Review: Dog Soldiers (2002) – A Bloody Good Time in the Woods

If Aliens and The Howling had a scrappy, no-nonsense British baby, Dog Soldiers would be it. Neil Marshall’s directorial debut doesn’t waste time with slow build-ups or unnecessary subplots—it throws you headfirst into the Scottish Highlands with a squad of unlucky soldiers and doesn’t let up until the final bullet’s fired (or final limb’s torn off).

The premise is beautifully simple: a team of British soldiers on a training mission discovers they’re being hunted—not by enemy troops, but by a pack of vicious werewolves. And these aren’t your tragic, tortured Lycans either—these creatures are tall, fast, and terrifying, with practical effects that hold up surprisingly well over 20 years later.

What makes Dog Soldiers stand out isn’t just the gore (though there’s plenty of that), but the chemistry between the cast. Kevin McKidd shines as the reluctant hero Cooper, and Sean Pertwee delivers one of the best “injured but still sassy” performances you’ll see in a horror flick.

It’s gritty, it’s loud, it’s occasionally hilarious, and it knows exactly what kind of movie it wants to be. No romance, no fluff, just werewolves and soldiers in a cottage, fighting for survival.

Not for the faint of heart—or stomach—but if you’re into creature features with a military twist and a dash of black humor, Dog Soldiers is an absolute must-watch.

Rating: 8.5/10
Tagline if I had to make one up: “Man’s best friend just became man’s worst nightmare.”