Rating: 3.5/5
Synopsis:
As a counter program to the “Jurassic World” franchise, Fathom Entertainment has released an indie style dinosaur flick that takes some risks. “Primitive War” is set during the Vietnam War, where a recon unit is tasked with retrieving a missing Green Beret platoon. They are sent to an isolated jungle, but soon realize they are not alone. What they face is not an enemy military unit, but dinosaurs brought back to life. Can this unit survive these deadly prehistoric creatures and rescue the missing platoon?
Positives:
If I can commend “Primitive War” for anything, it’s that it makes the most of a small budget. This must have been a difficult film to bring to the big screen without the funding of a large studio. Director Luke Sparke manages to create an interesting military story with a scientific bend. This is likely going to please fans of both genres which is great to see. The story takes inspiration from films like “Jurassic Park”, “Full Metal Jacket”, and “Predator”. As the main crew is dropped into a dangerous mission, they quickly realize the threat that awaits them is not as it seems. The dinosaur action is surprisingly effective, leaning into the raw, animalistic nature of the creatures. The filmmakers don’t hold back on the violence, allowing each death scene to be visceral and intense. This distinguishes the film from the “Jurassic” franchise by being the R-rated alternative. Perhaps the “Jurassic” franchise will see this as an opportunity to allow the dinosaur action to be elevated to the next level.
Most of the cast does a nice job too. Ryan Kwanten makes the most of his leading role as the man in charge of the mission. He displays some impressive range, showing genuine concern for his unit’s wellbeing. A few other members of his unit do a nice job too, most of whom I’ve never heard of before. For a small budget film, there are some well crafted dinosaur designs. I enjoyed that the film distinguishes them from the “Jurassic” designs, giving it a unique sense of identity. We get a lot of interesting species that have never been seen before. Some of the dinosaurs even had feathers while the T-Rex had a different stature. But the final act might be the most impressive part of the film. It elevates the premise to unexpected heights, bringing the sci-fi element front and center. It gives the dinosaurs some excellent action scenes, feeling even more independent from other franchises.
Negatives:
“Primitive War” will likely have a built in audience for those who enjoy anything including military combat and dinosaurs. But those who are used to the slick special effects from the “Jurassic” films might be disappointed. It’s hard to be too critical of CGI that is noticeably made on a smaller budget. When the dinosaur action gets fast paced is when some of the computerized imagery stands out, especially in the third act. The sound effects when the T-Rex chomped its jaws sounded fake. It almost resembles two coconut shells being clapped together. But when the dinosaurs are moving slowly or simply existing in their environment, they look quite good. The film also has some cheesy dialogue at times, particularly from the crooked military captain. None of the Russian accents sounded authentic either.
Conclusion:
Primitive War” is a surprisingly effective little sci-fi thriller. It makes the most of its small budget, producing enough dinosaur thrills and military combat to satisfy fans of the genre. It distinguishes itself from the “Jurassic” franchise well, creating unique dinosaur designs and leaning into a more mature rating. Although some of the accents and dialogue delivery is lackluster, the creature thrills are worth the price of admission. Sure, some of the special effects don’t measure up to a big studio film…but it’s impressive in its own right. This is a nice pivot from the “Jurassic” format. Hopefully dinosaur movies come back bigger and better because of this one!
