Ridley Scott’s The Dog Stars is a low-key, poetic apocalyptic character piece. If you go in expecting an action film, you may be disappointed. While the film hits many of the familiar beats of the genre, the story operates on a much more personal level, focusing on one man’s search for connection and community.
Based on Peter Heller’s bestseller, The Dog Stars stars Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, Margaret Qualley, Allison Janney, Benedict Wong, and Guy Pearce. The screenplay is by Mark L. Smith (The Revenant, Twisters).
In this post-apocalyptic world, a flu-like pandemic has wiped out much of human civilization. Hig (Elordi), a pilot, and his dog Jasper live on an isolated compound with military survivalist Bangley (Brolin), fighting off scavengers when necessary. Hig feels freest in the air. He lives in the past, revisiting his family home while wondering if there’s a better life somewhere beyond the compound.
The Dog Stars is The Walking Dead meets Mad Max. We’ve seen this world before, but what sets the movie apart is the poetic nature of its visuals: the stillness and beauty of Mother Nature contrasted with the savagery of the human world that remains. Hig flies over the lush, untouched countryside in all its glory, a stark contrast to the ravaged cities below. What’s wrong with this world isn’t nature—it’s its inhabitants.
Brolin and Pearce bring some much-needed levity to the somber film as characters who have adapted to their new realities, in contrast to Hig’s restless need for something more.
The few action sequences in The Dog Stars are terrifying and intense. The violent scavengers give off serious Mad Max vibes, but with little character development, they remain largely one-dimensional threats.
At its core, The Dog Stars is about community, and that’s the beautiful message at the heart of its finale. Some may find the pacing dull, but this is ultimately a character-driven story that hits on a much deeper level than the typical post-apocalyptic action flick.
The Dog Stars is in movie theaters this Friday.
