“Primitive War,” directed by Luke Sparke, is based on the book by Ethan Pettus and was released in 2025. Going into the movie, I expected an intense blend of war and survival with a prehistoric twist. While the film did deliver on suspense and visuals, it fell short on some areas that kept it from being truly great, namely character development and predictability.
The movie follows a group of American soldiers fighting in the Vietnam War, who were sent on a secret mission deep into the jungle. What they did not know is that the mission will put them face to face with prehistoric creatures.
At first, the idea felt refreshing compared to the usual war movie formula, but the execution was poor. The pacing in the beginning was slow, and it didn’t immediately capture my attention. Viewers unfamiliar with the book might find it confusing at first, like me, especially with all the military lingo and quick introduction of the characters.
That said, the movie really picks up once the dinosaurs appear. The action sequences were thrilling, and the sound effects were amazing. The visual effects stood out, with raptors and massive carnivores hunting through the jungle making it look realistic and scary. The film successfully combined war tension with survival horror which made some scenes very suspenseful.
The group dynamics were interesting to watch too. The soldiers’ reactions to the situations and their moral dilemmas added depth to the otherwise straightforward story. Jeremy Irvine, who played Sergeant Ajax, gave a strong performance as the squad leader, balancing authority with desperation as things unraveled. Nick Stahl as Doctor Hawthorne, the cynical scientist tagging along, added tension with his sharp delivery, though his character felt underused. On the other hand, actors like Ryan Kwanten (Griffin) and Tricia Helfer (Evans) had limited development, so their eventual fates didn’t hit as hard as they could have. However, the character development wasn’t very strong which made the deaths of some characters boring.
What disappointed me the most was the predictability of the plot. While the premise was unique, the soldiers would just go in and die. There were moments where the dialogue felt boring, and the evil undertones of the protagonist were just too obvious.
Overall, “Primitive War” is visually exciting and offers a twist on war films, but it lacks the storytelling and character depth to be a top 10 movie. I would watch it if you like dinosaurs and actions, but don’t expect anything too groundbreaking.
