“The Dog Stars” is based on Peter Heller’s novel and stars Jacob Elordi (Wuthering Heights), Josh Brolin (The Running Man), and Margaret Qualley (The Substance).
Elordi plays Hig, a pilot who has survived the flu pandemic that’s killed most of the people on earth. Bangley (played by Brolin) is his fellow housemate and ex-Marine. Together they have built a quiet life of protecting their compound from unruly mobs and flying into town to gather supplies.
On one of Hig’s excursions, he meets Cima (Margaret Qualley). Desperate for intimacy, the two strike up a friendship that deepens into something more.
The film tells the story of Hig (Jacob Elordi), a young pilot who, together with a military survivalist, Bangley (Josh Brolin), has carved out an efficient but isolated homestead in a brutal postapocalyptic world. But when Hig receives a mysterious radio transmission, he ventures into the unknown in search of the hope and humanity he still believes exist.
The supporting cast includes Allison Janney (I, Tonya), Benedict Wong (Weapons), and Guy Pearce (The Woman in Cabin 10).
“The Dog Stars” is a slow burn that ramps up to be intense and engrossing at times. The cinematography is gorgeous and looks great on the big screen.
The low-energy pacing is buoyed by a few gripping, brutal, and bloody action sequences, though they are few and far between. The movie actually feels like three films in one: a survivalist drama, a romance, and a post-apocalyptic thriller.
Elordi and Qualley deliver solid performances, but it’s Brolin and Janney who are the scene-stealers.
The bright spot in the movie is Hig’s Mennonite neighbor, Aaron, played by Benedict Wong. Unlike Bangley’s pessimistic view, Aaron’s commune feels hopeful and optimistic.
“The Dog Stars” opens in theaters on August 28th.
“The Dog Stars” is rated R.
Visit the official website here for more information.
Disclosure: No monetary compensation was received for this post. This blog post is for informational purposes. I attended an advanced screening of the movie which helped facilitate this write-up. Images shown in this post are used with permission. As always, my opinions are 100% my own.
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