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Primitive War

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the novel, see Primitive War: Opiate Undertow.

Primitive War
Official release poster
Directed byLuke Sparke
Written by
  • Ethan Pettus
  • Luke Sparke
Based onPrimitive War by Ethan Pettus
Produced by
  • Carmel Imrie
  • Carly Sparke
  • Luke Sparke
Starring
CinematographyWade Muller
Edited byLuke Sparke
Music byFrederik Wiedmann
Production
company
Sparke Films
Distributed by
Release dates
  • 11 August 2025 (2025-08-11) (Sydney)
  • 21 August 2025 (2025-08-21) (Australia)
Running time
135 minutes
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish
Box office$210,730[1]

Primitive War is a 2025 Australian science fiction action horror film directed by Luke Sparke and based on the 2017 novel of the same name by Ethan Pettus, who both co-wrote the script for film.[2] Starring Ryan Kwanten, Tricia Helfer, Nick Wechsler and Jeremy Piven, the film is set in a Vietnam jungle valley during 1968 and follows a reconnaissance unit who carries out a rescue mission for a US Army Special Forces platoon and are attacked by de-extinct dinosaurs.

Plot

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In 1968, during the Vietnam War, a Green Beret platoon is attacked and killed in a remote jungle valley by unknown predators. Their commander, Colonel Jericho, calls in Vulture Squad, including Ryan Baker, Xavier Wise, Leon Verne, Eli Taylor, Charlie Miller, Gerald Keyes, and Logan Stovall, to find the missing Green Berets on a classified mission.

After Vulture are airdropped into the valley, they look for the Green Berets, finding birdlike tracks and huge feathers from an unknown animal. Baker is attacked but drives it away. In a cave, they are ambushed by Deinonychus; they escape but Baker and Verne are separated. Meanwhile, the squad is tracked by the Soviet Dogs of War, including Tolstoy, Nikita, Sergei, Aleksandr, and Con Nhen, a Vietnamese guerrilla. As the Soviets follow gunfire, Aleksandr is ambushed and killed by the creature that attacked Baker.

After fleeing a family of Tyrannosaurus, Baker and Verne are rescued by Sofia Wagner, a Soviet paleontologist, who takes them to her hideout at an abandoned research station. She explains that a science experiment overseen by USSR General Grigory Borodin accidentally brought dinosaur species into the valley. Borodin murdered her husband and coworkers for questioning him. As they search for the remaining men, Sofia identifies Baker's attacker as a larger, more dangerous Utahraptor. The rest of Vulture Squad are attacked by the Dogs of War, but the fight is interrupted by a flock of Quetzalcoatlus, which kill Tolstoy. Both squads flee, and the Vultures meet up with Baker, Verne, and Sofia before being attacked by Deinonychus, which drag Keyes away. He fights them off but is wounded by a larger raptor, managing to stab its eye, and is saved by the Vultures. The squad escapes by boat, but Keyes stays behind and uses grenades in a last stand.

Sofia tells Vulture Borodin's project is a particle collider that can create wormholes, enabling Soviets to teleport forces worldwide. A malfunction during its first test opened a wormhole that transported dinosaurs from the past to the present. She convinces them to disable it, fearing planet destruction. Baker contacts Jericho for extraction; Jericho demands the collider stay intact until troops arrive. They are attacked by Deinonychus; Stovall sacrifices himself to save others. At the Soviet base, Borodin's soldiers kill an infant Tyrannosaurus, provoking parents to attack.

As the tyrannosaurs massacre Soviet soldiers, Vulture Squad plants explosives around the collider, while Baker and Sofia recruit disillusioned Nikita and Sergei. Miller is attacked by Con Nhen, seeking revenge, but kills her and himself by detonating his explosives. Tyrannosaurs leave with their chicks, while Sofia deactivates the collider. Jericho arrives with US reinforcements as the raptors attack, killing Borodin, Nikita, and Taylor, before Baker sacrifices himself. Sofia, Verne, Xavier, and Sergei join Jericho's forces to fight the remaining raptors and escape as Vulture Squad's explosives destroy the collider. Jericho regrets the destruction, blaming Vulture for losing the collider, but Sofia warns that damage is already done, with dinosaurs migrating out of the valley.

Cast

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Production

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In February 2022, it was announced that Sparke Films had secured the rights to a film adaptation of the 2017 novel Primitive War: Opiate Undertow by Ethan Pettus, who helped co-write the film's script.[3][4] Luke Sparke was announced to be directing the film.[4]

In April 2024, Ryan Kwanten, Tricia Helfer, Nick Wechsler, and Jeremy Piven were cast as the film's leads.[5][6] Filming took place on the Gold Coast, Queensland.[7]

First look images and a poster of the film were released by Collider in August 2024.[8] Speaking on why he chose to adapt the Primitive War novel into a film, Sparke stated, "I was captivated by the imagery surrounding Ethan’s book and the story it told. I’ve worked hard on capturing that essence but also the grittiness, horror aspects and military edge. My vision is to feel like the characters have walked out of the film Platoon and into the jaws of the greatest predators the planet has ever known."[9]

Release

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Before its theatrical release, Primitive War headlined a panel at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2025, marking the first time an Australian film was a panel headliner at the convention.[10]

Primitive War was theatrically released by Rialto Distribution in Australia on 21 August 2025. The film received a limited theatrical release on the same day in the United States by Fathom Entertainment.[11][12]

Reception

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The film received generally mixed reviews. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 53% of 15 critics' reviews are positive.[13] Peter Gray of The AU Review gave 2 out of 5 stars, noting that the film takes itself too seriously with apparent focus on characters, which makes this "intentionally nonsensical" story less enjoyable.[14]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Primitive War". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
  2. ^ "The Ultraviolent, R-Rated Jurassic Movie You've Been Waiting For Just Dropped A New Trailer At SDCC 2025". Screen Rant. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  3. ^ "Everything We Know About Primitive War". CBR. Archived from the original on 29 June 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Luke Sparke to Direct 'Primitive War' Novel Adaptation (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 22 August 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  5. ^ "Jeremy Piven, Tricia Helfer Cast In Primitive War". Pop Geeks. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  6. ^ "Ryan Kwanten Battles Dinosaurs in Vietnam in 'Primitive War' Trailer (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 27 July 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  7. ^ "Jeremy Piven, Ryan Kwanten Face Dinosaurs in the Jungle as 'Primitive War' Drops First Footage". Variety. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  8. ^ "This Wild Horror Movie Brings Dinosaurs to the Vietnam War in First Images [Exclusive]". Collider. Archived from the original on 7 April 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  9. ^ "'Primitive War' Poster and Images Introduce Vietnam War Soldiers in Dino Action Movie". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  10. ^ "Australian Indie Film 'Primitive War' Makes Comic Con History". Variety Australia. Archived from the original on 19 July 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  11. ^ "'Primitive War' – Dinosaur Action Thriller Heads to Theaters Next Month". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on 27 July 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  12. ^ "War film that 'happens to have dinosaurs' teased with first look trailer". The Mirror US. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  13. ^ "Primitive War". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
  14. ^ Gray, P. (21 August 2025). "Film Review: Primitive War; B-grade monster movie favours characters over carnage to its own detriment". The AU Review. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
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