The Daily Dig: Dog Soldiers (2002)

Neil Marshall can make a damn good action film, and he spiced up “Dog Soldiers” with some massive, well-done, brutal werewolves.

A military exercise in the Scottish highlands turns deadly when the soldiers stumble into a top-secret operation to capture a Werewolf. Let’s dig into 2002’s DOG SOLDIERS, directed by Neil Marshall!

As I See It

Neil Marshall hit back-to-back home runs with his first two feature-length films. He wrote and directed both of them and the latter, The Descent, is arguably one of the best horror films of the last 25 years. That film succeeds in so many different areas, but it’s Marshall’s ability to craft an ensemble cast of characters with an equal level of intrigue that keeps you engaged.

Dog Soldiers was a dry run for that. A sort of UK Predator without an alien threat and way less anabolic steroids.

Marshall’s decision to focus the film as a military thriller that just happens to have killer mythical beasts as the menace allows you to invest in the humans and enjoy the carnage when it unfolds. Quick and witty dialogue is on par with Shane Black’s seminal action/sci-fi script. The acting is seamless as the strategizing flows off their tongues like a poet reciting a sonnet from memory.

I’m not saying this film is some deep cut that needs more attention. It was, after all, the most-watched film by British military forces during the Iraq and Afghani wars. It’s just so good that it deserves the spotlight, again and again.

The only knock I have on it is it loses a bit of its spunk once it becomes contained, but I do understand the need to trap the battalion. You’re going to have a good time watching.

Famous Faces

Liam Cunningham (Ryan) played the endearing curmudgeon Davos Seaworth in the epic HBO hit Game of Thrones.

Kevin McKidd (Cooper) played Tommy in Danny Boyle’s opiate tale Trainspotting.

Sean Pertwee (Wells) is one of those actors that I could have sworn to have seen in a handful of films. Going through his CV it wasn’t until I got to Event Horizon that it clicked. He was so memorable as Smith that it tricked my brain. He also was in another Neil Marshall film: Doomsday.

Of Gratuitous Nature

It’s an action-filled horror film. There isn’t much time for sex, though we don’t kick the film off with the tried and true tent sex which never gets past the heavy petting stage thanks to the unfortunate couple being devoured by the unseen beast. It isn’t gratuitous though, as it sets up the “revolver” that will be used in Act Three.

Heartthrob

His character may be a dick, but a young, clean-faced Liam Cunningham (Ryan) didn’t find his charm just playing the Onion Knight. He’s had it all along.

Ripe for a Remake

Personally, werewolves stand out for me as cool as fuck monsters. It seems so easy to make them cheesy, but I really can’t think of many lycanthropic-based films I’ve seen that sucked. I’d love to see some more and as I detail below there has not been a lack of trying to get more stories within the realm of Dog Soldiers made. Perhaps twenty years on we can finally get another dog in the fight.

Spawns

There is no dearth of information throughout the years about planned sequels and even a trilogy concept from director Neil Marshall. There was even a plan for a series titled Dog Soldiers: Red which got a minute-and-a-half long, blood-filled teaser trailer. Nothing has ever materialized that allows this film to stand strongly on its hind legs without diluting its legacy (pun intended) with banal sequels.

Where to Watch

For those that go with distributors they are familiar with, Shout Factory released a two-disc, limited edition Blu-ray in 2015 which also has a 4k Ultra HD version. Dog Soldiers has seen multiple releases though, including a new 4K box set from UK-based Second Sight Films in 2022 that has a boatload of special features and attached art. You can stream it on Tubi, Hulu, AMC+, and The Roku Channel.