Dinosaurs, Soldiers, and a Jungle That Eats Everything Alive
What happens when a search mission in the Vietnam jungle turns into a fight against creatures that shouldn’t even exist? That is the heart-pounding premise of Primitive War, the latest survival-action thriller from writer and director Luke Sparke, now roaring onto Lionsgate Play this December.
Set deep in the unforgiving wilderness of Vietnam, the film throws viewers into a chaotic battleground where prehistoric predators hunt alongside the horrors of war. It’s an unexpected mash-up that feels fresh, unhinged, and irresistibly entertaining for anyone who loves adrenaline-driven cinema.
Starring Ryan Kwanten, Tricia Helfer, and Jeremy Piven, Primitive War pushes soldiers into the ultimate survival test. Sparke takes the grit of war movies, fuses it with the ferocity of Jurassic-era creatures, and turns the jungle into a nightmare that bites back.
A Routine Mission Turns Into a Prehistoric Bloodbath
Primitive War follows The Vulture Squad, an elite recon unit sent to locate a missing Green Beret platoon somewhere in remote Vietnam. Instead of enemy combatants, the team stumbles into something far more terrifying: dinosaurs and abandoned Soviet experiments hidden in the jungle.
Cut off from reinforcements, the squad must face lightning-fast predators, land mines, and a landscape where every movement could be their last. The danger becomes relentless, and the soldiers are forced to fight enemies they never trained for.
This survival thriller brings a new angle to both war films and creature features. Instead of focusing solely on military conflict, Primitive War injects prehistoric terror into the mix, creating a world where gunfire, fear, and sharp teeth collide in explosive fashion.
A Childhood Fascination Brought to Life
The spark for Primitive War came from a surprising place. In an interview with SYFY News, director Luke Sparke shared how the idea first hit him:
“I was just scrolling through social media and came across the cover art of a raptor jumping out of the jungles of Vietnam as a soldier. It immediately just grabbed me, because it took me back to my childhood. … I had to know more.”
That curiosity led him to the novel by Ethan Pettus, which eventually became the blueprint for the film. The combination of military history and dinosaur action was too unique to ignore, and Sparke leaned into the challenge of bringing something that bold to the big screen.
Balancing History, Action, and Sheer Mayhem
Despite its wild premise, Sparke wanted the military aspect of the film to feel grounded and respectful. To achieve this, he collaborated closely with a Vietnam War veteran who had worked on numerous war films.
In his interview with Supanova, Sparke explained: “We brought in one of the best military advisers to help me look over the script. He is a Vietnam veteran and has contributed to heaps of war films. He gave me great advice on how to structure the script in a militaristic way.”
This attention to authenticity gives Primitive War more emotional weight. The battles may be fantastical, but the soldiers’ experiences, fears, and strategies still echo the realities of war. The result is a film that blends grounded military drama with creature-action spectacle.
Jeremy Piven’s Surreal Experience Filming Primitive War
Actor Jeremy Piven, who plays General Jericho, described making the film as both exciting and surreal. His character is a seasoned general who loses several Green Berets under mysterious circumstances. When he discovers a dinosaur tooth, his world begins to unravel.
Sharing his experience, Piven said:
“I play Jericho, one of these old-school, passionate generals. He just lost a bunch of his green berets. He’s a guy that’s seen everything, but he’s never seen this. Suddenly he comes across a dinosaur tooth, and nothing’s making sense. I love taking these two worlds and having them clash.”
For Piven, Primitive War pays homage to classic war films like Apocalypse Now and Full Metal Jacket, but flips the script by placing soldiers against prehistoric predators. This collision of genres delivers tension, grit, and plenty of jaw-dropping moments.
Filipinos have always enjoyed genre-bending action films, especially ones with strong survival elements. Primitive War combines everything that appeals to Southeast Asian audiences: jungle landscapes, military grit, unexpected threats, high-stakes chases, and relentless suspense.
The film also speaks to a growing trend in entertainment, where creators take bold risks by mixing genres that typically don’t intersect. For fans of creature features, military thrillers, and childhood dinosaur obsessions, Primitive War hits all the right notes.
This harks back to the Philippines’ affection for kaiju-level excitement, military stories, and edgy survival narratives found in local and international films.
Prepare for the Ultimate Jungle Throwdown
Whether you’re curious about alternate-history storytelling, fascinated by dinosaur lore, or simply craving non-stop action, Primitive War delivers a ferocious cinematic experience. It is unapologetically wild, visually intense, and designed to keep its audience on edge.
Catch Primitive War starting December 12 on Lionsgate Play via PLDT Home, Smart, and Cignal, and brace yourself for a prehistoric ambush in the middle of wartime Vietnam.