DOG Soldiers is a beast of a horror flick that proudly robs from the tombs of its classic Hammer Horror predecessors.

It tells the tale of a six-man squad of soldiers taking part in a routine exercise in the middle of a thick, foreboding forest.

Things take a sinister turn when the howls of a mysterious beast begin echoing all around come nightfall.

And when the full moon beams down from the heavens, the beast begins to get hungry and the soldiers find themselves at the top of the menu.

The whole film is a modern tribute to the classic days of horror films, using shock tactics, tacky and over-the-top monsters, grotesque blood and guts and hilarious one-liners to cover up the predictable plot line.

Sean Pertwee shines as the Sergeant and rifleman Kevin McKidd plays the unlikely hero very well.

In fact, it is the whole cast of mostly unknowns who make the film such a success.

Liam Cunningham is incredibly sinister and mysterious as the captain meant to be in charge of the exercise that goes horribly wrong.

The dialogue of sharp, snappy and often hilarious and the tension boils away brilliantly, right down to the predictable but satisfying climax.

Arguably the most shocking scene in the film comes right out of the blue during a quiet camp fire scene - when there is not even a werewolf in sight.

Dog Soldiers is a classic horror film and a must-see for fans of the genre who are not afraid to have a good laugh at it all.

The DVD features great commentaries from the cast, crew, director and producer, deleted scenes, a 'making of' documentary, trailers, storyboards and short films.

Review by Joel Sawyer