Christopher Walken, Colin Blakely, Tom Berenger

Back before Christopher Walken became a caricature of himself, when he was still considered a rising actor based on his Oscar® for The Deer Hunter, he made this graphic, exciting action film, abou...( read more  read more... )t a group of professional mercenaries. Walken leads a band of soldiers of fortune, who are hired to overthrow a dictator in West Africa (think Idi Amin). But when their mission is compromised by political and monetary forces, Walken returns to the United States, disillusioned, battered, and not sure the high life of lawyers, guns, and money is really for him. Still, vengeance is sweet, as his partner, Tom Berenger, keeps whispering into his ear. A better film than it's generally given credit for, The Dogs of War features the kind of cool, detached performance Walken used to be capable of, before he began believing both the hype and ridicule about his over-the-top style. --Marshall Fine

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55% liked it

4,615 ratings

R, 104 min.

Directed by: John Irvin

Release Date: June 1, 1980

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DVD Release Date: November 20, 2001

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Stats: 140 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (140)


  • October 17, 2008
    better than i expected. walken was so so as per usual and tom berenger didn't really do anything beside shoot a gun or two. it was the story and ending that kept it alive...
  • August 8, 2006
    Classic and undderated! Noone gives this mercenary war movie enuff credit - it deserves heaps more! Christopher Walken is Shannon, the mercenary hired to subvert a small African nation for high paying executives - until his encounter as a prisoner and his morality takes charge i...( read more)n his firestorm war against the totalitarian government. WONDERFUL!
  • July 14, 2009
    Fair to above average film, good performances, especially JoBeth Williams, but it never rises much above ordinary. Well produced with a reasonably interesting story. Watchable but not particularly memorable.
  • July 6, 2009
    Found it very boring and predictable.
  • June 11, 2009
    This was a pretty good movie, but dry in the beginning. Once it got into it, betrayal, training, cou d'etats, backhanders and such, I dug it.
    I thought the ending was pretty kickass. I wasn't expecting Walken to turn the tables like that, there, but it made sense -you don't fuck...( read more) with your privately-hired army lol.
    So, if you're into Forsyth, or you just like formula action movies, give this one a go
  • January 29, 2009
    well umn just seen this movie 4 the 1st time n think that this is a good movie 2 watch its got a good cast of actors/actressess throughout this movie...i think that both christopher walken n tom berenger play good parts throughout this movie..i think that the director of this act...( read more)ion/adventure/art house/international movie had done a good job of directing this movie because you never know what 2 expect throughout this movie..i think that the fight scenes n the gun shoot outs are pretty kewl thorughout this movie,,its an enjoyable movie 2 watch
  • October 6, 2008
    GOOD MOVIE WORTH WATCHING
  • August 6, 2008
    not as good as i thought but well worth staying up for. walken looks like he just came of the set of dead zone, with those huge eyes and scary features of his..
  • March 21, 2008
    This movie is ok. Nothing that spectacular though.
  • January 29, 2008
    Would like to see at some stage.

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  • There's a secret war being waged in the homes and neighborhoods of Earth that the humans don't even know about; an eternal struggle between two great armies ***  Answer »

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