"The Pack" review

The Pack (1977)

Directed by Robert Clouse
Writing credits Robert Clouse

Joe Don Baker.... Jerry
Hope Alexander-Willis.... Millie
Richard B. Shull.... Hardiman

This movie has a problem. Dogs, by themselves, are not scary. Sure if some weird serum gets injected into them or they are bitten by a rabid bat they can be ferocious. But these dogs look like they came out of a dog food commercial. There's one scene where the dogs are chasing after the humans in slow motion and all I could think of was that they were running for dinner time. "I want my kibbles and bits and bits and bits..."

So these dogs get abandoned on an island. A lot of vacationers ditch their dogs when they leave. The dogs huddle together and become THE PACK. They try to screw up Joe Don Baker's vacation but Baker doesn't take kindly to a bunch of mutts trying to take the bone out of his leg. It's on.

"The Pack" was pretty toothless. They had one dog who could make a scary face but that was it. He could pull his lips back and show his teeth but the other dogs just stood around with that vacant, happy dog look. They didn't inspire fear.

The ending is what takes it over the top. Humans and dogs reconciling to live in peace. "Shake boy. Good doggie." Blah.

SCORE: 1 out of 4 piles of dog chow