The characters of “Dog Soldiers” are obviously unprepared to be mauled by 7-foot man-wolves, but quickly band together and fortify their surroundings to try and survive the night. Instead of nameless cannon-fodder, the soldiers are relatable and genuinely likable, which makes us, as the audience, care about their fate. In addition, what would a werewolf movie be without monsters? Despite being made for roughly the cost of a KFC family bucket, the wolves look awesome and imposing. Much better than whatever the hell Benecio was supposed to be in “Wolfman” (2010).
I Saw the Devil
Unlike “Dog Soldiers”, it’s hard to feel any affinity with the characters of “I Saw the Devil.” In fact, were the villain not a serial killer, the “hero” would almost definitely be the craziest, most blood-thirsty person in the film. The plot follows a South Korean secret service agent who seeks revenge when his girlfriend is murdered by a notorious criminal.
In most films, the hunt for the killer would comprise the majority of the runtime. So imagine my surprise when he was captured within the first 15 minutes only to be released in a role-reversed version of “The Most Dangerous Game”. The film is so effective because it toys with the audience’s emotions: first making them desire vengeance against the villain, then horrifying us when the elaborate revenge comes to fruition. While many horror films rely entirely on mindless, unchecked violence, “I Saw the Devil” has the audacity to display its consequences. The film is truly scary because it portrays the real potential for darkness that exists within all of us.
Image Source: gotterdammerung.org
