![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Challenge #8
In your own space, write a promo, manifesto or primer for a beloved character, relationship or fandom. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.
I've never written fanfic for my favourite movie, but I'm going to take a hot second to recommend it to everyone who hasn't yet seen it.
My favourite movie is Dog Soldiers.
It was released in 2002, so chances are if you have heard of it, it was a while ago. It was directed by Neil Marshall, and was the movie he released before The Descent. It's also an absolute fucking banger of a werewolf movie.
Please be aware that the following may contain spoilers, although I've tried to make them as few as possible.
The Plot
A group of soldiers is sent to a remote location in the Scottish Highlands on a training exercise, where they quickly find out that they aren't alone. They're being hunted by some "great fucking howling things" intent on ripping them to pieces.
They take refuge in an abandoned farmhouse and try to survive the night.
Why it Works
1. The characters are great, and while not all of them get much in the way of backstory (the plot mostly focuses on Cooper, played by Kevin McKidd, and Sergeant Wells, played by Sean Pertwee), they have an absolutely fantastic relationship with each other. The actors did a fantastic job showing how much these guys love and trust each other - and the banter throughout is absolutely fantastic.
2. The effects are costumes and prosthetics and, honestly, even twenty-three years later they hold up really well. The werewolves aren't seen in full until pretty close to the end, and the design of them is actually pretty cool.
3. The setting. The Scottish Highlands are gorgeous, and there're some stunning set-up shots at the start of the movie. They are also very isolated and this movie does an excellent job of showing how much. The setting also manages to be very claustrophobic at times, which helps notch up the tension. It's very much like Alien's "in space, no one can hear you scream" except this is more along the lines of "in Scotland, no one can hear you shoot a werewolf in the face."
4. The main antagonist is very punchable.
5. Have I mentioned the banter? This movie is, occasionally, fucking hilarious.
6. It's also got some heavy, emotional moments that are really well performed for what is, essentially, a B-horror movie. This is helped along by the soundtrack, which is also really good (and available on Deezer).
Anything Else?
This movie is my homesickness movie. Like. When I miss my regional accent too much, I'll throw it on because there's a couple of characters in it who sound like the people at home. Take that as a warning, however, as people where I'm from occasionally get subtitled by the BBC.
I, personally, don't find it scary although I showed it to R shortly after we first met and she still hasn't forgiven me 18 years later, so take that as you will. It's got some gory moments, and there's plenty of blood everywhere, but explaining where exactly moves into spoiler territory.
One spoiler I am willing to give, though: the dog lives.
Fandom
Not much. Honestly, it qualifies for Yuletide, which... is an idea. Hmmmmmmmmmmm...
Anyway.
Aside from a bunch of random crossovers where people take the setting and apply it to their own blorbos, there's a small number of Sarge/Cooper fics that are fairly well written as well as a couple of epilogue fics that do a good job of unpacking the trauma.
Where can you watch it?
It's available in full on YouTube here.
If you want to pay for some reason, then you can get it through Apple TV. Probably Prime as well provided you're not also in Vietnam.
In your own space, write a promo, manifesto or primer for a beloved character, relationship or fandom. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.
I've never written fanfic for my favourite movie, but I'm going to take a hot second to recommend it to everyone who hasn't yet seen it.
My favourite movie is Dog Soldiers.
It was released in 2002, so chances are if you have heard of it, it was a while ago. It was directed by Neil Marshall, and was the movie he released before The Descent. It's also an absolute fucking banger of a werewolf movie.
Please be aware that the following may contain spoilers, although I've tried to make them as few as possible.
The Plot
A group of soldiers is sent to a remote location in the Scottish Highlands on a training exercise, where they quickly find out that they aren't alone. They're being hunted by some "great fucking howling things" intent on ripping them to pieces.
They take refuge in an abandoned farmhouse and try to survive the night.
Why it Works
1. The characters are great, and while not all of them get much in the way of backstory (the plot mostly focuses on Cooper, played by Kevin McKidd, and Sergeant Wells, played by Sean Pertwee), they have an absolutely fantastic relationship with each other. The actors did a fantastic job showing how much these guys love and trust each other - and the banter throughout is absolutely fantastic.
2. The effects are costumes and prosthetics and, honestly, even twenty-three years later they hold up really well. The werewolves aren't seen in full until pretty close to the end, and the design of them is actually pretty cool.
3. The setting. The Scottish Highlands are gorgeous, and there're some stunning set-up shots at the start of the movie. They are also very isolated and this movie does an excellent job of showing how much. The setting also manages to be very claustrophobic at times, which helps notch up the tension. It's very much like Alien's "in space, no one can hear you scream" except this is more along the lines of "in Scotland, no one can hear you shoot a werewolf in the face."
4. The main antagonist is very punchable.
5. Have I mentioned the banter? This movie is, occasionally, fucking hilarious.
6. It's also got some heavy, emotional moments that are really well performed for what is, essentially, a B-horror movie. This is helped along by the soundtrack, which is also really good (and available on Deezer).
Anything Else?
This movie is my homesickness movie. Like. When I miss my regional accent too much, I'll throw it on because there's a couple of characters in it who sound like the people at home. Take that as a warning, however, as people where I'm from occasionally get subtitled by the BBC.
I, personally, don't find it scary although I showed it to R shortly after we first met and she still hasn't forgiven me 18 years later, so take that as you will. It's got some gory moments, and there's plenty of blood everywhere, but explaining where exactly moves into spoiler territory.
One spoiler I am willing to give, though: the dog lives.
Fandom
Not much. Honestly, it qualifies for Yuletide, which... is an idea. Hmmmmmmmmmmm...
Anyway.
Aside from a bunch of random crossovers where people take the setting and apply it to their own blorbos, there's a small number of Sarge/Cooper fics that are fairly well written as well as a couple of epilogue fics that do a good job of unpacking the trauma.
Where can you watch it?
It's available in full on YouTube here.
If you want to pay for some reason, then you can get it through Apple TV. Probably Prime as well provided you're not also in Vietnam.
no subject
Date: 2025-01-15 06:00 pm (UTC)From:Still...
no subject
Date: 2025-01-15 07:05 pm (UTC)From:This fan-made trailer is a lot better (although it focuses more on the serious bits). You should definitely check it out if you can convince yourself to do it. Make sure you have a blanket to hide behind and something comforting to drink or snack on.
no subject
Date: 2025-01-15 07:26 pm (UTC)From:Thank you for the rec!
no subject
Date: 2025-01-15 08:16 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2025-01-16 01:52 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2025-01-16 01:56 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2025-01-17 02:35 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2025-01-17 05:50 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2025-01-17 05:52 am (UTC)From:I'm glad you enjoyed it! <3
no subject
Date: 2025-01-25 01:02 pm (UTC)From: