Watch The Dogs of War

The Dogs of War is a 1980 action film directed by John Irvin and starring Christopher Walken, Tom Berenger, and Colin Blakely. Based on the novel of the same name by Frederick Forsyth, the movie tells the story of a mercenary named Jamie Shannon who is hired by a British businessman named Endean to overthrow the government of a small African country named Zangaro.

At the beginning of the movie, we see Jamie Shannon (Walken) working as a soldier of fortune in Central America. He is a hard-drinking, tough-talking character who will do anything for money. When his friend, a journalist named Drew (Blakely), introduces him to Endean (Berenger), Shannon is intrigued by the businessman's offer to lead a coup in Zangaro. Endean promises Shannon a large sum of money, and Shannon decides to take the job.

After arriving in Zangaro, Shannon assembles a team of experienced mercenaries to help him with the job. They include Terry Thorne (Paul Freeman), a South African soldier who is a crack shot; Derek (Ronald Pickup), a British explosives expert; and Michel (JoBeth Williams), a French-Martiniquan woman who provides medical support. Together, they plan and execute the coup, which involves taking over a military base and attacking the presidential palace.

As the story unfolds, we see the challenges that Shannon and his team face in executing the coup. They must contend with a corrupt and vicious military regime, as well as the risks of betrayal from their own team members. Along the way, Shannon also forms a romantic relationship with Jesse (Ilario Bisi-Pedro), a local woman who helps the team.

The Dogs of War is a gripping and realistic portrayal of the life of a mercenary. The movie depicts the harsh realities of working as a soldier of fortune in a war-torn country, including the dangers of combat, the risk of betrayal, and the moral questions that come with being a hired gun. The film also explores the relationship between money and power, and the lengths that people will go to achieve both.

Christopher Walken delivers a powerful performance as Jamie Shannon, portraying the character as a tough and calculating individual with a sense of humor. Tom Berenger is also excellent as the wealthy businessman who hires Shannon and provides him with the resources he needs to carry out the mission. Colin Blakely adds a touch of levity as the journalist who accompanies Shannon on his mission and provides some much-needed moral support.

Overall, The Dogs of War is a classic 1980s action movie that has aged well over the years. It offers a compelling story, well-developed characters, and plenty of action and suspense. If you're a fan of the genre, or just looking for a good movie to watch, The Dogs of War is definitely worth checking out.

The Dogs of War is a 1981 thriller with a runtime of 1 hour and 42 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3 and a MetaScore of 56.