DOG SOLDIERS

Starring: Kevin McKidd, Sean Pertwee, Chris Robson, Leslie Simpson, Darren Morfitt, Thomas Lockyer, Emma Cleasby and Liam Cunningham
Writer/Director: Neil Marshall
Running Time: 105 mins
Certificate: 15

Out to buy on DVD 17th February

Dropped in the Highlands of Scotland on a routine training exercise, Sergeant Wells (Pertwee) and his platoon have to evade the Special Forces soldiers under the command of Captain Ryan (Cunningham). When they find their enemy's camp destroyed and covered in blood, the platoon immediately take up arms and secure the area. Finding Ryan hysterical, brutally wounding but still alive, the group call for an immediate e-vac only to find that there radio is not operational. As night closes in, sounds start coming from everywhere in the woods. Screams turn to growls and as the full moon rises the howling in the distance is getting closer.

This is classic horror from the old school. Resurrecting the Werewolf, which has been on the back burner to Vampires for the last decade or so, this movie is an old fashioned gore-fest in the tradition of 80s classics An American Werewolf in London and The Howling.

While only on a small budget, the film captures the essence of the golden age of British horror when the Hammer was king and tosses in a little of Aliens, Zulu and The Night of the Living Dead into the mix. First time writer/director Neil Marshall throws his hat into the one to watch category by delivering a horror movie that is as funny as it is gory. Expertly utilising shadow and fast cuts to mask the limited effects budget, Marshall relies on a good cast to bring lycanthropy (Humans turning into wolves) back to the big screen with a bang.

Sean Pertwee and Kevin McKidd are excellent as the two leads, while their inability to believe that they are fighting werewolves, even after two close up confrontations, is abit mind boggling they soon come to terms with their predicament and the characters come into their own. Support is good from Emma Cleasby as Megan and Darren Morfitt as 'Spoony' with Liam Cunningham, although slightly under developed, making a devious bad guy.

Yes I would have liked to have seen a good transformation scene and more of the creatures themselves, but you have to remember that this is low budget and the elusiveness of the creatures does add to the tension of the situation.

Harking back to the days when Britain ruled the roost when it came to the horror genre, this movie is pure entertainment. With just enough gore to keep the horror purists happy and enough laughs to keep the whole thing from becoming too over the top, this is a late night popcorn flick that will stick its teeth into you and not let go until its explosive ending. Just don't eat a hot dog with tomato ketchup while watching it.

Audio commentary from writer/director Neil Marshall, co-producer Keith Bell, director of photography Sean McCurdy with stars Sean Pertwee, Liam Cunningham and Kevin McKidd, Audio commentary from the film's producer, 6 deleted scenes, 'Making Of' featurette, Gag reel, B-roll footage, Storyboards, Photo gallery, Original theatrica, trailers, Interactive menu & Scene access