Film Review – Primitive War (2025)

      Primitive War, 2025.

      Directed by Luke Sparke.

      Starring Ryan Kwanten, Jeremy Piven, Tricia Helfer, Nick Wechsler, Anthony Ingruber, Aaron Glenane, Carlos Sanson Jr, Ana Thu Nguyen, Albert Mwangi, Adolphus Waylee, Henry Nixon, Lincoln Lewis, Jeremy Lindsay Taylor, Marcus Johnson, and Jake Ryan.

      SYNOPSIS:

      Vietnam, 1968. A recon unit named Vulture Squad is dispatched to a remote jungle valley to determine the fate of a missing Green Beret platoon. They quickly realize they are not alone.

      Since audiences were captivated by the grandeur and stunning effects of Jurassic Park, subsequent dinosaur films have often struggled to gain respectability – with good reason. Similar to the many Jurassic sequels and the slew of low-quality “Giant xxx vs xxx” creature features, the concept of a dinosaur film has mostly become associated with the less desirable corners of streaming platforms, akin to the bargain bins of video rentals.

      Some films have managed to break this stigma, and Primitive War has the aesthetic of a pulp novel, confidently establishing itself as a wild war film where the terrors of ‘68 clash with the appetites of the Late Cretaceous. This film embraces that premise, running with it with some stumbles, plenty of surprises, and primarily delivers a powerful creature feature with an unexpectedly human essence.

      Set in 1968, Luke Sparke’s film thrusts us into the aftermath of one mission as Vulture Squad, a close-knit and experienced recon team led by Ryan Kwanten’s Baker, anticipates a rare respite. Instead, they are assigned a top-secret recovery mission involving a lost Green Beret unit.

      Within minutes of entering the jungle, the team realizes that this isn’t just another slog through hostile territory. The treetops show signs of something gigantic. Bodies are mutilated in ways no Viet Cong unit could achieve. And the night is filled with a piercing, guttural sound that belongs nowhere in a war film.

      When the dinosaurs make their appearance, Sparke avoids the temptation to turn this moment into a joke. The initial attack is filmed with a sense of grim determination, reinforcing the absurdity with sheer terror. From there, the film unfolds in three acts: a Vietnam thriller, a survival escapade, and ultimately a Cold War science-fiction narrative explaining how these creatures traversed 65 million years to reach a combat zone.

      What’s notable is how consistently the film treats its characters with seriousness. The squad isn’t just a collection of interchangeable soldiers waiting to be picked off. They include men burdened with guilt, others barely gripping their own trauma, and some muffled by addiction. Kwanten grounds this, portraying Baker with the weary, quietly hurt demeanor of a soldier who knows he has exhausted his share of luck. Tricia Helfer serves as a tough counterbalance as Sofia, a scientist striving to survive the repercussions of an experiment that should never have been initiated. Even when some accents falter, the performances lend enough dramatic weight to the chaos to make it resonate.

      And indeed, there is plenty of chaos. Limbs are severed, torsos disappear into jaws, and gunfights turn into slaughterhouses the moment a raptor darts through the foliage. Sparke’s approach to special effects is clever: employ practical effects when possible, utilize CGI when necessary, and allow low lighting to obscure the transitions. While the creatures may not be perfect, they remain believable enough to uphold the illusion, particularly in the unexpectedly tense daytime scenes where nothing lurks in the shadows. This is not simply a B-movie farce; it aspires to more and frequently attains it.

      The film balances between serious war drama and unabashed pulp, with this tension contributing to its appeal. In one moment, it channels Apocalypse Now, featuring a leisurely river journey and a ‘60s soundtrack that feels almost dreamlike. Moments later, a group of feathered predators aligns as if adhering to the rules of a gory video game. Remarkably, this blend works. Sparke doesn’t seek satire; he aims for impactful spectacle, and the dedication is evident.

      Running over two hours, the film flows quickly, even as it shifts into its explanatory final segment. The ‘Collider’ narrative, filled with Cold War anxiety and scientific overreach, may not win accolades for subtlety, but it cohesively ties the mayhem together and lends structure to the climax, avoiding a chaotic final act.

      Primitive War is, against all odds, the most entertaining dinosaur film in years. It’s frantic, heartfelt, brutal, and strangely genuine. It understands its audience and its influences. It is an action film with enough ferocity to make a Tyrannosaurus proud.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

      Tom Atkinson