A Self-serious Storm of Clichés

The biggest appeal of Primitive War is its undeniably fun premise: the Vietnam War, but with dinosaurs.

- Prashanth Vallavan

On a special mission to retrieve a missing US Army platoon, Sergeant Baker and his men, known as the Vulture Squad, find themselves battling ancient creatures deep inside the forests of Vietnam. From terrestrial to aerial to aquatic, the squad encounters every kind of dinosaur. Every action set piece, line of dialogue, and character arc feels like an answer to the question: “How would a cheesy 80s Hollywood action film handle this scene?” That, in fact, is one of the film’s greatest strengths. It is unapologetic about its influences. Even the visuals and lighting recall 80s jungle actioners like The Predator, and instead of feeling outdated, they add a sweet tinge of nostalgia.