Just finished Dog Soldiers, Neil Marshall's brit horror
debut.
Ripping the conventions of the werewolf genre to
shreds, "Dog Soldiers" trades shock horror for gross out
humour and the result - full of bloody entrails, jokes
about Little Red Riding Hood and references to classic genre movies
like "Wolfen" - is a rip-roaring comedy action fest that'll
put hairs on your chest.
When a British Army platoon led by Wells (Pertwee) stumbles
across a stack of bloody bodies (the remains of a top-secret
special services unit) out in the middle of the Scottish Highlands,
it's obvious that there's something very strange going on. Their
suspicions are confirmed when they find a civilian zoologist
wandering through the woods looking for evidence of some very
shaggy beasts. Before they have a chance to say "silver
bullets", the platoon's holed up in an abandoned farm house
fighting off a bunch of attackers who all look like they need a
good short back 'n' sides.
Wisely deciding to keep the creatures hidden for as long as
possible (perhaps because they all bear an uncanny resemblance to
Peter Stringfellow), director Neil Marshall ratchets up the tension
nicely, but decides ultimately to shoot for outrageous comedy,
playing up the script's deliriously silly elements and throwing
ketchup all over the screen.
As the perfect Friday night movie, "Dog Soldiers" is
full of boisterous energy, some really disgusting moments
(Pertwee's cry of "sausages!" is unforgettable), and some
clever-clever genre in-jokes. Clearly low budget British
horror is alive and well - if a little sick.
- BBC Movies
Severance was pretty good as well.
