PLOT: Years after a pandemic has wiped out most of civilization, Hig (Jacob Elordi), a civilian pilot and mechanic, is holed up in a compound with his dog Jasper and his survivalist buddy, Bangley (Josh Brolin). When he receives a call originating from other survivors, he takes his plane to try and find some trace of civilization, even if roaming scavengers and other dangers make the new world an exceedingly grim and dangerous place.
REVIEW: I must admit that ever since the pandemic, movies about the aftermath of the apocalypse have a little extra kick. As such, the premise behind The Dog Stars, where a super flu has wiped out most of civilization, hits close to home, as what once seemed like science fiction suddenly doesn’t seem beyond the realm of possibility. Ridley Scott’s latest, which is based on the book by Peter Heller, takes a grounded approach to the genre. There are no zombies, there’s no Mad Max or Furiosa, there’s simply a world where seemingly 99% of the population is gone. The pockets of survivors, such as Hig and Bangley, mostly keep to themselves, although there’s a growing threat, with signs sprouting up that a feral band of scavengers is on the rampage.
Scott’s movie is primarily a mood piece, with it documenting Hig’s odyssey as he wanders, trying to hold on to some semblance of empathy for whoever might be left. He’s a good egg, with him taking his German Shepherd, Jasper, with him to visit a surviving group of Mennonites, who he helps feed. But his buddy Bangley is the opposite, with him quick to kill anyone who makes the mistake of wandering into his compound, with Hig making the point that he seems to prefer the new world to the old one.
While uneven, with it feeling like chunks of the movie were axed out, The Dog Stars is still pretty good as far as middle-tier Ridley Scott movies go. While not one of his classics, he’s still a pro at creating atmosphere, with DP Erik Messerschmidt giving the film that classic, slick sheen we associate with Scott, even if it’s their first film together. Scott is also still a pro at staging action sequences, with the moody first half of the movie giving way to a more action-heavy second half. There are some nifty set pieces, with the standout featuring a heavily kitted-out Brolin taking on an army of scavengers, with Scott even doing some first-person shooting sequences shot in night vision. It’s very cool.
As Hig, Jacob Elordi does a good job, with him subtle as the sad-eyed but kindly former family man, who has little else keeping him grounded beyond the love of his dog. With his imposing build, you also believe him as a guy who can handle himself, and he has good chemistry with Brolin, who walks away with the movie as the cynical, badass Bangley. Brolin is cast to perfection.
Of course, Elordi does eventually encounter some survivors, with a good chunk of the movie relating to his growing relationship with a father and daughter he encounters, Guy Pearce’s Pops and Margaret Qualley’s Cima. The romantic aspect between Cima and Hig is allowed to run its course at a slower, more deliberate pace, making it feel harder-earned than usual.
Where The Dog Stars suffers is in how it really does feel like another Ridley Scott movie where there’s going to be a better, longer director’s cut (he’s the all-time king of the director’s cut). This is especially true in the second half, where scenes, particularly those between Hig and Cima, seem out of order, and in an extended set piece involving Allison Janney and her group of survivors that seems to have come out of another, more genre-based and action-driven film. It almost feels like the result of a reshoot thrown in to give the film a bit more action.
While ragged, The Dog Stars is still a solid action-drama from Ridley Scott, with it consistently entertaining and packed with memorable moments, even if it is scattershot. It’s not perfect and certainly not his best work, but it’s enjoyable and well worth checking out.