pillfeast 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.

jonmyrlebailey I loved the suspenseful musical score the most. The two "children" in the film were both boys (the sons of the lead woman character, I believe). I own this picture in VHS format. Joe Don Baker's character as the marine biologist is really made to look as a complete idiot. How could someone so smart not have extra provisions on this remote heavily-wooded island for evacuation in emergencies as at least one extra power boat (fully-fueled), more guns and shells than supplied in the movie set, and at least one more radio/antenna set!!! Serious seafarers keep extra equipment as safety in numbers (redundancy). This movie really insults human intelligence as so many cheap flicks do, I suppose. The humans' worst enemy was there own stupidity and not the abandoned dogs, really. Some characters (by a few lines, some rather hostile) in the film even criticize Mr. Baker's character's incompetence as a scientist and tour guide. Mr. Baker's character gets "sly as a fox" toward the climax, though. After a few human deaths, the dogs are defeated in the end decisively, except for that cute innocent little straggler) I still enjoy the picture for its awesome musical score which did put some chill down my spine and make me feel a little uneasy about walking in the woods alone, especially at night, (without at least a loaded gun and one good guard dog)!!

kita117 I am so glad that I own this movie. This is one of the best of all the killer dog movies I have seen (Dogs of Hell). The dogs were very viscous animals as they ran together all the time. There was one innocent dog who was very cute. The dogs were so viscous that I felt sorry for whoever was being chased by them.

blackxmas THE PACK is a pretty good '70's animals attack movie. Mind you, it's no DAY OF THE ANIMALS and could never be a modern day classic the likes of GRIZZLY, but it holds it's own. Joe Don Baker is a marine biologist who has to fight off a crazed pack of hounds left behind by uncaring vacationers. It's funny that there was a time in America where you could be a Joe Don Baker and get the girl and save the day.There's some good jolts but the dogs aren't that scary. Dalmatians are not scary. Collies are not scary. If it wasn't for the doberman and the lead canine, which is referred to as a "mongrel mix", who'd really care? But Clouse is a competent enough action director to make you believe this type of balderdash and, I, for one, bought it. It's just so damn refreshing compared to the unimaginative efforts foisted upon us today. If I saw it in the '70's, I'd probably tell everyone it sucked, but that's how time changes everything and our perspectives. If it's sitting somewhere collecting dust at your video store, pretend your kissing your grandmother and snap it up. It'll probably be like that time you didn't want to go and see her but ended up having a cool time and then next time it wasn't so bad and....