The Pack (1977)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

Robert Clouse

Writers:

Robert Clouse (writer)
David Fisher (novel)

Release Date:

16 May 1978 (Sweden)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

Last summer they were pets. Now they are predators.

Plot:

The residents of vacation spot Seal Island find themselves terrorized by a pack of dogs -- the remnants of discarded pets by visiting vacationers.

Plot Keywords:

Dog | Resort | Island | Pack Of Dogs | Marine Biologist

Cast

Joe Don Baker	...	Jerry
Hope Alexander-Willis	...	Millie
Richard B. Shull	...	Hardiman
R.G. Armstrong	...	Cobb
Ned Wertimer	...	Walker
Bibi Besch	...	Marge
Delos V. Smith Jr.	...	McMinnimee
Richard O'Brien	...	Jim Dodge
Sherry Miles	...	Lois
Paul Willson	...	Tommy Dodge
Eric Knight	...	Guy
Steve Lytle	...	Paul
Rob Narke	...	Husband
Peggy Price	...	Wife
Steve Butts	...	Bobby

Also Known As:

The Long Hard Night
The Long, Dark Night

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | USA:PG (original rating) | USA:R (re-rating) (1978) | Australia:M | Sweden:15 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Bodega Bay, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Dead End (1985)

Enjoyable killer animal feature.

This is a genuinely gripping movie about abandoned dogs on a forest island which form a pack and go on a rampage. It's up to marine biologist Jerry (an engaging Joe Don Baker) to save his own family as well as some bankers and company who are on a fishing vacation.

Comparisons to the previous years' "Dogs" are appropriate, but this is definitely the better movie. Director Robert Clouse, whose credits include the martial arts classic "Enter the Dragon", and who would go on to direct the rat-themed 1982 movie "Deadly Eyes", maintains a deadly serious tone. The movie always creates the right amount of tension; isolated settings and inclement weather also help to enhance the atmosphere. Unlike "Dogs", this movie has better writing, a superior cast (the fine supporting actors include such folk as Richard B. Shull, R.G. Armstrong, and Bibi Besch) and more likable characters. Baker does a solid job as an amiable yet no-nonsense sort of action hero. Plus, the animal action is exceptional (veteran trainer Karl Miller did a great job with these dogs) and the attack scenes are well staged. The music score (by Lee Holdridge) is good, and the finale is fairly rousing.

"The Pack" is good fun for fans of the killer animal genre. I myself enjoyed it very much. Just the way that it had something to say about human irresponsibility and its possible consequences adds to the overall impact.

8/10