Dog Soldiers – 2002 | 105mins | Horror, Action | Colour

Plot Synopsis

Writer-director Neil Marshall’s low-budget British horror film is reminiscent of An American Werewolf in London, whilst also touching upon the atmosphere of Deliverance and Predator. The film is a scary, humorous, white-knuckle ride with enough gore to please fans of the genre. A plethora of great actors deliver an exciting opening, a gruelling middle, and a gripping finale in this flawed cult classic.

A squad of six British soldiers are sent on manoeuvres in the Scottish Highlands, but what should have been a routine military exercise turns into a nightmare for Sergeant Harry Wells (Sean Pertwee), Private Lawrence Cooper (Kevin McKidd), Joe Kirkley (Chris Robson), Terry Milburn (Leslie Simpson), Phil Witherspoon (Darren Morfitt) and Corporal Bruce Campbell (Thomas Lockyer). After setting up camp, their customary camaraderie is disturbed when the dismembered carcass of a cow crash-lands into the middle of their campfire during the night.

The following morning they stumble into a Special Operations encampment. Aloof Captain Richard Ryan (Liam Cunningham), on a mysterious secret mission, is mortally injured and the only survivor of his crack unit – the rest of the squad torn to shreds. Stunned by the blood-soaked aftermath and unable to make any sense of Ryan, the shocked men are pursued through the forest by a pack of snarling creatures. They seek refuge in a Land Rover belonging to zoologist Megan (Emma Cleasby), who takes them to a nearby farmhouse deep in the forest for refuge. Inside, the table is set and dinner is bubbling on the stove, but no one is home. Outside, strange noises grow closer and closer, and the men are convinced that whatever has disposed of the missing inhabitants lurks outside. With no radio contact, no live ammunition; the besieged soldiers have only cunning and brute force to rely on while the werewolves gather.