DVD Review: Double Feature: The Pack & Razorback

By Brad Henderson

There are many “animal attack” films but most are really subpar. Either they pick goofy animals for the attacks or the special effects are just awful. Warner Archive, however, has put out two great films that deal with that subject. One is The Pack, and the other is Razorback. I’m reviewing both of them here because I believe they should be watched as a double feature.

First, let’s start off with The Pack, which is Joe Don Baker kicking K-9 ass throughout the film. This film made me uneasy while watching it, due to the fact that the stunts with the dogs look like they are really going at it. But that actually makes the film more intense because they aren’t your typical silly fake stunts with animals.

Joe Don Baker plays Jerry, a marine biologist who lives on a remote island. On this island there have been many vacationers who have adopted pets and abandoned them when they left. It’s kind of bullshit and I found myself rooting for the dogs a little. The film has a small bit of subtext about caring for animals but it isn’t overwhelming and the film doesn’t make you feel bad after watching it. It does take a bit for the film to get started, but once it does, it gets very fun.

Even for a bare bones DVD, the transfer is great and the sound is pretty decent. With these special releases from Warner Archive, I don’t mind shelling out the dough for these formerly hard-to-find flicks.

Now onto Razorback, one of the most well made horror films I’ve ever seen. Not only are the effects great, the cinematography is beautiful. Every shot of this film is perfect and sometimes you even forget you are watching a horror film about a giant pig terrorizing the Outback because of the well-framed shots and excellent photography. Also, the hog kicks ass.

A TV journalist sets out for the Outback to do a story on an incident at a dog food plant but comes across an evil Razorback. Unfortunately, she loses her life but that is the way our story starts! Anyway, her husband sets out to find out what happens and teams up with a hottie and her grandfather to hunt down this infamous Razorback. The story in this film isn’t the best but it doesn’t hurt it, either. I think any horror fan who has seen this can agree that this is one of those films that holds up and still has you on the edge of your seat after all these years.

If you live in the US, you can purchase both The Pack and Razorback from Warner Archive.