"Primitive War", a campy, action-packed blockbuster that has all the ingredients for disaster, but somehow manages to be watchable. The film is an adaptation of Ethan Pettus's 2017 novel, and it doesn't take long to realize that its sole intention is to please viewers who crave soldiers, gore, and dinosaurs - all in abundance.
The movie takes place in Vietnam during the late 1960s, with a cast mostly comprised of Australians and Americans. However, the narrative quickly devolves into absurdity as the US forces encounter an army of dinosaurs, unleashed by a nefarious scientific experiment gone wrong. Yes, you read that right - dinosaurs in Vietnam. The "enemy" is no longer just the Viet Cong but also prehistoric creatures wreaking havoc on anyone who gets in their way.
The film's protagonist, Sgt Ryan Baker (played by Ryan Kwanten), leads an elite squad of Green Berets known as the Vulture Squad, tasked with finding out what happened to a missing squad. Baker is surrounded by a motley crew of grunts, each with a different level of intelligence, making them ill-equipped to deal with the challenge they face.
One thing is clear - "Primitive War" revels in its own cheesiness, embracing a deliberately over-the-top tone that borders on parody. The action scenes are loud and frenetic, with gunfire providing a constant soundtrack that drowns out most of the dialogue. The production has also seen fit to include on-the-nose musical cues, including hits from Creedence Clearwater Revival.
Visually, the film falters, particularly in its CGI-heavy dinosaur sequences. While the special effects are more convincing when showcasing the gruesome aftermath of a dinosaur's attack, they look decidedly plastic when the creatures are on full display in daylight.
And yet, despite all its flaws, "Primitive War" has an oddly watchable quality to it. Maybe it's because we're so thoroughly invested in the absurdity of it all, or perhaps it's just the sheer excess of the film that makes it entertaining. Either way, this is a movie that will leave you feeling both baffled and entertained - a true guilty pleasure.
The movie takes place in Vietnam during the late 1960s, with a cast mostly comprised of Australians and Americans. However, the narrative quickly devolves into absurdity as the US forces encounter an army of dinosaurs, unleashed by a nefarious scientific experiment gone wrong. Yes, you read that right - dinosaurs in Vietnam. The "enemy" is no longer just the Viet Cong but also prehistoric creatures wreaking havoc on anyone who gets in their way.
The film's protagonist, Sgt Ryan Baker (played by Ryan Kwanten), leads an elite squad of Green Berets known as the Vulture Squad, tasked with finding out what happened to a missing squad. Baker is surrounded by a motley crew of grunts, each with a different level of intelligence, making them ill-equipped to deal with the challenge they face.
One thing is clear - "Primitive War" revels in its own cheesiness, embracing a deliberately over-the-top tone that borders on parody. The action scenes are loud and frenetic, with gunfire providing a constant soundtrack that drowns out most of the dialogue. The production has also seen fit to include on-the-nose musical cues, including hits from Creedence Clearwater Revival.
Visually, the film falters, particularly in its CGI-heavy dinosaur sequences. While the special effects are more convincing when showcasing the gruesome aftermath of a dinosaur's attack, they look decidedly plastic when the creatures are on full display in daylight.
And yet, despite all its flaws, "Primitive War" has an oddly watchable quality to it. Maybe it's because we're so thoroughly invested in the absurdity of it all, or perhaps it's just the sheer excess of the film that makes it entertaining. Either way, this is a movie that will leave you feeling both baffled and entertained - a true guilty pleasure.
the action scenes are straight fire 
and who wouldn't wanna watch some aussie americans kickin' ass with dinos on their side? 
the production value is super cheesy though lol, like they took every bad 90s action movie cliche and mashed them all together into one big mess 
but honestly its kinda working?? i mean idk if ill be watching it again or anything but its definitely a wild ride 
. But honestly, the more outlandish the action scenes get, the more I'm hooked 
. And that soundtrack? Forget about it 
! It's like they took all the worst '70s rock songs and mashed them together into a glorious mess 
. Visually, yeah, the dinos look kinda cheap, but who cares when there's so much chaos happening on screen? All in all, I'd say "Primitive War" is a weird, over-the-top guilty pleasure that's better than you think it should be 
