Dog Soldiers ★★★★

BEFORE he lost his way in Hollywood, Neil Marshall made three terrifically exciting films – Dog Soldiers in 2002, The Descent (2005) and Doomsday (2008).

The English director’s first feature, Dog Soldiers, was released the same year as 28 Days Later which rightly garnered most of the attention for Danny Boyle and Cillian Murphy

But Marshall’s impressive debut was also praised for its editing and direction and original premise pitting a group of soldiers against a pack of werewolves.

In the remote Scottish Highlands, a group of standard soldiers are engaged in a war game with a more skilled, special operations team.

At one point the group are amused around their campfire by stories about something attacking backpackers in the area. But later they come across the only survivor of the other team which has been attacked by something.

The surviving operations group leader refuses to disclose all the details and the group come to realise he is hiding the real reason for the mission.

They are helped to a nearby home by a veterinarian and are forced to defend themselves against the ferocious horde once darkness has fallen.

Marshall’s film is exciting, highly suspenseful, well-acted and full of gory action, becoming a cult favourite among many horror fans.

It does, however, need a remastered version just to improve the viewing experience a little.