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Sean Pertwee, Kevin Mckidd, Emma Cleasby, Liam Cunningham, Darren Morfitt ... see more see more... , Chris Robson , Leslie Simpson , Thomas Lockyer

British director Neil Marshall's directorial debut Dog Soldiers resurrects and embraces the low-budget horror-comedy. Sergeant Harry Wells (Sean Pertwee) leads a team of British soldiers on a routine ... read more read more...expedition to the Scottish Highlands. The six men would rather be at home watching the game, but they are even more dismayed when a carcass lands on their campfire. The next morning, they happen upon a severely injured Captain Richard Ryan (Liam Cunningham) and the bloody remains of his squadron. Soon they are attacked by giant werewolf beasts and chased through the woods, only to be saved by zoologist Megan (Emma Cleasby), who explains some of the truth about the creatures. They all take refuge in an old farmhouse while the threat of the monsters looms increasingly heavy. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

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45% want to see it

55,796 ratings

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76% liked it

29 critics

R, 1 hr. 44 min.

Directed by: Neil Marshall

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DVD Release Date: November 5, 2002

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Flixster Reviews (3,756)

  • allan913
    May 14, 2012
    allan913
    A classic. An explosive and heart-pounding horror film debut by Director, Neil Marshall. A real triumph in the genre. It`s Predator meets Night of the living dead with Werewolfs. A blood-pumping and hair-raising thrill-ride from start to finish. It has a solid story thats packed ... read morewith strong characters, development and non-stop suspense that keeps you going until the end. Sean Pertwee, Liam Cunningham and Kevin Mckidd give strong and terrific performances. One of the best horror films i have seen in some time. It`s extreamly entertaining and totally enjoyable.
  • phubbs1
    May 13, 2012
    phubbs1
    Could this be the British werewolf equivalent of 'Aliens'? a group of soldiers forced into a tight space, trapped and being taken down one by one, it does feel like it when you watch.

    But lets not take anything away from this film, its a low budget basic thriller which works be... read moreautifully utilizing all the right tricks in the book. The werewolves are kept out of sight for much of the time, lots of shadows and darkness, a good barren wilderness location, tense sweaty and claustrophobic with some good amounts of gore, not overblown.

    Marshall really has taken a leaf outta Cameron's book, a leaf? nay...a whole flippin bush! as previously said the film really is 'Aliens' with werewolves but its so damn fun to watch (and British made) that you have to forgive the blatant concept rip off. The small group of soldiers really work well together and you do care for them as Marshall wisely builds the characters before hand, you know they're all gonna die but never sure which one will remain in tact at the end. Of course everyone is rather cliched and predictable with their dialog and portrayals, Cunningham is the nasty outsider ('Burke') who obviously will die but calmly growls and snarls his lines of doom to the rest in the mean time...just asking for it really.

    Some brilliant sequences that go from outright horror to dark gallows humour such as Pertwee having his bowels/intestines superglued back inside him after a nasty attack. Things get quite tense towards the end as the lycans get too close for comfort and we start to see more glimpses of the pretty solid effects used. Men in suits of course and they do look original in design albeit a little like over grown Alsatians.

    Its gritty, dirty, bloody, basic, effortlessly British, has cool movie posters and you want Cunningham to die right from the very start after he kills that poor doggie. At times it does feel like it could use a bit of Hollywood to really make more of an impact for some sequences and the score seems a tad lackluster. Overall this is a great human vs werewolf flick that really does show what 'Underworld' could of been.
  • aquateen2
    February 25, 2012
    aquateen2
    Dog Soldiers is the best modern low budget horror film i've ever seen. The premise seems corny and so does it's image but when it unfolds itself it suprises you with amazing wit, great frights and memorable characters and of course black comedy in howling perfection.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    January 31, 2012
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Dog Soldiers is one of the original werewolf films in recent memory. Directed by Neil Marshall who would later helm The Descent, this is a unique twist on old school werewolf films. This by far one of the best werewolf films since An American Werewolf in London and The Howling. D... read moreirecting Neil Marshall delivers a film that blazes with originality. Dog Soldiers is an impressive take on a classic monster. The film is well acted with a good story and good gore effects to appeal to harden fans of the genre. This film is exciting and though throughout later years of the decade, remakes have become the prime type of film to appeal to today's audiences, this film will most likely be discovered by old school horror fans that want ultimate thrills. Dog Soldiers is an awesome werewolf film with great effects. Neil Marshall has made a future classic of the genre. Along with The Descent, Dog Soldiers is one of the most memorable and original horror flicks to come out of Britain. The fact that this film takes an old idea and creates something totally new is great. This film shows that there are still directors willing to take the risk at creating a traditional, yet modern horror film, and separate themselves from the current Hollywood obsession with remaking every classic horror film. Dog Soldiers is one of the best werewolf films that you haven't seen. Great gore effects and good acting with great directing by Neil Marshall makes Dog Soldier a must see for every serious horror film fan.
  • katykern8261
    January 23, 2012
    katykern8261
    Directed (and written) by Neil Marshall, Kismet Entertainment Group, 2002.

    Starring: Kevin McKidd, Sean Pertwee, Emma Cleasby and Liam Cunningham.

    Genre: Action, Horror, Thriller.

    Question: Do you remember the days when you hung out with your friends in the woods with to... read morey guns creating wartime combat scenarios? The plot-line was usually the same but sometimes a friend or two would throw in some super powers they suddenly obtained or a fantastical creature that came out of nowhere. Oh, those were the days!

    Okay, did I just lose half of my readers? Yes, ladies, this might not be what you did growing up, but when my older brother would allow it, I would jump right in and play along ready to "kill" the next bad guy. Although I was always bummed I could never make the machine gun noises no matter how hard I tried, I still had a blast pretending I was in the middle of a war or fighting off some creature(s). So, when someone suggested, and I finally watched, Dog Soldiers I was immediately thrown back to my 10 year-old inner child.

    Honestly, as I was watching Dog Soldiers I kept thinking the film-maker (Neil Marshall) must have never let go of his childhood imagination. His film is about 5-6 British soldiers on a practice mission who run into werewolves that apparently can't die even when shot multiple times with semi-automatic guns.

    As usual I don't want to go into much detail about this film - this is a thriller, of sorts. I will say there is a little overacting, some poorly-written dialogue and some over-the-top plot points; however, I think that was all intentional. So you must have a sense of humor while watching Dog Soldiers. It is definitely a B film that had me howling with laughter at certain scenes, covering my eyes over some of 'blood and guts' violence and rolling my eyes at some of the innuendoes.

    Also, if you are unfamiliar with British slang, I suggest you click here - this is something I JUST discovered and it might help translate some of the sayings in this movie. A few of the phrases you might not know: 'Big girl's blouse', 'taking the piss', toffee-nosed'. These are used in Dog Soliders, along with a few others, but I'll let you discover what they mean on your own.

    If any ladies stuck around for the rest of the review, I can tell you the lead actor in this, Kevin McKidd, is from Grey's Anatomy. So if you have a thing for Dr. Hunt, you might want to watch Dog Soldiers - just don't tell your boyfriend or husband why, but they would probably be too shocked to ask anyway.

    This is the perfect movie for the next level of what young-in's like to do in groups: watch cult-like, horror films (that usually scare their little sisters who still want to be a part of the group). So once you've grown out of the 'play outdoors phase', might I suggest Dog Soldiers. However, this is rated R - so if you are under age, please ask your parents kiddos.

    My favorite thing: That I wasn't all that scared watching a horror.

    My least favorite thing: Watching some of the gore.

    Rating: R
    Length: 105 minutes

    Review: 5 out of 10
  • garyX
    November 9, 2011
    garyX
    A Squad of British soldiers on manoeuvres in the Scottish Highlands are ambushed by a pack of werewolves. Neil Marshall's knowing homage to the werewolf movie cleverly combines the myth with other horror formulae to create what is essentially An American Werewolf In London crosse... read mored with Predator. Thanks to some naturalistic dialogue, funny banter and believable performances by the no-name cast, the soldiers feel like real squaddies and Marshall's efficient direction cranks up the suspense to just the right level despite some obvious budget limitations. The photography is rather TV standard and the effects hardly cutting edge, but it's a case of lack of money being the mother of invention and thanks to a knowing script, what emerges is a hugely entertaining horror with a wide streak of very British humour. The formula of isolated cabin in the woods under siege from monsters has been done to death, but rarely with this level of wit. If you need fancy CGI to enjoy a horror film I'd look elsewhere, but if you want thrills and spills and plenty of genuinely funny moments, this is well worth a look.
  • kenstachnik
    August 27, 2011
    kenstachnik
    Great Werewolf Movie...no CGI...all man in suit...
  • fb619846742
    June 18, 2011
    fb619846742
    A raw, scrappy little horror film concerning a platoon of soldiers who are dropped into a Hellish terrain stalked by flesh-hungry werewolves who are difficult to kill. At times, it feels as though Marshall is tipping his cap a little too much towards other greats like "Aliens", a... read morend "The Night of the Living Dead", and at times you feel he is running the risk of having his entire movie become a mash-up of just other great ones. However, this film is an irrefutable visceral thrill, and one that does not slow down throughout its duration, including an intense finale in which the blood and guts really hit the floor. Not for the weak stomachs out there, and Marshall's "The Descent" still remains his most accomplished work and the best horror film from the 00's, but 'Soldiers' definitely shows a respect for horror greats, as well as an eye for how to make a film truly scary but funny at the same time.
  • Deano78
    August 21, 2010
    Deano78
    One of the best horrors I have seen in recent years. A low budget UK film but it is bloody and tense as well. A group of soldiers are on a training mission in the Scottish Highlands when they encounter a pack of werewolves. If you love Horror films this is one of the best Werewo... read morelf films around.
  • skactopus
    June 11, 2010
    skactopus
    Neil Marshall proves, with Dog Soldiers, that budget and experience isn't everything.

    The title is straight forward and unornamented, but that doesn't stop the 1 hour and 40 minutes from unleashing the entertainment. The setting doesn't change much either and it doesn't

    ... read more have to. What better place for a werewolf movie than in the middle of the forest? The first third of the film is all character buildup with some mildly entertaining dialogue, while the final hour, in the cabin, is where all the fun happens.

    There is very very little in the way of cheap effects, if any at all. Instead, Marshall breaks out the costumes and makeup to create some very intimidating werewolves and violent scenes.

    The acting for the amusing characters is big reason for this film's success. Kevin Mckidd and Sean Pertwee take the center stage, with Darren Morfitt and Emma Cleasby backing them up.

    There is more than meets the eye with Dog Soldiers, which is why this is a thriller to consider checking out. "Open your mouth, watch your ears, mind your toes! "

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Critic Reviews

Jonathan Perry
January 31, 2003
Jonathan Perry, Boston Globe

Marshall puts a suspenseful spin on standard horror flick formula. Full Review

Mark Adams
June 25, 2002
Mark Adams, Hollywood Reporter

There is a welcome lack of pretension about the film, which very simply sets out to entertain and ends up delivering in good measure.

Nick Schager
March 30, 2010
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness

Falls back mainly on army squad clichés and rote conflicts, along the way delivering a group of protagonists woefully short on personality. Full Review

Steve Biodrowski
July 10, 2008
Steve Biodrowski, Cinefantastique

One of the best all-out, no-apologies, hell-bent-for-leather horror films to emerge from the beginning of the 21st century Full Review

Lucius Gore
June 17, 2008
Lucius Gore, ESplatter

One of the best horror movies of 2002 Full Review

Chuck O'Leary
October 8, 2005
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily

A relentlessly gripping werewolf thriller. One of the best horror films of recent years.

Scott Weinberg
August 23, 2004
Scott Weinberg, Apollo Guide

One of those 'exception to the rule' horror movies in which a little humour and a lot of effort go a very long way. Full Review

Shannon J. Harvey
March 23, 2003
Shannon J. Harvey, Sunday Times (Australia)

Pretend it's a werewolf itself by avoiding eye contact and walking slowly away. It's fun, but it's a real howler. Full Review

Brian Mckay
March 18, 2003
Brian Mckay, eFilmCritic.com

every once in a while, a movie will come along that turns me into that annoying specimen of humanity that I usually dread encountering the most - The Fanboy Full Review

David Nusair
December 9, 2002
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews

...one of the better horror comedies to hit video store shelves in a while. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Facts

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    • Sgt. Harry Wells: My guts are out Coop!
    • R/man Lawrence Cooper: We'll just put 'em back in then!
    • Sgt. Harry Wells: They're not gonna fucking fit!
    • R/man Lawrence Cooper: Of course they'll fit, man!
  • Jason Statham was originally set to play Cooper, but chose to do the film, Ghosts of Mars, instead. Kevin Mckidd got the part of Cooper instead.
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Dog Soldiers Trivia

  • Neil Marshall directed 2 of the movies below, what were they?  Answer »
  • What is the name of the team leader in the film "Dog Soldiers" that is shared with a well known aurthor?  Answer »
  • What movie has the tag line; "Six Men. Full Moon. No Chance."  Answer »
  • What movie has this Tagline 6 Soldiers Fullmoon No Chance ???  Answer »
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