Leofwine_draca
BATTLEDOGS is another B-movie from The Asylum, but for a change it's not a rip-off of a Hollywood blockbuster, at least not that I can think of. Instead it's a typical sci-fi/action/horror cross-breed, with a breed of genetic werewolves erupting across a city during a zombie-like outbreak. What plays out is intensely predictable and altogether cheesy, with actors delivering their lines with maximum gravitas which ends up being somewhat ruined by the inclusion of cartoonish CGI to depict the wolves. Where this does get interesting is in the excellent casting; aside from the wooden leads like Craig Sheffer, we get Ariana Richards (of TREMORS and JURASSIC PARK fame) alongside Wes Studi, Ernie Hudson, and Bill Duke.
Film Watchin Fool
Watch this if....you don't mind terrible acting and awful special effects for a couple hours. Even for a Syfy original, this movie is bad.Acting/Casting: 2.5* - There is some noticeable B-movie actors for the most part giving noticeably bad performances. If you can distance Dennis Haybert from the All-State Insurance commercials he does a serviceable job, but that was beyond difficult for me. Craig Sheffer is rundown and Ariana Richards should have stopped at Jurassic Park years ago.Directing/Cinematography/Technical: 2* - Almost equally as bad is the directing and special effects. I realize this is on a strict budget, but even then the special effects are shameful. Plot/Characters: 4* - A rogue general looks to create an army of werewolves from a disease originating from a cursed woman who was bitten. The plot isn't terrible, but is overshadowed by poor acting and terrible special effects. If you can get by those two things, then you might get some enjoyment out of this film.Entertainment Value: 3* - It is only entertaining for a comical standpoint (laughing at how bad it is). Otherwise steer clear of this one.My Score: 2.5+2+4+3 = 11.5/4 = 2.875Email your thoughts to filmwatchinfool@gmail.com
Carycomic
But, in this case, it's Dennis Haysbert (currently a.k.a. "the All-State Man") who takes the Donald Sutherland role of a black-ops martinet obsessed with giving Uncle Sam world-wide military supremacy with a unique bio-warfare weapon. And, he does it so convincingly, it's frightening!Unfortunately, that's about _all_ that was frightening. And, the only plot element I would describe as "unpredictable" was Craig Sheffer winding up with Kate Vernon rather than Ariana Richards. Say what?!If they were going to twist the plot like that, at all, the least the writers could have done is have the movie end with Sheffer getting _both_ women!In short? I give this...five stars.
mchalup
Battledogs is your standard Saturday Night SyFy New Release, Made for TV fare. Plot development/acting average to above average for this category of film. Ditto for silly (i.e, you laugh when it's supposed to be highly dramatic or bad gore)content.What did impress me is that SyFy was willing to spend some more money on production. All locations were not shot in Vancouver/British Columbia, trying to pass itself off as one of innumerable cities/areas in the US. The 'Ward Island' scenes were filmed in Buffalo's abandoned (but now being restored) train station. A car wreck scene actually included wrecking vehicles. The identifiable New York City location were mostly all stock shots with CGI additions. However, there was one scene that really appeared to be filmed in front of the New York Stock Exchange.Bravo to SyFy for willing to up the quality of their productions.
AD
