A Review of “The Dog Stars” Film Adaptation

SPOILERS AHEAD

Walking into the theater, I had high hopes for “The Dog Stars”, a film adaptation of the novel by Peter Heller. Under the direction of Ridley Scott, best known for epic films like “Gladiator” and “The Martian“, and starring Jacob Elordi, Margaret Qualley and Josh Brolin, this film was set up for success. 

Epic potential does not make a movie, however, and unfortunately Jacob Elordi’s face cannot carry a plot. 

Set in 2035, the film takes place after a flu-like pandemic almost wipes out humanity. Those few people left are either scattered or living in chaotic roving bands.

Hig, played by Elordi, and his canine companion, a German Shepherd named Jasper, create a life out of the devastation in the mountains of Erie, Colorado. Bangley, played by Josh Brolin, is Hig’s mentor and partner. Together they fight off the scavengers and run their small airfield home.

A former mechanic, Hig repairs planes and takes to the skies in search of supplies and meaning. When he hears a mysterious transmission signal beckoning, it becomes an interest he can’t seem to shake, and he sets off on a journey into the unknown.  

This preface, as with many others in the post-apocalyptic genre, has a great hook. There is something deeply human about picturing what could be in a different world, in this case one amongst the remains of humanity. 

This is the draw that brings me back time and again to any dystopian or apocalyptic drama. “The Dog Stars” pulled me in with its promise of harrowing adventures and challenges, like “The Last of Us,” but, as I discovered, this story was sorely lacking in plot.  

With predictable dialogue and cliches, the exposition of the movie was confusing to say the least. Hig’s motivation for leaving his home is not fully clear, and his journey and romance feels jilted and unnatural. As well, the name of the movie, “The Dog Stars” is confusing, as the dog dies within the first 20 minutes of the movie. 

What this movie lacked in plot it made up for in beautiful scenery. Filmed largely in Italy, Hig flies his yellow Cessna through the stunning landscapes of the Italian hillside, filling the screen with vast and breathtaking flora. 

These scenes were underlined by fantastic choices of music, featuring popular Indie and Folk artists. Opening on Hozier’s “Like Real People Do” set the tone for the film, emphasizing an underlying theme of human connection. 

Caamps’s “By and By” was used to create a shift in the somber atmosphere of the film, with its banjo and upbeat tempo, emphasizing themes of unexpected joy and romance amid loss. 

Apart from excellent music and filming, there was not much to this movie. I am not alone in my critique, with a 41% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes; the public has spoken: this movie is below average. 

Critic Katie Walsh from Tribune News Services says “The Dog Stars”  is “…an odd curio in Scott’s oeuvre, though it bears its own interesting moments nonetheless.” Walsh’s review encapsulates the strange atmosphere of the film, with its odd pacing and writing. 

However, the talented cast almost always pulled the scenes together into something at the very least watchable.  

“The Dog Stars” is not a must watch, but, if you love the post-apocalypse genre, this movie will scratch that itch. With harrowing action scenes and well-built suspense, there is something in this film for the casual viewer. 

If you are looking for a slow burn Margaret Qualley and Jacob Elordi romance, you may leave disappointed. A confusing but charming film. If “The Dog Stars” was the only thing on, I would watch it again.  

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