Joey Magidson
I remain an easy mark for dog movies, even though, on the day I saw Heart of the Beast, it would have been my late dog’s fourteenth birthday. So, I went into this film in a fragile place, which wasn’t exactly fair to the flick, Luckily, however, I quickly settled in for what became a lean and mean little survival tale. Nothing here is reinventing the wheel, to be sure. At the same time, far more of it works than you might expect, with a hell of a canine performance at its core.
Heart of the Beast is a simple story, just one that’s done pretty well. It also happens to have some really strong dog acting, which is obviously as much about how director David Ayer is capturing the animal (animals, really, as four dogs play the role), but it’s noteworthy nonetheless. There’s some soulful shots of the dog, its eyes, and really does hit home for an animal lover. Then, when it gets harrowing, you truly are on the edge of your seat, worrying for our four-legged friend.
Former special forces solider James Belmont (Brad Pitt) is retired after a career that’s left him with scars and PTSD. The same goes for his combat dog Odin, who has nightmares just like he does. On a fishing trip to Alaska, the two are having a great time, though skeptical when another outdoorsman (J.K. Simmons) comes across them and opts to spend the day chatting them up. Once he leaves, it’s just the two of them, which becomes a problem when, after packing up early due to some weather, James suffers a heart attack while piloting his plane home.
Crashing into the Alaskan wilderness, James and Odin are stranded. Both are injured, with James the worse for wear. As they brave the elements, wild animals on the hunt, and their own struggling bodies, the odds of survival get worse by the moment. It’ll take everything they both have, as well as their intrinsic trust in each other, to even have a fighting chance.
Brad Pitt almost feels like he’s slumming it here, until you realized that he’s almost exclusively acting opposite a dog co-star. He gets to be a man of few words and decisive actions, though with a bit of mortality that makes him less Superman and more just a highly trained soldier. Pitt has wonderful chemistry with his animal co-stars, and each of the dogs turns in lovely work. You believe their bond throughout. It’s pretty much just Pitt and whichever dog is on the screen, as aside from J.K. Simmons, the only other person with any degree of screen time is Anna Lambe.
Director David Ayer, working off of a screenplay by Cameron Alexander, is more than a bit overqualified for this gig, but he more than pulls it off. Alexander and Ayer know that having Odin actually feel like a partner, yet a realistic one, is huge, and they commit to that element. For Ayer, it’s him and cinematographer Mauro Fiore capturing the dog’s eyes in a certain way. Plus, composer Jared Michael Fry really does keep you on the edge of your seat. There are no real surprises to be found here, though the pacing is pretty relentless. The first act of this film is very calm, but once the shit hits the fan, the rest of the 101 minute running time is one stressful moment after the next. Through it all, the bond between man and dog is showcased in a way that never feels cheap, but definitely catches you in the feels by the end. Plus, kudos for using a Stephen Wilson Jr. song for the end of the flick.
Heart of the Beast is going to become a favorite for dog lovers. You’ll worry about the canine (Brad Pitt can take care of himself), but also marvel at how well the dog is being captured on screen. This movie doesn’t do anything you’re not expected, but if does it well enough that you’ll be pleased at its throwback efficiency.
SCORE: ★★★
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