A pack of vicious dogs who have been abandoned and left to fend for themselves by visiting vacationers terrorize the residents on a small island. Writer/director Robert Clouse relates the gripping story at a brisk pace, generates plenty of tension, stages the canine attack set pieces with skill and flair, and even makes a provocative central statement about mankind's callousness towards and negligence of other animals that we share this planet with. The capable acting by the sturdy cast keeps this picture humming, with especially praiseworthy contributions from Joe Don Baker as tough take-charge marine biologist Jerry, Hope Alexander-Willis as sweet school teacher Millie, Richard B. Schull as jolly lodge owner Hardiman, R.G. Armstrong as the crusty Cobb, Delores V. Smith Jr. as blind hermit McMinnimee, and Paul F. Wilson as pathetic wimp Tommy Dodge. Sherry E. DeBoer supplies some tasty eye candy as sexy secretary Lois. The remote island setting conveys a strong and unsettling sense of isolation and vulnerability while the dogs are quite ferocious and frightening. Ralph Woolsey's crisp cinematography provides an appropriately moody look. Lee Holdridge's robust score does the rousing trick. Well worth seeing.

THE PACK (1977) **1/2 Joe Don Baker, Hope Alexander-Willis, Richard B. Shull, RG Armstrong, Ned Wertimer, Bibi Besch, Delos V. Smith, Jr., Richard O' Brien, Sherry Miles, Paul Willson. Affective old school horror film with a simple premise - isolated island community faces a new danger when a pack of ravenous dogs begins attacking the populace, including a vacationing bunch of bankers (read into that as you will metaphor of dog-eat-dog world) leads to a countdown to a face-off in man vs. nature. Told with efficient economy and low-grade chills the veteran character actor cast led with the dependable lout with gravitas Baker, director Robert Clouse makes the most of his seemingly made-for-TV production values and a serviceable screenplay by Robert Clouse based on a novel by David Fisher.

The Pack a.k.a. The Long Dark Night (1977) was another one of those "nature rebels against man" films that were cranked out during the seventies. This time it's dogs and that's where this movie went to. Joe Don Baker and some residents of a Pacific Northwestern town must contend with a pack of mean and wild dogs who decide that they've had it with man. Dogs of all shapes and sizes join together to try and defeat man. Can Joe Don Baker and the beleaguered residents ward off the mangy mutts throughout the long dark night?It's a real cheesy movie that's no great shakes. But if you could find a copy watch it with some friends so you can get a few laughs. I highly doubt that this movie was intended to be a comedy but that's how it turned out. Many of these films were pretty hokey and this one is no exception. The problem with most of these films is that they try too hard. The film makers forget that they're making a cheap animal exploitation film.Not recommended, unless you're extremely bored.

Not bad nature-attacks flick. This one is well made & suspenseful, with great production values and a decent pace. And what a classic final shot! Much better than CUJO or DAY OF THE ANIMALS. 7/10.