By John Corrado
Sometimes all you need for a movie to work is an old school movie star and a canine companion. Such is the case with Heart of the Beast, the latest film from director David Ayer (Fury, End of Watch), which stars Brad Pitt as a Special Forces officer and his combat dog.
Pitt is James Belmont, a veteran trying to survive in the Alaskan wilderness with his former military dog Odin. When James crashes his plane, he is left stranded deep in the woods, with man and dog having to make a perilous trek on foot in hopes of getting back to civilization.
It’s just Pitt and his dog against the elements and other wild animals for much of the brisk 101 minute running time, and Ayer rises to the task of crafting a mostly compelling film around them. The story itself is fairly simple, but there is an old school, back-to-basics quality to this survival thriller that is pretty appealing (it was also executive produced by Damien Chazelle, an intriguing touch).
Early on, James encounters a fellow traveller in the woods (played by J.K. Simmons), a narrative touch that allows the screenplay by writer Cameron Alexander to offer some basic exposition and character establishment. But Pitt is the only human onscreen for much of the running time, and he excels in this type of role, turning James into a rugged and stoic presence.
The other star of the show, of course, is Uber, the canine actor who does an excellent job portraying Odin. Not only does Odin help James, but James also helps Odin, who suffers from nightmares and canine PTSD. This deep bond between man and dog provides the backbone of Heart of the Beast, and allows the film to deliver a genuine, heartstring-tugging emotional impact by the end as well. The film also serves as a tribute to military dogs and the sacrifices they have made.
The cinematography by Mauro Fiore (Avatar) captures the beautiful but harsh backdrops of New Zealand where the film was shot, standing in for rural Alaska. This is a film that knows what people want going in, and delivers exactly that (like Ad Astra mixed with Call of the Wild, if you will). It’s a Brad Pitt vehicle, a dog movie, and a solid wilderness survival thriller all rolled into one.
Film Rating: ★★★ (out of 4)
