Vietnam War-Set Horror Movie ‘Primitive War’ Releases First Trailer
A wild new horror flick is stomping its way to the screen, and it’s got a premise that’s hard to ignore. Imagine American soldiers in the thick of the Vietnam War, already dodging bullets and traps, only to stumble into a jungle crawling with dinosaurs. That’s the chaos promised by ‘Primitive War,’ a movie that just dropped its first trailer, giving us a peek at this insane mash-up of war and prehistoric terror. Set for release sometime in 2025, it’s shaping up to be a bloody, gritty ride.
The story kicks off in 1968, right in the heart of the Vietnam conflict. A team called Vulture Squad gets sent into a remote jungle valley on a mission to find a missing Green Beret platoon. What they run into instead is far worse than enemy fighters—think razor-sharp claws and teeth from creatures that should’ve stayed extinct. The trailer teases a desperate fight for survival as these soldiers face off against ancient predators, blending the tension of war with straight-up monster horror.
Luke Sparke, the guy behind the camera, is calling the shots on this one. He’s known for stuff like ‘Occupation Rainfall,’ where he tackled sci-fi action, and now he’s adapting Ethan Pettus’ novel of the same name. Sparke’s going for a raw, sweaty vibe, filming everything on location in Australia’s Gold Coast with no green screens. He wants it to feel real—like these soldiers stepped out of a classic war movie and straight into a nightmare with T-Rex-sized problems.
The cast is packed with familiar faces. Jeremy Piven, who we know from ‘Entourage,’ leads the charge, joined by Tricia Helfer of ‘Battlestar Galactica’ fame. Ryan Kwanten from ‘True Blood’ and Nick Wechsler from ‘The Boys’ are in the mix too, along with a solid lineup including Anthony Ingruber, Aaron Glenane, and Ana Thu Nguyen, who’s got ‘Mortal Kombat 2’ on her resume. It’s a big crew, and they’re all diving into this jungle madness together.
What’s cool about ‘Primitive War’ is how it takes a familiar idea—dinosaurs versus humans—and twists it into something fresh. Sure, we’ve seen Jurassic Park, but this isn’t about scientists on an island. It’s soldiers in a war zone, already on edge, now dealing with Utahraptors and Kaprosuchus ripping through the trees. The book it’s based on has a loyal following, even sparking sequels and a tabletop game, so there’s a built-in crowd eager to see this leap to film.
The trailer itself doesn’t show too much yet—just enough to get the blood pumping. We get glimpses of the squad trudging through the jungle, weapons ready, and hints of those massive beasts lurking in the shadows. Behind-the-scenes shots reveal a team fully committed to the chaos, sweating it out in real mud and heat. It’s clear they’re aiming for something that feels grounded, even with such a wild concept.
With ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ hitting theaters in July 2025, it looks like next year’s going to be big for dinosaur fans. ‘Primitive War’ might not drop right alongside it—smart move to avoid getting crushed—but whenever it lands, it’s got a shot at carving out its own space. The mix of war movie grit and horror thrills could make it a sleeper hit for anyone craving something a little different.
I’m already hooked on the idea of soldiers swapping gunfire for dino dodging. It’s a bold swing, and if Sparke pulls it off, we might be talking about ‘Primitive War’ for a while. Keep an eye out—this one’s got teeth.