Dog Soldiers (2002)

Director:

Neil Marshall

Writer:

Neil Marshall (written by)

Release Date:

10 May 2002 (UK)

Genre:

Action | Horror

Tagline:

Six soldiers. Full moon. No chance.

Plot:

A routine military exercise turns into a nightmare in the Scotland wilderness.

Plot Keywords:

Scotland | Full Moon | Training Mission | Special Forces | Soldier

Awards:

4 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Sean Pertwee	...	Sgt. Harry G. Wells
Kevin McKidd	...	Pvt. Cooper
Emma Cleasby	...	Megan
Liam Cunningham	...	Capt. Ryan
Thomas Lockyer	...	Cpl. Bruce Campbell
Darren Morfitt	...	'Spoon' Witherspoon
Chris Robson	...	Pvt. Joe Kirkley
Leslie Simpson	...	Pvt. Terry Milburn
Tina Landini	...	Camper
Craig Conway	...	Camper
Vilrikke's Acer	...	Sam the Dog
Bryn Walters	...	Werewolf
Brian Claxton Payne	...	Werewolf
Ben Wright	...	Werewolf

Directed by
Neil Marshall

Writing credits
Neil Marshall		(written by)

Produced by
David E. Allen	....	producer
Vic Bateman	....	executive producer
Keith Bell	....	co-producer
Christopher Figg	....	producer
Harmon Kaslow	....	executive producer
Brian Patrick O'Toole	....	co-producer (as Brian O'Toole)
Tom Reeve	....	producer
Romain Schroeder	....	executive producer
Caroline Waldron	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Mark Thomas

Cinematography by
Sam McCurdy

Film Editing by
Neil Marshall

Casting by
Andrea Clark		(as Andrea Clarke)
Jeremy Zimmerman

Production Design by
Simon Bowles

Art Direction by
Christina Schaffer

Set Decoration by
Sonja Klaus

Costume Design by
Uli Simon

Makeup Department
Dave Bonneywell	....	special makeup effects supervisor
Lisa Crawley	....	special makeup effects artist
Peter Hawkins	....	special makeup effects artist
René Jordan	....	hair designer
René Jordan	....	makeup artist
Bob Keen	....	special makeup director
Matthew O'Toole	....	special makeup effects artist (as Matt O'Toole)
Anthony Parker	....	work shop crew
Justin Pitkethly	....	special makeup effects artist
Katja Reinert-Alexis	....	makeup designer (as Katja Reinert)
Katja Reinert-Alexis	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Laurent Dumas	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Enrico Accetto	....	third assistant director
Hélène Coker	....	third assistant director
Ralph Eisenmann	....	second assistant director (as Ralf Eisenmann)
Sam Harris	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Boris Bartholomäus	....	carpenter
Paul Biwer	....	master model maker
Claudio Campana	....	assistant art director
Claudio Campana	....	draughtsman
Guy Hebeler	....	model maker
Svet Hrouchoff	....	props runner
François Mast	....	carpenter
Pascale Michalski	....	model maker
Olivier Printz	....	picture car coordinator
Stephanie Rass	....	assistant art director
Stephanie Rass	....	model maker (as Stéphanie Rass)
Tiffany Rodenfels	....	props
Gerold Schmidt	....	stand-by props
Zoe Smith	....	assistant props buyer
Petra Weber	....	props buyer
Petra Weber	....	set dresser
Bruno Zenatello	....	construction manager

Sound Department
James Boyle	....	sound editor
Peter Burgis	....	foley artist
Paul Carr	....	post-production sound mixer
Paul Conway	....	supervising sound editor
Andie Derrick	....	foley artist
Alain Goniva	....	boom operator
James Harrison	....	sound editor
Jacques Leroide	....	foley editor
Nick Thermes	....	production sound mixer
Iain Eyre	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Colin Lang	....	sound designer (uncredited)
Andy Ludbrook	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Randolph Saucedo	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Richard Darwin	....	animatronic model designer
Roland Goddijn	....	special effects
Tacy Kneale	....	workshop
Martin Lader	....	special effects
Andy Lee	....	foamer
Edward Wiessenhaan	....	special effects
Harrie Wiessenhaan	....	physical effects supervisor (as Harry Wiessenhaan)
Rick Wiessenhaan	....	special effects
Robert Zepers	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Neil Culley	....	compositor
Bob Keen	....	visual effects supervisor

Stunts
Roland Goddijn	....	stunts
Martin Lader	....	stunts
Edward Wiessenhaan	....	stunts
Harrie Wiessenhaan	....	stunt coordinator (as Harry Wiessenhaan)
Rick Wiessenhaan	....	stunts
Robert Zepers	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Alex Aach	....	clapper loader: second camera
Paul Alexander	....	Steadicam operator
Sergio Bernuzzi	....	key grip
Riccardo Besantini	....	focus puller: second camera
Mathilde Bouts	....	clapper loader
Etienne Braun	....	still photographer
Gilbert Degrand	....	best boy
Mick Durlacher	....	gaffer
Graham Johnston	....	clapper loader: second camera
Clayton Ramsey	....	assistant grip
Catherine Richard	....	video assist operator
Carlo Thiel	....	camera operator: second camera
Wolfgang Wesemann	....	focus puller
Jon Garwes	....	assistant camera: aerial unit (uncredited)
Phil Humphries	....	assistant camera: aerial unit (uncredited)

Casting Department
Monique Durlacher	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Silke Reinards	....	wardrobe assistant
Uli Zegers	....	wardrobe assistant

Music Department
Rupert Bopape	....	composer: song "Tom Hark" (as R. Bopape)
John Boughtwood	....	music supervisor
James Collins	....	music scoring mixer
Mark Thomas	....	conductor
Mark Thomas	....	orchestrator

Transportation Department
Kevan Willis	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Marguerite Auberger	....	location assistant
Pascal Charlier	....	location manager
Paul de Bourcy	....	studio manager
Kirsten Ferwerda	....	production assistant
Richard Glass	....	contact lenses
Kristjan Hardarson	....	assistant accountant (as Kristjan Hardarsson)
Harmon Kaslow	....	financial structuring and legal
Christopher P. Kibbey	....	vice president of production: Carousel Picture Company (as Chris Kibbey)
Sheila McNaught	....	script supervisor
Simon Ricketts	....	script editor
Luc Schroeder	....	production accountant
Katja Wolf	....	assistant to executive producer
Michael J. Harker	....	completion bond representative (uncredited)
Philip James Morgan	....	location scout (uncredited)
Matthew O'Toole	....	post-production accountant (uncredited)
Stephane Wasila	....	assistant location manager (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Kismet Entertainment Group
• The Noel Gay Motion Picture Company
• Carousel Picture Company, The
• The Victor Film Company (in association with) (as The Victor Film Group)
• Luxembourg Film Fund (with the support of)

Distributors

• Pathé Distribution (2002) (UK) (theatrical)
• Ekaterinburg Art (EA) (200?) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Finnkino (2002) (Finland) (theatrical) (limited)
• Indies Film Distribution (2002) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• SND (2002) (France) (theatrical)
• Xanadeux Company (2003) (Japan) (theatrical) (Tokyo)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Artisan Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD) (VHS)
• Future Film (2003) (Finland) (DVD)
• H.O.M. Vision bv, Spakenburg (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• PlayArte Home Vídeo (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• PlayArte Home Vídeo (2003) (Brazil) (VHS)
• THINKFilm (2003) (Canada) (DVD)
• Velocity Home Entertainment (2002) (Canada) (VHS) (Canada only)
• Wide Sight Entertainment Limited (200?) (Hong Kong) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Image FX

Other Companies

• Bollux  film stock provided by
• Bollux  grip rental company
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services
• Sound Design Company, The  post-production sound services
• Wood Hall Catering  catering

Also Known As:

Night of the Werewolves (UK) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence/gore and language.

Runtime:

105 min | Japan:104 min

Country:

UK | Luxembourg | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

South Korea:15 | Australia:MA | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-18 (video premiere) | France:-16 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:III | Iceland:16 | Ireland:18 | Italy:T | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:18 | Portugal:M/18 | Singapore:NC-16 | Spain:18 | UK:15 | USA:R | Philippines:R-18

Filming Locations:

Luxembourg

Company:

Kismet Entertainment Group

Trivia:

The movie probably takes place on the 1 and 2 September 2001, as England did indeed beat Germany 5 - 1 on the night of the 1st. Those nights were indeed full moons.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Throughout the first half of the film, when the squad is armed with the standard British rifle, the SA80, Cooper holds the weapon in his left shoulder. The SA80 is always held in the right shoulder, even if the user is left handed.

Quotes:

Cooper: So either we all make a break for it and fight our way clear, or the rest of us keep them occupied while one of us goes for help.
Joe: And by the time the cavalry get here, they'll have to pick what's left of us from between their teeth.

Movie Connections:

References Dawn of the Dead (1978)

Soundtrack:

Clair de Lune

On careful consideration - pretty much the best werewolf film ever.

Why is Aliens the best action SF film ever? One of the reasons is because James Cameron took the time to build up the characters in the squad to the point where you actually cared when the grunts started to get shredded.

Dog Soldiers does exactly the same, and features some great Brit dialogue to boot.

The region 2 DVD features an extra commentary not found on the Region 1 DVD - basically this consists of the director, the co-producer, Kevin McKidd, Sean Pertwee and Liam Cunningham getting hammered on Stella Artois and producing a brilliantly funny commentary which sounds like a bunch of mates getting drunk while watching the movie. Which was exactly what it was, except that this particular bunch of mates actually made the movie. Genius!!! Liam Cunningham - spectacularly stiff upper-lipped and evil in the film - turns out to be a very droll Irishman with the gift of the gab. "The Uamhunn.... The Uamhunn....."

One of the film's strengths is its gritty portrayal of British infantry in action, both in word and deed. I particularly enjoyed the cast commenting on how much they relished dumping those "crappy plastic guns" (the SA-80s the squad carries at the start) and getting a chance to charge about with MP5s. As Kevin McKidd put it: "So, you want me to run about the woods with a machine-gun, firing it all over the place. And I get PAID for this?!!"