Dogs of War is often lobbed into the often pulpy "mercenaries on a mission" sub-genre, and therein lies one of the main obstacles to its recognition. Looking at the marketing and poster, you'd be forgiven for equating this to your standard Chuck Norris actioner or, more charitably, to Wild Geese. But this minor masterpiece belongs in much more esteemed company.
Dogs of War is perhaps one of the best and most honest cinematic studies of the mercenary trade, and the cold cruelty with which the great powers toy with weak nations. After a nightmarish first half where Walken reckons an all-too-realistic dictatorship in Central Africa, he meticulously puts a team and plan together for a client-mandated assault. For the most part, this plays out like one of the great 70s procedurals, like 3 Days of the Condor or All The President's Men, where sporadic bursts of disturbing violence punctuate the building tension.
Plot-wise, the rug gets pulled out from under the audience's feet in many instances, not least of which is the silent horror and disappointment with which Walken's mere discovers the man he is meant to turn into a head of state following his engineered coup.
It all leads to a phenomenally tense and precise action climax, that is both powerful and cathartic, making this little-known cinematic curiosity the crown jewel of its star's career.
Dogs of War is perhaps one of the best and most honest cinematic studies of the mercenary trade, and the cold cruelty with which the great powers toy with weak nations. After a nightmarish first half where Walken reckons an all-too-realistic dictatorship in Central Africa, he meticulously puts a team and plan together for a client-mandated assault. For the most part, this plays out like one of the great 70s procedurals, like 3 Days of the Condor or All The President's Men, where sporadic bursts of disturbing violence punctuate the building tension.
Plot-wise, the rug gets pulled out from under the audience's feet in many instances, not least of which is the silent horror and disappointment with which Walken's mere discovers the man he is meant to turn into a head of state following his engineered coup.
It all leads to a phenomenally tense and precise action climax, that is both powerful and cathartic, making this little-known cinematic curiosity the crown jewel of its star's career.