Directed by Swedish B movie legend Mats Helge Olsson, "Animal Protector" is set in an American army base abroad (but shot in Västra Götaland, Sweden). Anders Nilsson, later a successful director, co-wrote, acted, edited and photographed.
4 Reviews
Some great Mat-titude!
udar5527 March 2005
So, have you ever wonder what it would look like if PETA were ever to make an action flick? Its plot might resemble the one of ANIMAL PROTECTOR. But, thankfully, PETA didn't have a hand in this film and it came from the master of over the top Swedish action cinema, Mats Helge.
This is only my second exposure to Helge's work (the first being the even more insane THE NINJA MISSION), but it is safe to say that he has a style that is all his own. First and foremost, Helge loves his explosions. He doesn't just love them he REALLY loves them. His films seem to be the predecessor of the PM Entertainment action films where bigger definitely means better. ANIMAL PROTECTOR is no exception, although Helge saves the Mat-atude for this film's last half. Secondly, Helge likes to have a plot that is a bit left of ludicrous. Here, the animal activist group "Animal Protectors" decides to free some animals on a top secret island the same night C.I.A. agents Santino (Hellquist) and Lomax plan on taking the corrupt Whitlock (Carradine) out. What luck! And did I mention the ladies of AP attack dressed in tapered jeans with big teased blonde hair? Way to blend in there sisters.
The cast is predominantly Swedish with the exception of Carradine. Star (and owner of one of the best names I have seen in years) A.R. Hellquist is a dead ringer for Kurt Russell in BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA. It was fun to envision this as a pseudo-sequel where Jack Burton gets wrapped up with some wacky animal lover chicks (actually, I want Carpenter to make that film now!). Hellquist is pretty agile and a good fighter but has all the range of a VCR remote. Helge does him no favors by putting him ridiculous situations. For example, when Santino decides it is time to get down to business, he rips off his shirt to reveal a camouflage tank top and yells, "Whitlock, now it is time for you to DIEEEEEE!" What makes this even funnier is that Santino is alone and Whitlock is nowhere to be seen. David Carradine is enjoyable as Whitlock and is pretty physical for the role, throwing down in quite a few fights. He also adds a clever little wink after he says something evil.
This is only my second exposure to Helge's work (the first being the even more insane THE NINJA MISSION), but it is safe to say that he has a style that is all his own. First and foremost, Helge loves his explosions. He doesn't just love them he REALLY loves them. His films seem to be the predecessor of the PM Entertainment action films where bigger definitely means better. ANIMAL PROTECTOR is no exception, although Helge saves the Mat-atude for this film's last half. Secondly, Helge likes to have a plot that is a bit left of ludicrous. Here, the animal activist group "Animal Protectors" decides to free some animals on a top secret island the same night C.I.A. agents Santino (Hellquist) and Lomax plan on taking the corrupt Whitlock (Carradine) out. What luck! And did I mention the ladies of AP attack dressed in tapered jeans with big teased blonde hair? Way to blend in there sisters.
The cast is predominantly Swedish with the exception of Carradine. Star (and owner of one of the best names I have seen in years) A.R. Hellquist is a dead ringer for Kurt Russell in BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA. It was fun to envision this as a pseudo-sequel where Jack Burton gets wrapped up with some wacky animal lover chicks (actually, I want Carpenter to make that film now!). Hellquist is pretty agile and a good fighter but has all the range of a VCR remote. Helge does him no favors by putting him ridiculous situations. For example, when Santino decides it is time to get down to business, he rips off his shirt to reveal a camouflage tank top and yells, "Whitlock, now it is time for you to DIEEEEEE!" What makes this even funnier is that Santino is alone and Whitlock is nowhere to be seen. David Carradine is enjoyable as Whitlock and is pretty physical for the role, throwing down in quite a few fights. He also adds a clever little wink after he says something evil.
Better and better.
tomtext4 February 2003
In the end of the 1980`s,the Swedish director Mats Helge made several actionmovies for export .This actioner is about Scientists on a Island making tests on animals. Cia and a group named Animalprotector intruding the island,and then the war begins.Sounds exciting?Yes.I have seen 7 of Helges movies,and this is one of the best.Helges feeling for good action entertainment ,and for good acting,is outstanding. See this one.You will love it. Rating:5 out of 5.
Animal Protector is a solid winner all around from the inimitable Helge!
tarbosh220002 June 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Somewhere off the coast of Sweden is a secret American military base run by the sinister Col. Whitlock (Carradine). Using underlings such as Carter (Offrein) and Johnson (Earle), among others, Whitlock uses his iron-fist tactics to ensure the base continues its dark experiments. Sadly, they are doing testing on all sorts of animals to create biological weapons. When a trio of female animal rights activists called the ANIMAL PROTECTORs, led by Carrie (Lunden), but including Helen (Ostrom) and Tina (Anderson), sneak their way onto the base in order to free the helpless animals - as do a meatheaded CIA agent named John Santino (Hellquist) and another good guy named Lomax (Hudden) - all hell is going to break loose on the island.
Animal Protector is further proof that the work of Mats Helge comprised Sweden's greatest cinematic exports of the 1980's. We're constantly championing him because he continues to deliver the goods for film after film. Frankly, we like his style. Even the choice of title is unorthodox: of all things, Animal Protector, in the singular, even when there's a group of so-called "Animal Protectors", among a myriad of other characters. Why? Perhaps it's to pique our interest. And it totally worked, just like everything else in this remarkable film.
This time around, none other than David Carradine joins the fray, and a team up between him and Offrein (who we've called "Kenny Rogers" in the past because he looks exactly like Kenny Rogers) is as magical as you'd think it might be. When not bewildered by a blur of different accents during the dialogue scenes, Animal Protector provides near non-stop shooting, blow- ups, or some type of action. The dance club fight/shootout was a particular highlight, but there are many. What puts that one a cut above the rest are Lomax's hypnotic pants. Which sounds like a movie title in its own right.
One of the action scenes late in the movie is re-used in a solarized, stylized fashion for the opening credits sequence, ensuring something is blowing up or being shot at all times. There's even a bit of Punchfighting in the beginning to get us all hooked in to the proceedings. Yes, it does have an overall feeling of being totally ridiculous, but it also has a ton of heart. While obviously shot with the international market in mind, it also retains a special "Made in Sweden" feeling, with a lot of handcrafted charm. That in combination with the non-stop action produces a gem.
Nowhere is that better exemplified than in the character of Santino, portrayed by Swedish National Treasure A.R. Hellquist. As if all the wild n' wacky goings-on weren't enough, along comes an oiled-up meathead to just put things over the top. Just like in Helge's Russian Terminator (1989) (hey, if a formula works, it works). Some say he slightly resembles Kurt Russell. He takes his shirt off and keeps it off for no reason that we can discern. Even in the cold Swedish night when you can see everyone's breath, Hellquist's shirt is nowhere to be seen. Fantastic.
Featuring music by Dough Anderzon (surely his name is Doug Anderson and this is a typo...come on, Dough? But it's all part of the fun) and featuring an incredibly catchy tune by Dag Unenge and Peter Ahs called Face To Face, Animal Protector is a solid winner all around from the inimitable Helge.
Animal Protector is further proof that the work of Mats Helge comprised Sweden's greatest cinematic exports of the 1980's. We're constantly championing him because he continues to deliver the goods for film after film. Frankly, we like his style. Even the choice of title is unorthodox: of all things, Animal Protector, in the singular, even when there's a group of so-called "Animal Protectors", among a myriad of other characters. Why? Perhaps it's to pique our interest. And it totally worked, just like everything else in this remarkable film.
This time around, none other than David Carradine joins the fray, and a team up between him and Offrein (who we've called "Kenny Rogers" in the past because he looks exactly like Kenny Rogers) is as magical as you'd think it might be. When not bewildered by a blur of different accents during the dialogue scenes, Animal Protector provides near non-stop shooting, blow- ups, or some type of action. The dance club fight/shootout was a particular highlight, but there are many. What puts that one a cut above the rest are Lomax's hypnotic pants. Which sounds like a movie title in its own right.
One of the action scenes late in the movie is re-used in a solarized, stylized fashion for the opening credits sequence, ensuring something is blowing up or being shot at all times. There's even a bit of Punchfighting in the beginning to get us all hooked in to the proceedings. Yes, it does have an overall feeling of being totally ridiculous, but it also has a ton of heart. While obviously shot with the international market in mind, it also retains a special "Made in Sweden" feeling, with a lot of handcrafted charm. That in combination with the non-stop action produces a gem.
Nowhere is that better exemplified than in the character of Santino, portrayed by Swedish National Treasure A.R. Hellquist. As if all the wild n' wacky goings-on weren't enough, along comes an oiled-up meathead to just put things over the top. Just like in Helge's Russian Terminator (1989) (hey, if a formula works, it works). Some say he slightly resembles Kurt Russell. He takes his shirt off and keeps it off for no reason that we can discern. Even in the cold Swedish night when you can see everyone's breath, Hellquist's shirt is nowhere to be seen. Fantastic.
Featuring music by Dough Anderzon (surely his name is Doug Anderson and this is a typo...come on, Dough? But it's all part of the fun) and featuring an incredibly catchy tune by Dag Unenge and Peter Ahs called Face To Face, Animal Protector is a solid winner all around from the inimitable Helge.
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