Werewolf Wednesday Entry 2/12/25

Title: Dog Soldiers.

Media: Film, directed by Neil Marshall.

Dog Soldiers was released in 2002 and has unfortunately been vastly overlooked by fans of horror cinema since its release. As much as I would like to avoid picking favourites in these entries, it is difficult to not appreciate Dog Soldiers for its thrilling action, witty dialogue, and loveable characters. 

The film does not begin with its primary cast, but instead details a bizarre and brutal attack on a couple camping in the Scottish Highlands. After, the central focus of the film is introduced as a crew of British soldiers embarking on a routine training mission in the same area where the couple met their fate. However, the mission begins to go awry as a dead cow is dropped on the soldier’s campfire. Startled, they brush it off as nothing more than an injured animal falling from a ledge and manage to sleep through the night. As the following day persists, it becomes very clear that something is amiss. They hear strange sounds in the forest, and find themselves unable to locate any other soldiers from the opposing team for an extended period of time, until they eventually encounter their mangled remains. The sole survivor, interestingly, is a man that one of the soldiers recognises as a member of special forces, and a person that by all right should not be involved with the training mission. As the mystery deepens, the men experience their first look at the creatures they are up against.

With a budget of only about 2.3 million GBP, the special effects department could only do so much with what they were offered. To compensate this, the cinematography cuts away quickly to provide brief glimpses, and films the beasts primarily from low angles to emphasize their impressive stature. The film maintains some of the lore of 1941 Universal Pictures Wolfman, with the transformations of the werewolves occurring on the full moon, and their weakness to silver. Unlike The Wolfman, the power of the beasts is more prominent, as they are able to withstand multiple rounds of bullets without serious injury. The surviving men are eventually rescued by a woman who claims to be a zoologist, who takes them to a cottage and provides them with food and shelter. With her help, the crew is able to begin plotting their escape as they attempt to gauge the beast’s weaknesses. 

Four years after the release of Dog Soldiers, director Neil Marshall would go on to direct a staple of horror cinema, The Descent. Unlike Dog Soldiers with its male dominated cast, The Descent instead focused on a team of cave exploring women. His talent with translating deeply atmospheric environments onto the big screen is particularly apparent in Dog Soldiers, as the cinematography captures the terror and helpless isolation the characters experience. The film features a series of delightful plot twists and surprises, and I implore anyone curious enough with a strong stomach to give the film a try. 

As always, be sure to appreciate your local monsters.