In an unexpected cinematic mashup that defies both logic and realism, Primitive War delivers exactly what its title promises - primitive combat of the most extreme kind. The film, which releases on November 28, 2025, throws American soldiers into the Vietnam War against an impossible enemy: genetically engineered dinosaurs.
A Preposterous Premise That Somehow Works
Built around what might be one of the most ridiculous concepts in recent film history, Primitive War surprisingly manages to entertain despite its obvious flaws. The story begins in 1968 during the height of the Vietnam War, when a Green Beret platoon mysteriously disappears after an attack by unknown forces.
Colonel Jericho, played by Jeremy Piven, dispatches the Vulture Squad led by Sergeant Baker, portrayed by Ryan Kwanten, to locate the missing soldiers. What begins as a standard rescue mission quickly transforms into a fight for survival when the squad enters a remote jungle valley teeming with prehistoric creatures.
From War Drama to Dinosaur Survival
The film initially establishes itself as a war drama before completely abandoning that premise once the dinosaurs appear. Surprisingly, this dramatic shift doesn't bother viewers as the action escalates into pure creature-feature entertainment.
After Baker and another soldier get separated during a dinosaur ambush, they're rescued by Sofia, a Soviet paleontologist played by Tricia Helfer. Through her character, the mystery behind the dinosaurs' presence in the Vietnamese jungle gradually unfolds, revealing they're the result of secret experiments.
The film showcases an impressive variety of dinosaurs including:
- Multiple carnivorous species
- Herbivores of various sizes
- Flying dinosaurs that add aerial threats
Performance and Production Values
While the film clearly operates with limited budget constraints, the makers compensate with genuine effort and heart. The CGI effects may appear average, but the dinosaurs still manage to look real and sufficiently menacing.
Ryan Kwanten anchors the film with a confident performance as Sergeant Baker, convincingly portraying a tough, experienced soldier. Nick Wechsler brings sincerity to his role as Eli, particularly during the survival sequences, while Tricia Helfer provides a calm, mysterious presence that contrasts effectively with the surrounding chaos.
At two hours and thirteen minutes, the film does feel overly long and would have benefited from tighter editing. However, the loud, pulsating soundtrack and consistent pacing ensure that viewers rarely experience boredom.
Final Verdict: Guilty Pleasure Entertainment
Primitive War makes no apologies for its over-the-top approach and nonsensical plot. The film understands exactly what it is - a ridiculous but fun action experience - and never attempts to be smarter or deeper than necessary.
For audiences who enjoy unusual concepts and excessive action sequences, this film works perfectly as a guilty pleasure. It delivers entertainment through sheer confidence and madness rather than polished filmmaking. The movie earns its 3.0 rating from both critics and users by embracing its absurd premise wholeheartedly.
Based on Ethan Pettus's 2017 sci-fi military novel, Primitive War may not win awards for logic or realism, but it successfully provides the kind of mindless, action-packed entertainment that certain viewers crave. If you can suspend your disbelief and embrace the madness, this Vietnam War-meets-dinosaur thriller offers a surprisingly watchable experience.
