The Breed (2006)

Director: Nicholas Mastandrea

Writer: Robert Conte, Peter Martin Wortmann

Tagline: Play dead.

Actors: Michelle Rodriguez, Oliver Hudson, Taryn Manning, Eric Lively, Hill Harper, Nick Boraine, Lisa-Marie Schneider

Runtime: 1h 27m

Category: Creature, Killer

Synopsis: Five college kids fly out to a deserted island to a cottage for a week away from real life to relax. When genetically altered German Sheppard’s attack one of their friends (Taryn Manning), they decide to leave the island. However, the dogs are not quite ready to let them leave. The dogs continue to attack in an attempt to fulfill their blood thirsty nature. Now without the plane they came in, can these friends get off of the island or are they doomed to be hunted by man’s best friend?

Review: I know how it sounds but it was actually a pretty cool movie. I don’t normally look into movies with dogs because it seems so ridiculous but I figured Michelle Rodriguez in a bikini was worth trying it out. I was impressed. Not so much by the plot because it was kinda sketchy and the acting was pretty ok but the dogs were outstanding. When those dogs started to attack it really made the adrenaline rush go into overdrive. I think it is because dogs are usually so docile and we keep them as pets so when they go berserker on us we are so shocked we shit our shorts. The setting was great and the camera work was outstanding for a direct to video movie. The scenery was placed very well and you really felt like they were on a deserted island not just on the back of some resort island.

One thing I didn’t like was that the only black guy (who does die first) in the movie is Hill Harper (CSI: NY). My issue is that on CSI he is sophisticated and educated, but in this movie he is trying to talk ghetto and fails miserably. He is about as ghetto as I am and sounds just as stupid trying to talk like that. It was disturbing to say the least. Now what I loved was the surprise of the dogs coming out at every turn with vicious teeth ready to chomp. There is one scene that was particularly cool when John (Oliver Hudson) is shooting an arrow at one of the dogs that is biting Nikki (Michelle Rodriguez) on the calf. He ends up shooting her in the leg instead of hitting the dog. I was impressed because it would have been too cliché to have him kill the dog but a nice little twist to have him shoot right through her leg.

Rating: 19. I liked it. I really did. I have a new respect for the canine horror genre to go and look for a couple of other dog movies. This movie kinda felt like a lot of other movies where kids are stuck in a lose-lose situation, but manage to emerge victorious from whatever is chasing them. However I was so impressed with the dogs in this movie that I was able to overlook some of the imperfections and focus on scenery and action. I would say check it out. You will think twice before you smack your dog again. (19of25).