Heart of the Beast
We recently just got a look at Brad Pitt returning to Tarantino’s Hollywood world in the trailer for The Further Mis-adventures of Cliff Booth, which comes out this year. But before that, Pitt will star in David Ayer’s Heart of the Beast, which pairs him with a canine partner as they try to survive in the wilderness after crashing their plane. Joining Pitt in the film are J.K. Simmons and Anna Lambe. Cameron Alexander executive-produced and wrote the screenplay, which Damien Chazelle and Olivia Hamilton also produced through Wild Chickens Productions. Ayer produces via his Crave Films banner alongside Temple Hill Entertainment and Brad Pitt’s Plan B studio.
Early Reactions
Heart of the Beast has just screened for an early preview audience and the viewers have taken to social media to post their first impressions of the survival film.
Toronto Star Film Critic Peter Howell had praises to sing about the film, saying, “Who’d have thought Brad Pitt would find a canine co-star with more charisma than Palm Dog-winning Brandy from ‘Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood’? He’s gone and done it, though, with Odin (aka Uber), the fearless companion and fellow combat- trauma sufferer of Pitt’s character, James Belmont, a former Special Forces soldier stranded in the Alaskan wilderness in David Ayer’s survival thriller. This perilous partnership of man and dog is guaranteed to keep hearts racing and tails wagging, although Pitt’s steely gaze is no match for Odin’s soulful stare. Pity this wasn’t at #TIFF26 — it would have been fun to see Pitt and pooch together on the red carpet.”
Writer Sonya Alexander was wowed by the performances and thought the movie looked great in IMAX, saying, “David Ayer’s #HeartoftheBeast is as much the dog Odin’s story as it is Brad Pitt’s James Belmont’s. With shades of The Revenant, the survival tale is Belmont’s life affirming soliloquy and testament to his friendship with invaluable combat dog Odin. Pitt is outstanding as grizzled loner Belmont and German Shepherd Uber’s Odin is aptly named due to the god Odin’s role in Norse mythology. Odin’s reactions to the environment are Belmont’s unerring third eye and emphasize the poignancy of their bond. Gorgeous cinematography by Mauro Fiore and a haunting score by Jared Michael Fry. Beautiful in IMAX.”
Movies, politics, life emphasized how much Odin stole the film and how emotional the audience got at their screening, “Heart Of The Beast hits really hard. People in tonight’s screening were in tears and one young woman sobbed loudly for at least 10 minutes straight. Brad Pitt is excellent as usual but Odin the dog is the star of this film. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”
Kevin Verma also gave Odin his flowers, calling him the MVP, and saying, “HEART OF THE BEAST was such a pleasant surprise. Easily one of Ayer’s best works. This is a beautifully shot yet intense journey through the wild, and you will really feel the emotional punch at the end. I came for Pitt but stayed for the dog (Odin), who is the real MVP.”
YouTube critic Tom Chatalbash was pretty floored by the film, saying, “#HeartoftheBeast got me good, real good. This is a fiercely gripping and emotionally compelling tale of survival and companionship that thrills as much as it pulls on the heartstrings. Pitt and Odin the dog make for a wonderful on screen pair, always engaging and magnetic to watch, their tried and true bond felt in each and every frame. Ayer handsomely crafts this one behind the camera, giving the more propulsive sequences the visceral, stripped down pop they need, proving he’s got plenty of juice behind the camera that lends exceedingly well to mid-budget fare. Pitt delivers a physically committed, nuanced, and understated performance that helps provide the bedrock here. It may lean a bit too conventional and predictable in terms of its storytelling, but as a dog owner myself I’d be lying if I said I didn’t let some ugly tears fly before the credits rolled. Full review next week!”
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