Dinosaurs vs. Soldiers: Director Luke Sparke’s survival thriller ‘Primitive War’ unleashes a new kind of warfare, premiering on Lionsgate Play

War is brutal enough on its own, but add bloodthirsty prehistoric predators into the mix, and survival becomes a whole new nightmare. In Primitive War, what starts as a routine search mission quickly spirals into a brutal fight for survival through a dinosaur-infested jungle in Southeast Asia. This is a war fought in shadows, blood, and teeth.

Set in the unforgiving jungles of Vietnam, Primitive War opens an action-packed battleground between man and prehistoric creatures.

Starring Ryan Kwanten, Tricia Helfer, and Jeremy Piven, the film follows The Vulture Squad, a recon unit deployed to a remote jungle valley in Vietnam to find a missing Green Beret platoon. But instead of hostile forces, they uncover something far more terrifying: deadly dinosaurs and abandoned Soviet experiments. Cut off from the outside world, the squad must fight for survival against these monstrous threats in a jungle where every step could be their last.

Primitive War’s twists the expectations of modern war movies with Jurassic-level fury, delivering a dino-action spectacle loaded with explosive action, sharp performances, and a premise as wild as it is irresistible. The film stands as a bold new evolution of both war cinema and creature thrillers alike. For fans of creature features, military thrillers, and anything dinosaur-related, writer-director Luke Sparke delivers a film straight from his childhood obsessions.

In an interview with SYFY News, he recalled the moment the idea for Primitive Wars took hold: “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 spark led him to the novel by Ethan Pettus, eventually bringing the wild vision to life on screen.

Sparke also highlighted the importance of accurately and respectfully blending historical elements with high-stakes action. “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,” shared Sparke in an interview with Supanova.

Calling his experience shooting ‘Primitive War’ very surreal, actor Jeremy Piven spoke about the film and his character saying,“I play Jericho, one of these old-school, passionate generals.

He just lost a bunch of his Green Berets. He’s a guy who’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. We have seen war films, and I grew up watching Apocalypse Now and Full Metal Jacket, so this film draws on all that grit. And I love taking a guy and just putting him in an uncomfortable, awkward situation.”

Whether you’re a history buff, a dinosaur geek, or simply craving an epic genre mash-up, Primitive War brings a fresh and ferocious twist to the battlefield.

Prepare to be on the edge of your seat and witness true survival when Primitive War premieres on Lionsgate Play this Dec. 12 via PLDT Home, Smart, and Cignal. — Robert Requintina

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