Primitive War

NOW ON VOD! Sometimes you just want a movie that hits hard, goes big, and never lets up. Director Luke Sparke’s Primitive War is that kind of ride—loud, bloody, and unapologetically fun.

Our tale takes place in 1969 during the Vietnam War. A group of American soldiers, led by Sergeant John Rance (Ryan Kwanten), is dispatched on a rescue mission deep in the jungle. Their assignment is to investigate a mysterious crash site and recover the missing operatives, but their orders come from a shadowy CIA-like figure, Dr. Jeremy Pierson (Jeremy Piven), who clearly knows more than he lets on. As soon as Rance and his crew land, they quickly sense the area is unlike anything they’ve seen before. There’s something very wrong going on.

As the squad moves further into the dense jungle to their mission point, they discover signs of things they’ve never seen before—massive claw marks, strange carcasses, and screeching sounds that don’t belong in Vietnam. Their patrol leads them to Dr. Ru, a Russian scientist (Tricia Helfer) who has been stranded after her research team vanished. She reveals that her group had been experimenting with a device called the Collider, which “accidentally” unleashed dinosaurs into the region. Before you know it, the soldiers encounter the creatures firsthand—dinosaurs of different species, some familiar and some feathered, roaming the battlefield. Each needs to be taken down in a specific way, if at all.

Soon, horrific events escalate as the unit’s mission now shifts from reconnaissance to survival. The jungle turns into a kill zone where human warfare collides with prehistoric carnage. It’s clear that our team has become a pawn in a much bigger game of political and military intrigue.

A tense moment as a woman navigates a red-lit corridor in Primitive War.

“…the soldiers encounter the creatures firsthand—dinosaurs of different species, some familiar and some feathered…”

Let’s get the soundbite out of the way. Primitive War is better than Jurassic World: Rebirth. Why? First, no one is safe. The deaths are random and chaotic, just like nature. In Rebirth, you know that the people with the fewest lines are gone first, the diversity family is 100% safe, and anyone paid over $1 million is also safe.

Second, the movie is just plain fun. Over half the film is full of dinosaurs—real ones, not genetically engineered ones. Heroes are always in danger, and it never lets up. Tricia Helfer is great as the Russian scientist trapped in a broken-down lab, surviving only on morphine. Jeremy Piven does what he does best, playing the insane leader that you follow, knowing full well you’re going to die.

Then there are quiet moments in between as our crew heads down a lazy river blasting an incredible 60s soundtrack. The vibe is Apocalypse Now but with dinosaurs. For the kid in all of us, it’s not just dinosaurs, but also guns, ammo, and a plethora of army helicopters. Honestly, I don’t know how much ammo each man carried, but I didn’t care. We’re in a video game right now, and we’re here to win.

Yes, the CG is a bit cheesy, but damn, it’s good enough to create a non-stop rollercoaster ride of terror. Not to harp on it again, but this is the movie I wish Jurassic Park was after the first film. The film is R-rated for violence and gore. Some would say it’s not for children, but I definitely would have snuck into this one.

Bottom line—this is the dinosaur movie fans have been waiting for, and it doesn’t pull any punches. If you’re ready for chaos, carnage, and a damn good time, Primitive War delivers.