, wasn't he?
If the movie's ever on TV here again, I may well check it out.
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Post by sostie on Apr 7, 2017 9:53:35 GMT
Love this film. It's like Zulu with Werewolves, which can't be bad, and Pertwwee is excellent in it (though the rest of the cast is pretty good too).
I actually have that poster signed by Marshall & Pertwee at home.
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Post by lostinlimbo on Apr 10, 2017 9:54:27 GMT
Love this film. It's like Zulu with Werewolves, which can't be bad, and Pertwwee is excellent in it (though the rest of the cast is pretty good too). I actually have that poster signed by Marshall & Pertwee at home. Very fitting description. No matter how big or small Pertwee's role, he always makes an impression.
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Post by lostinlimbo on Apr 10, 2017 9:59:52 GMT
I saw this quite some time ago on the TV and have only very vague memories of it, but I think I thought at the time that it was quite well done (I seem to remember reading somewhere that cardboard cutouts were used for the werewolf silhouettes that were shown from a distance - which I thought was rather nifty, as they didn't particularly stand out to me as 'obviously fake' when watching. I even liked the werewolf suit design). I recognised Kevin McKidd, Sean Pertwee and Liam Cunningham from other things I'd seen with them, but didn't know of Emma Cleasby till this movie (I was somewhat surprised by what happened towards the end regarding her character). The woodland setting gets atmospheric I really liked this^ aspect. (look out for sausages) I definitely remember that part. I also recall the character of Spoon - he was pretty awesome, wasn't he? If the movie's ever on TV here again, I may well check it out. Yeah, I think heard something like that about the werewolf designs on the commentary track quite a while back. The twist did throw me off too, the first time I saw it. Spoon is truly a badass character. Also his choice of dialogue in the face of death is priceless.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2017 14:45:44 GMT
Kick ass werewolf film, full of action, horror, and humor. # 4 on my top five werewolf film list.
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Post by Jerk on Apr 10, 2017 20:18:05 GMT
I saw it in a cinema when it was released. I enjoyed it quite a lot on first viewing and every viewing since.
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Post by Marv on Apr 11, 2017 1:25:15 GMT
One of the best werewolf movies ever and such a fun horror flick. Likeable characters and good action.
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TheSowIsMine
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Post by TheSowIsMine on Apr 12, 2017 19:15:17 GMT
I really like this one. It had a great mix of action, horror and comedy.
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Post by lostinlimbo on Apr 14, 2017 11:46:18 GMT
Kick ass werewolf film, full of action, horror, and humor. # 4 on my top five werewolf film list. For me, I would have it just behind "AAWIL" & "The Wolfman".
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lakelander
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Post by lakelander on Apr 15, 2017 0:05:07 GMT
I'd rate it above those two myself. It was a very nice surprise when I got the DVD at a closing of business sale of a supermarket video rental kiosk. Only $1.99 and well worth it.
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Post by hitchcockthelegend on Oct 30, 2018 3:13:39 GMT
Absolutely love it!
He looks like he took on Jack The Ripper and came last.
A British Squad is on training manoeuvres in the Highlands of Scotland, after finding Special Ops Squad leader, Captain Ryan, in a bad way and rambling incoherently, the night is about to become a fight for survival, the enemy? Werewolves!
Director Neil Marshall has never hid his influences (and love), here in this incredibly enjoyable lupine piece, he fuses a number of personal favourite pictures, most notably Assault On Precinct 13, Aliens and Night Of The Living Dead. There is nothing wrong with homaging as long as the resulting film has made its own stamp, and certainly Dog Soldiers does that very well. For sure all the genre staples are here, things that howl in the night, a glowing full moon and of course a house straight out of your darkest creepy fairy-tales. But lifting this above the mundane is its wonderful tongue in cheek script as dashes of humour sit snugly alongside the gory trappings of its horror roots, with Marshall having an adroitly deft knack of eeking out nervous laughs as our Squaddies come under lupine siege. The non use of CGI for the wolves is a pleasant surprise, and certainly it gives the piece an added earthy quality, as does a cast clearly having the time of their lives on this shoot. A cast that contains British and Irish cult heroes in Sean Pertwee & Liam Cunningham. Some of the gags will pass over the heads of those residing outside of the UK, that's not an insult, it's fact, because Marshall and his team are aiming squarely for the British market. Which to us UK residents is most definitely not "Bone".
Nonsense fable of course, but these Dog Soldiers are prime pedigree chums. 8.5/10
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Post by hitchcockthelegend on Oct 30, 2018 3:18:17 GMT
I saw this quite some time ago on the TV and have only very vague memories of it, but I think I thought at the time that it was quite well done (I seem to remember reading somewhere that cardboard cutouts were used for the werewolf silhouettes that were shown from a distance - which I thought was rather nifty, as they didn't particularly stand out to me as 'obviously fake' when watching. I even liked the werewolf suit design). I recognised Kevin McKidd, Sean Pertwee and Liam Cunningham from other things I'd seen with them, but didn't know of Emma Cleasby till this movie (I was somewhat surprised by what happened towards the end regarding her character). The woodland setting gets atmospheric I really liked this^ aspect. (look out for sausages) I definitely remember that part. I also recall the character of Spoon - he was pretty awesome, wasn't he? If the movie's ever on TV here again, I may well check it out. Yeah, I think heard something like that about the werewolf designs on the commentary track quite a while back. The twist did throw me off too, the first time I saw it. Spoon is truly a badass character. Also his choice of dialogue in the face of death is priceless. I hope I give you the shits!
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Post by Marv on Oct 30, 2018 9:31:57 GMT
Great poster, great movie.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2018 9:43:07 GMT
It's alright... Nowt to write home about.
Too actiony for my taste.
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