The Pack (2015)

Director: Nick Robertson

Starring: Jack Campbell, Anna Lise Phillips, Katie Moore

A farmer and his family must fight for survival after a ferocious pack of wild dogs infiltrates their isolated farmhouse. Through a series of frightening and bloody encounters they are forced into survival mode to make it through the night.

This Australian horror is ominous and foreboding. With the dogs – a cross between dogs and wolves – being so creepy, scary, and demonic looking, one could refer to ‘The Pack as a creature feature.

The film revolves around the Wilson family who battles to keep their heads above water financially and sit on the verge of losing their farm. All this doesn’t really have anything to do with the premise; it’s just a back story to make us root for the family. Had this been a successful family going through the same ordeal, it pretty much would have had the same effect. Their story doesn’t add any significance to the premise itself.

The suspense is well crafted. Instead of blaring scare music, it was silent during scenes showing the dogs in the background approaching, or quickly running past the screen. This was highly effective and scary. (Please, Hollywood, learn from this!). The attack scenes are gory, brutal, relentless and very realistic. There are times when you’re going to watch this through parting fingers!

Although there are a few scenes where the family makes unusual decisions considering their circumstances, ‘The Pack’ delivers a fright fest. The sound effects are also good. This is the stuff nightmares are made of, and definitely not for kids or someone who has a fear of dogs – or who has had to deal with a dog attack.

Not since ‘Cujo’ have I seen a dog film as scary and realistic as ‘The Pack’. Well done, Nick Robertson. The dogs deserve Best Canine awards!!

Would I watch it again? Yes!