i would consider myself a fan of dean koontz while have read a number of his novel and like them all and but unfortunately i never get around to read watcher so i be leave with no choice but to rate this film on it own merit rather than compare it to the book that i haven not read . i go into this expect something awful and and while i do not exactly get a brilliant horror film while i be lead to believe that it fan of the book that be rating it down because a a film in it own right and watcher be an entertaining and somewhat original little horror movie . the plot obviously take some influence from predator and begin with an explosion at a research lab . it not long before a rancher be kill by some strange beast and the boyfriend of the dead man daughter have pick up an ultra intelligent runaway dog . a secret government agency be soon on the case and a the murder continue . the boy continue to be fascinate by the dog intelligence and but it somehow tie in with the murder and the agency be soon on his tail too . the script for this film be originally write by paul haggis and who later disown it . i do not know why the writing here be nowhere near as ridiculous a his 2004 hit crash . anyway and the main reason this film work be undoubtedly the dog and who aside from be rather cute and be also the best actor in the film . corey haim and hot off the success of the lose boy be the human lead and actually have a rather good chemistry with the dog and although it be a little bit ridiculous see him talk to it most of the way through the film . the plot be rather convoluted and a such the film be more than a little bit messy while but the ridiculousness of it all pull it through during the more awkward moment . michael ironside also appear in the film and do well a the bad cop side of the government agent . the monster be and of course and one of the most interesting thing about the film and the way it go around kill people be always entertaining and gory while although unfortunately we do not get to see a lot of it and when we finally do it rather disappoint obviously the filmmaker have see bigfoot and the hendersons . still and this be the sort of film that can be easily enjoy despite the numerous problem and i would recommend to any undiscerning viewer of eighty horror .