First things first, I think that before you watch this movie it's essential that you establish, in your own mind, what kind of dog Joe Don Baker would be, if Joe Don Baker was a dog. I see him as a big, jowly, bloodhound with a little bulldog mixed in for added heft.
I'll admit, what I really wanted out of this movie was to see Joe Don on all fours growling through spittle-flecked jaws as he faces down the leader of the pack over a steaming fresh kill. Unfortunately, director Robert Clouse did not share my vision. Instead what you get is a tepid when-animal-attack flick.
The setting is Seal Island, which seems to be off the coast of Oregon or something. It's definitely the sort of island that city-folk like you go during your summer vacations. But you don't take your fancy city dog, do you? No, not you, instead you apparently go to the pound and adopt a disposable garbage-dog to take along on your so-called vacation. Then, when you've had your way with this poor, canine prostitute, you abandon it on Seal Island.
Is it any wonder that these unfortunate dogs immediately go feral and band together in a wild, howling pack? Or that they seek out hot, slobbery vengeance on the crotch-stinking bipeds who have mistreated them so horribly?
But they won't get you. Of course not. Instead, it's up to real men like Jerry (Baker) and Clyde (Richard Shull) to stop these rampaging dogs. Also, a p!ss-and-vinegar fisherman type whose name I can't remember. Jerry, Seal Island's dominant alpha male, is some sort of professional fish-and-game guy; obvious from the fact that he wears a flannel shirt and occasionally remembers how guns work.
In order to provide extra dog fodder, Jerry has a girlfriend and some kids. Also, a few stray island people. Best of all is a rich "banker" and his entourage who are squeezing in some late season fishing. Included in this group are the banker's mistress Marge (Bibi Besch) and his son Tommy (Paul Willson, "Paul" from Cheers).
Enough already, let the dog attack action begin, right? It takes a long time to start and isn't especially impressive when it does. Too much time is spent trying, unconvincingly, to persuade us that a few hungry dogs are causing so much trouble. Seriously, a bag of Kibble could end the threat halfway through the movie.
A few action scenes are pretty good, most aren't. Somebody did do some impressive dog make-up work, if that sort of thing impresses you (it probably doesn't, you unfeeling, city-bred monster). It's sort of a challenge to take your film's pack of vicious dogs seriously when it includes an Irish Setter and a shaggy sheep dog. The leader of the dog pack does turn in a decent performance as a frighteningly rabid cur. However, in the end even he is no match for Joe Don Baker's superior intellect.
I'll admit, what I really wanted out of this movie was to see Joe Don on all fours growling through spittle-flecked jaws as he faces down the leader of the pack over a steaming fresh kill. Unfortunately, director Robert Clouse did not share my vision. Instead what you get is a tepid when-animal-attack flick.
The setting is Seal Island, which seems to be off the coast of Oregon or something. It's definitely the sort of island that city-folk like you go during your summer vacations. But you don't take your fancy city dog, do you? No, not you, instead you apparently go to the pound and adopt a disposable garbage-dog to take along on your so-called vacation. Then, when you've had your way with this poor, canine prostitute, you abandon it on Seal Island.
Is it any wonder that these unfortunate dogs immediately go feral and band together in a wild, howling pack? Or that they seek out hot, slobbery vengeance on the crotch-stinking bipeds who have mistreated them so horribly?
But they won't get you. Of course not. Instead, it's up to real men like Jerry (Baker) and Clyde (Richard Shull) to stop these rampaging dogs. Also, a p!ss-and-vinegar fisherman type whose name I can't remember. Jerry, Seal Island's dominant alpha male, is some sort of professional fish-and-game guy; obvious from the fact that he wears a flannel shirt and occasionally remembers how guns work.
In order to provide extra dog fodder, Jerry has a girlfriend and some kids. Also, a few stray island people. Best of all is a rich "banker" and his entourage who are squeezing in some late season fishing. Included in this group are the banker's mistress Marge (Bibi Besch) and his son Tommy (Paul Willson, "Paul" from Cheers).
Enough already, let the dog attack action begin, right? It takes a long time to start and isn't especially impressive when it does. Too much time is spent trying, unconvincingly, to persuade us that a few hungry dogs are causing so much trouble. Seriously, a bag of Kibble could end the threat halfway through the movie.
A few action scenes are pretty good, most aren't. Somebody did do some impressive dog make-up work, if that sort of thing impresses you (it probably doesn't, you unfeeling, city-bred monster). It's sort of a challenge to take your film's pack of vicious dogs seriously when it includes an Irish Setter and a shaggy sheep dog. The leader of the dog pack does turn in a decent performance as a frighteningly rabid cur. However, in the end even he is no match for Joe Don Baker's superior intellect.