The Pack was clearly made to exploit the success of the 1970s Nature’s Revenge cycle as created by films like The Birds (1963), Willard (1971), Frogs (1972) and Jaws (1975) and numerous imitators of these. And as such The Pack is a rather neat little thriller. It is filled with bland, boring characters – especially so in the case of the irritating bubble-headed blonde bimbo played by Sherry Miles – whose conflicts are of interest to nobody. But on the plus side it does feature the great and underrated Joe Don Baker, who gives a worthwhile performance. And certainly the film takes less time detailing the characters than most and soon strips down to go right for the throat.

Robert Clouse has no style at all and the score is overdone, but the rawness of the photography is made to work for the film. And when it comes to the scenes where the dogs attack the car, the besiegement of the house and especially the scenes with Joe Don Baker trapped in an attic fighting off dogs with sticks and bedsprings, Clouse conveys an incredible savagery. There’s certainly no acting on the part of these dogs, the film gives the impression they really mean it. The Pack is not going to win any awards for brilliant or even undiscovered filmmaking, but it certainly racks up some armrest-gouging tension in its 90 odd minutes.