Primitive War Movie Review: The sci-fi horror action film “Primitive War” was released in Australia on 21 August 2025, followed by releases in UK and Irish cinemas, and the movie has been getting a lot of attention from the fans across the world. Primitive War is directed with pulpy confidence and is based on Ethan Pettus’s 2017 novel. It takes us on the jungle-set gorefest and brings a bizarre and entertaining mix of Green Berets and a surprise army of dinosaurs. Through this primitive war review, we will try to break down the film with respect to its story, direction, writing, cinematography, music, VFX, performances, and overall experience.
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Primitive War Movie Details and Rating
- Released On: 21st November, 2025
- Director: Luke Sparke
- Writes: Ethan Pettus & Luke Sparke
- Stars: Ryan Kwanten, Tricia Helfer, Nick Wechsler and Jeremy Piven
- Rating: 3/5
Primitive War Story: Vietnam, Soldiers… and Dinosaurs
Primitive takes us to the late 1960s, where it follows an elite Green Beret unit which is navigating the Vietnam War’s chaos. However, the movie doesn’t take much time, as it quickly makes it clear that the jungle hides something deadlier than soldiers. It is a prehistoric beast that is unleashed due to a secret scientific experiment by a foreign faction.
Things get interesting when a squad mysteriously disappears. The flamboyant and over-the-top Colonel Jericho (Jeremy Piven) is now given the hardened Vulture Squad to investigate. This team was led by Sgt Ryan Baker (Ryan Kwanten), and it consists of a typical mix of brave, reckless, and occasionally clueless soldiers, which is perfect fodder for dinosaur jaws.
The film leans fully into its pulp origins. The narrative is simple. It is extremely repetitive and strangely addictive. The film never pretends to be anything more than a violent creature feature with soldiers vs dinos as its central charm.
Primitive War Direction
The direction embraces its mission: deliver nonstop action, guns, and big-toothed carnivores. One can feel that cheerful and giddy tone behind the chaos. The Vietnam background is very natural, as it feels stylized rather than realistic, and it matches the film’s personality through being loud, wild, and unapologetically campy.
Where the direction shines:
- Fast-paced jungle sequences
- High-energy shootouts
- Gore-heavy creature encounters
Where it stumbles:
- Repetitive action beats
- Little emotional depth
- Abrupt tonal shifts from serious war tone to dinosaur mayhem
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Writing
The script is knowingly formulaic. We see soldiers cracking jokes, arguing, and running blindly into danger, and they then get torn apart moments later. The dialogue often gets drowned out by gunfire, and the character arcs don’t really scratch the surface.
However, the writing understands its audience. Hence, it delivers exactly that, with no wasting of time that is trying to be profound.
Cinematography & Music: Jungle Heat Meets Classic Rock
Visually, Primitive War is simple, as it gives us sweaty jungles, smoky battlefields, and plenty of green foliage. But the full-daylight dinosaur shots are very poor, and it somehow exposed the limitations of the VFX.
The soundtrack is where the film goes all-in. The choice is obvious but undeniably entertaining.
VFX & Gore
The CG dinosaurs sometimes feel low-budget, but thanks to the gore effects of torn limbs and digested soldiers, it looks very decent. The film gracefully touches its B-movie roots with enthusiasm.
Primitive War Cast
- Ryan Kwanten gives us the perfect square-jawed intensity that is required for a fearless squad leader.
- Jeremy Piven was the star thanks to an intentionally exaggerated performance.
- The supporting cast was good too, as they filled the archetypes with confidence and energy.
Final Verdict: A Fun, Bloody, Dino-Filled Ride
All in all, in this primitive war review, we have seen it’s not deep, subtle, or polished. But it is fun. So, if you want realism, look elsewhere. And, if you are someone who wants to see Green Berets fighting dinosaurs with classic rock blasting, then this film is for you.
Watch Primitive War Trailer
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