Directed by Luke Sparke and co-written with Ethan Pettus, author of the 2017 novel Primitive War: Opiate Undertow, Primitive War takes audiences to Vietnam in 1968 with a concept that feels both familiar and refreshingly different. A reconnaissance unit known as Vulture Squad is sent on a mission to locate a missing Green Beret platoon, only to discover something far more terrifying than enemy soldiers: dinosaurs, the result of a Soviet experiment gone horribly wrong. What follows is a war film that quickly shifts into survival horror.
I’ll be upfront—I had fun with this film, but I didn’t love it. The premise alone is a big draw for me. I’ve been a lifelong dinosaur fan, raised on Jurassic Park, and even wanted to be a paleontologist as a kid. So, when a movie promises guerrilla warfare colliding with prehistoric creatures, I’m automatically on board. And to its credit, Primitive War delivers moments of pure creature-feature joy.
From a technical standpoint, there are strengths here. The cinematography is solid, with some genuinely beautiful shots of landscapes and practical locations (filmed in Australia). The set design and costumes convincingly transport viewers to the late 1960s, leaning into the wartime setting effectively. The sound design, however, was a mixed bag. Explosions, gunfire, and dinosaur roars were powerful, but the audio mix often forced me to adjust the volume. Dialogue sometimes got lost in the chaos, and a few sound effects—like the T-Rex’s jaw snapping, which sounded more like someone cracking coconuts together—were unintentionally funny.
When the dinosaurs are the central focus of a shot, they often look great—comparable to a high-quality video game cutscene. Lighting choices, especially in the final act with vibrant reds, greens, and blues, made for some striking visuals. But when the dinos shared screen time with human actors during chaotic battle sequences, the CGI sometimes slipped into cartoony territory. CGI blood, in particular, hurt the immersion. This isn’t surprising given this film not having the budget of a major studio, but it does highlight the film’s ambition. Sparke clearly aimed for big, bombastic ideas, and I found myself wishing he’d been given a studio-sized budget. With more resources, Primitive War could have reached another level. Instead, it occasionally dips into B-movie territory, though not necessarily in a bad way for fans of that style.
The cast does a respectable job across the board. Ryan Kwanten stood out the most for me—he brought warmth and likability to his role. Jeremy Piven, always a fun presence, also delivers. Tricia Helfer impressed with her Russian accent, though some of the other “Russian” performances felt more like caricatures, which could be distracting. One issue is the sheer number of characters. In a monster movie, you expect fodder, but here it often felt like too many personalities were juggled at once, with shallow backstory delivered through clunky exposition. While I enjoyed certain characters, I was never fully emotionally invested in any of them. By the end, I cared more about the spectacle than the fates of the squad.
At just over two hours, the pacing is uneven. Some stretches drag with dialogue that doesn’t always land, while the action sequences are exciting but not consistently gripping. The film’s length and rhythm keep it from being as tight as it could have been. Still, for what it is—a dinosaur-filled guerrilla warfare flick—I found enjoyment. The concept alone makes it unique in a genre dominated by Jurassic Park clones, and I respect the ambition.
Primitive War isn’t perfect. Its CGI can’t always keep up with its ideas, its characters are unevenly developed, and its pacing stumbles. But it’s also bold, different, and at times, a lot of fun. If you’re a die-hard dinosaur fan or someone who loves creature features, there’s enough here to warrant a watch. If you’re looking for something more character-driven or polished, this may not be the film for you. Would I recommend paying the premium Fathom Events ticket price? Honestly, probably only for dino enthusiasts. For casual moviegoers, this might be a better fit once it hits streaming or a subscription service.
That said, I enjoyed it for what it was—a scrappy, ambitious mix of war film and creature feature. And I’d love to see what Luke Sparke could do with a bigger budget and a franchise like Jurassic World.
Rating: 6/10.