Primitive War (2025) | Film Review

If you’ve been hankering for a movie that slams Jurassic mayhem right into the guts of a war film, Primitive War is the one for you. Imagine Platoon or Full Metal Jacket getting ambushed by Velociraptors, Pterodactyls or a T-Rex, and then watch as it happily teeters into utter prehistoric chaos.

Vietnam. 1968. A recon unit known as Vulture Squad is sent to an isolated jungle valley to uncover the fate of a missing Green Beret platoon. They soon discover they are not alone.

From the very first helicopter blades thumping over dense Vietnamese jungle to the final, frenetic carnage, this Aussie-made beast refuses to behave like the modest indie it technically is. The set pieces and action sequences here don’t just feel “good for a low-budget flick” – they feel like a full-on genre blockbuster. There’s an electricity in the way the camera tracks through ambushes, gunfire, and dinosaur attacks that rivals much bigger studio films.

And let’s talk about the horror moments. These aren’t polite, family friendly dinosaurs that play peek-a-boo – they’re visceral, teeth-and-gore set-pieces that make your blood pressure spike whilst providing a few legitimately good jump scares. Dino ambushes erupt with an unpredictable brutality (like unbelievable amounts brutality- it’s great) that never wavers. And, thankfully, the film doesn’t shy away from showing just how ruthless and merciless these creatures can be.

There are a few scenes even I found myself wincing – and rest assured there’s enough gore and blood throughout the film to satisfy even the hungriest of gore hounds. Was great seeing a Mummy & Daddy T-Rex go full scorched Earth. Not so much with a few moments. Don't know if I'll ever be able to look at a large bird in the same way again... bit weird seeing a Pterodactyl slurp up a soldier’s intestines like spaghetti.

On the creature design front? Magnifice! These aren’t pretty, CGI-polished theme park monsters – they’re jagged, primal killing machines that genuinely feel like predators risen from some forgotten corner of Earth to feast on humanity. There’s a terrifying authenticity to their movements and roars that elevates every encounter. And for those who always argued (I say argued, I meant whined) that Jurassic Park’s dinosaurs weren’t realistic enough, you’ll be happy to know these lovable carnivores (and herbivores) in Primitive War feature a rich blend of both reptilian and avian – and of course all out movie monster. Just to add, the variety of dinosaurs in the film was impressive to say the least; was like a selection box of different dinosaurs to enjoy!

Primitive War (2025) | Film Review

Credit where it’s due: pacing is tight for most of the ride, with tension and action building steadily toward one of the wildest climaxes you’ll see in recent years. Culminating to this epic finale, the last 40 minutes is where everything unravels magnificently and just descends into absolute f*cking chaos. It’s not coherent, it’s not tidy, but damn if it isn’t brilliant. All out Primitive War, if you will (see what I did there). Whilst there’s been some fantastic moments throughout, this is where the film really starts delivering pure, glorious cinematic carnage on unprecedented levels. It’s just fantastic cinema if I’m honest, I haven’t enjoyed a film this much in a longtime.

The cast were another wonderful part of this film. The on-screen chemistry is rock solid, and it goes a long way in grounding all the madness. The side story that featured a soldier trying to come to terms with PTSD was particularly powerful and added another layer of depth to the film. The banter feels natural, lived-in, and genuinely funny — not forced “comic relief,” but the kind of gallows humor you’d expect from people staring down certain death. Those comedic beats land perfectly, giving you just enough room to breathe before the next carnivorous nightmare crashes in to ruin the party. It makes the squad feel like an actual unit, which only makes the chaos hit harder when everything starts going sideways. You’ll find yourself really rooting for Vulture Squad, but be warned, don’t get too attached to any of them.

Sure, there's the odd dodgy CGI shot, or piece of stock footage here and there, or moments where the story and acting take a bit of a backseat – and yes, some critics and viewers will grumble about exposition or uneven tone – but that’s like complaining about a T-Rex’s breath in the middle of an all-out dino stomp. Just shut up and enjoy, end of story.

This film’s heart is in the right place: beating fast, roaring loud, and eager to destroy anything that stands in its path. It never takes itself seriously and has fun with how utterly insane the entire premise of the film (and book) is. My only complaint is that it ended. If Luke Sparke suddenly turned round and said, “Oh by the way, I am working on a ‘Director’s Cut’ that will run at 4 and a half hours long”, I’d be first in line.

To conclude, Primitive War is a film that grabs you by the throat and drags you screaming into the jungle for a 2-hour and thirteen-minute thrill ride, and front row seat to man vs monster in its finest form. It is fun, feral, ferocious, unbelievably chaotic and utterly unforgettable. I’m even happier we’ll be getting a sequel to this, in the meantime I’m going to have to go read the book. What. A. Film!

Huge thank you to Signature Entertainment for the Blu-ray, very happy this is part of my collection! You can check out more info on them and their upcoming releases via their WEBSITE.

Primitive War is out on digital, DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD now. You can check out the trailer below.