Die Meute

Robert Clouse's "The Pack" is mostly your usual killer pets movie. In this case, people buy dogs at the pound, and leave them on a vacation island. Sure enough, the dogs turn feral and go after the island's inhabitants. While most of the cast does the sorts of things that we expect in one of these movies, Joe Don Baker is quite cool as the leader. But the real stars are definitely the rabid canines. The people behind the camera probably fixed up the main dog so that he would look more menacing; I mean, I've never seen any mutt looking like that.

I notice that this movie was filmed in Bodega Bay, California. Film buffs know that town as the filming location of Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds". Is every movie filmed there going to feature non-human fauna attacking people?! Another thing - and I may be the only person who thinks of this - is that "The Pack" was released through Warner Bros. When I was really young, I always associated that studio with Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, etc. I wonder: what would I have thought had I known that the studio behind the Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies cartoons also released horror movies (they also released "The Shining", "The Awakening" and "The Nesting").

But I digress. This movie isn't terrible. Worth seeing maybe once.

The basic premise of this underrated 70's "Nature revolting against Humanity" flick truly fascinated me, because I've always been concerned about how it would affect dogs' most primitive instincts if they were to be abandoned by their owners. Every year, usually during summer time, you hear depressing reports about pets that are dumped, either tied up to trees or simply thrown out of driving cars, whilst the owners go on vacation and just don't ever look back on them. What goes on in an animal's head at such a moment? Do the instincts of loyalty and amiability slowly develop into aggression and even the urge for vengeance? Does their relentless treatment slowly stimulate a hate for humans? Personally I think this is a terrific outline for a low-budget horror movie, and in the competent hands of director Robert Clouse ("Enter the Dragon", "The Ultimate Warrior") it became a magnificently atmospheric and suspenseful thriller, with some very memorable moments and good acting performances. The events take place on a small vacation resort called Seal Island, where tourists mainly come for to fish and to enjoy nature. During the opening sequence, we witness how a family of three is about to return back to the mainland after their holiday but they have one more thing left to do, namely a tying up their cute and howling dog to a tree in the backyard. The animal eventually bites through his leash and joins an entire pack of abandoned and already bewildered of dogs, led by a vicious and truly menacing crossover breed. The pack gradually becomes more aggressive and devours horses and a helpless old blind man before reverting to their main targets, a group of obnoxious tourists and unsuspecting locals. This is easily one of the best "killer-dog" movies I've ever seen, and it benefices from a whole lot of secondary aspects like the isolated and claustrophobic island location, the detailed character drawings of the locals and the fact that the emphasis lies on tension instead of on graphic massacres. Joe Don Baker gives a terrific performance as the marine biologist who eventually also turns into a loud-barking pack-leader himself. The dogs – and then particularly the leader of the pack – are impressively scary, so big kudos to the people who trained them. I can image that this is what behaviorist spiral a once loyal and friendly dog goes through when mistreated like this. Clouse's direction is extremely solid and the cinematography is moody and splendid. The absolute highlight-sequences involve the fierce dogs chasing down an obese victim until he falls of some cliffs, the virulent dog-attack on the jeep and – of course – the fabulous end shot. Highly recommended… And continue to treat your pets with the respect they deserve!

On a small tourist island, a handful of people is besieged by a pack of wild dogs. What may at first appear to be a TV movie is actually an R-rated bloodfest, as the hungry canines tear into the folks and rack up an impressive body count. The movie has its share of scary moments, and is surprisingly exciting with carefully choreographed sequences of man versus beast. There is no hesitation on veteran action director Robert Clouse's part to show the dogs being killed in equal measure. One great scene has the hero mowing down several of the pack with his truck. Great musical score to boot. Joe Don Baker stars, and several familiar faces, among them Richard Schull, Bibe Besch and R.G. Armstrong, provide strong support. A must-see for action horror fans. Considering the film was made in the 1970s, it feels like it was shot yesterday.

I'd really like to have given The Pack a higher rating, but unfortunately; too many little niggles prevented me from doing so. There have been a few films depicting "man's best friend" attacking man, but in general the idea doesn't seem to be capitalised upon too often. The Pack is certainly the only film I've seen about a pack of wild dogs terrorising a group of humans. The film takes place on a small island, which is a positive element in itself as it brings an element of claustrophobia to the nightmare premise. However, in general; Robert Clouse's film just doesn't capitalise on its positive elements, which leaves it all feeling more than a little bit flat. The plot centres on a group of people on Seal Island, whose serene existence is interrupted by a pack of wild dogs. The dogs have come about, apparently, thanks to people going to the pound to buy a dog to take to the island, and then leaving it there. These dogs are, naturally, very hungry; and it's not long before they realise that the island features a plentiful food supply, and unfortunately for the people there - they are it.

The film is at its best when the dogs are on the attack and the director delights in showing them looking rabid and hungry...but unfortunately, they never really look too threatening when they're not tearing into soft-top cars or breaking through windows. Much of the film is really quite boring, and unfortunately there isn't enough in reserve where the characters are concerned to make the film interesting. Veteran actor Joe Don Baker takes the lead role, and does well in providing the offbeat hero as the man doesn't particularly look like someone who you would expect to be fighting off a pack of hungry dogs. The plot hinges a little too much on its set-pieces also, which is unfortunate as there's not much to string them together. It has to be said also that the film is a little too long, and could have done with a tighter editing job. The island location provides a good setting for a film like this, though, and the way that the characters are isolated adds a little extra terror. The ending is strong, and provides a good wrap-up to a sadly merely worthwhile film.

Thanks to uncaring tourists, a pack of wild dogs has slowly been building on Seal Island. Tired of devouring horses, the dogs decide to wag...er, wage an all-out man vs. beast war against the island's inhabitants led by marine biologist Jerry (Joe Don Baker, who qualifies as both man and beast). A pretty darn exciting horror-action flick from director Robert Clouse that re-teams him with Baker after the equally entertaining GOLDEN NEEDLES (1974). Baker is affable, but the real stars here are the pack of canine characters, led by a mongrel that probably spent his later years terrified of mono filament line. The last 40 minutes is basically NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD with dogs and the attack scenes are well staged with some superior slo-mo. The only thing lacking is a higher body count (a paltry 4 human deaths here). There are also some dopey bits like people always running outside and the characters not being attacked as they carry a dead body out of the house because, as Baker puts it, "we have torches." I'm surprised at how much the recent killer dog flick THE BREED (2006) ripped this one off.